Florida junior catcher Mike Zunino
(Cape Coral, Fla.) was announced as Baseball America’s 2012 College Player of
the Year on Friday. He becomes the first Gator to earn the prestigious accolade
since the award began in 1981. In addition, Zunino was the only member of the
publication’s 2011 All-America first team to repeat as a first-team selection
this year. UF junior left-hander/designated hitter Brian Johnson (Cocoa
Beach, Fla.) was tabbed a second-team All-American in the utility spot.
Zunino’s
postseason honors continue to increase, as the first-team ABCA/Rawlings, Baseball
America, Louisville Slugger and NCBWA All-American became Florida’s first-ever Dick
Howser Trophy recipient last week and is a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award
and the Johnny Bench Award. He finished as the Gators’ “Triple Crown” winner,
leading the team in batting average (.322), RBI (67) and homers (19), and paced
the Orange and Blue in total bases (164), doubles (28), sacrifice flies (11)
and slugging percentage (.669). He was also 9-for-10 on the basepaths. A
two-time, first-team All-SEC recipient and two-time member of the league’s
All-Defensive Team, Zunino registered a .994 fielding percentage, with three
errors in 510 chances, and threw out 20 runners who attempted to steal on him.
Zunino
was voted to the NCAA Gainesville Regional All-Tournament Team for the
third-consecutive season after belting homers in consecutive games against No.
24 Georgia Tech and he led the Gators with a .500 (4-for-8) clip in the pair of
victories over NC State that punched Florida’s return ticket to Omaha. The
first-round pick of the Seattle Mariners was 8-for-25 (.320) during the NCAA
Tourney with team highs in slugging percentage (.720), RBI (12) and homers (3).
