Indiana University Athletics
All-American Honors Continue for Devin Taylor
6/14/2024 10:00:00 AM | Baseball
GREENSBORO (ABCA) – Devin Taylor's 2024 season was nothing short of prolific for the Indiana Baseball program. The postseason honors continue to roll in for the sophomore, culminating in Third Team ABCA/Rawlings All-American honors on Friday (June 14). It is one of four honors that Taylor has earned this year.
The Cincinnati, Ohio broke onto the scene as a freshman in 2023 and took his game and productivity to a whole new level in 2024. Asked to hit in a variety of different roles, Taylor took comfort in the leadoff role as the trend setter for the entire lineup. He hit .373 across 19 games at the top of the order and hit 12 of his 20 home runs in that time frame.
As the team's most feared hitter, Taylor would get only off-speed pitches for the beginning parts of the season. He used that to his advantage, driving singles and doubles the other way. By the end of March, he had his batting averaged worked up to .382. By the end of the season, the power numbers had worked their way to the top of the league. He homered nine times in the month of May including once in all three games of a series victory over Michigan.
On the season, he compiled 86 hits with a .357 batting average. He led the Big Ten with 20 home runs and 67 runs scored while driving in an additional 54 runs. He became the first IU player in the BBCOR era (since 2011) to hit 20 home runs in a campaign. He walked (37) nearly as much as he struck out (38) in 59 games played.
In addition to his offensive success, Taylor played a much improved left field this season. He spent most of his freshman campaign in right field but became a reliable defender in left field in 2024. His season was highlighted by a pair of great catches in the Big Ten Tournament and an over-the-wall catch against Illinois State in March.
Only Alex Dickerson (38 – 2009-10) has hit more home runs for the Hoosiers in his first two seasons of college baseball. Taylor (36), however, is the only IU player to earn First Team All-Big Ten honors in both of their true freshman and sophomore seasons of college ball. He will be well in line to break the program's all-time home run mark (47) next year.
Taylor is the first IU player to be named an ABCA/Rawlings All-American since 2014. 10 years ago, in a season that saw IU earn a national seed, four players were named to the three All-American teams. Kyle Schwarber and Sam Travis were on the First Team, Dustin DeMuth was on the Second Team and all-time great Joey DeNato was a Third Team selection.
Taylor's Postseason Honors (2024)
- ABCA/Rawlings 3rd Team All-American
- Perfect Game 2nd Team All-American
- ABCA/Rawlings 1st Team All-Midwest District
- 2024 USA Collegiate National Team Training Camp Invite
- 1st Team All-Big Ten Selection
- NCAA Knoxville All-Regional Team
The Cincinnati, Ohio broke onto the scene as a freshman in 2023 and took his game and productivity to a whole new level in 2024. Asked to hit in a variety of different roles, Taylor took comfort in the leadoff role as the trend setter for the entire lineup. He hit .373 across 19 games at the top of the order and hit 12 of his 20 home runs in that time frame.
As the team's most feared hitter, Taylor would get only off-speed pitches for the beginning parts of the season. He used that to his advantage, driving singles and doubles the other way. By the end of March, he had his batting averaged worked up to .382. By the end of the season, the power numbers had worked their way to the top of the league. He homered nine times in the month of May including once in all three games of a series victory over Michigan.
On the season, he compiled 86 hits with a .357 batting average. He led the Big Ten with 20 home runs and 67 runs scored while driving in an additional 54 runs. He became the first IU player in the BBCOR era (since 2011) to hit 20 home runs in a campaign. He walked (37) nearly as much as he struck out (38) in 59 games played.
In addition to his offensive success, Taylor played a much improved left field this season. He spent most of his freshman campaign in right field but became a reliable defender in left field in 2024. His season was highlighted by a pair of great catches in the Big Ten Tournament and an over-the-wall catch against Illinois State in March.
Only Alex Dickerson (38 – 2009-10) has hit more home runs for the Hoosiers in his first two seasons of college baseball. Taylor (36), however, is the only IU player to earn First Team All-Big Ten honors in both of their true freshman and sophomore seasons of college ball. He will be well in line to break the program's all-time home run mark (47) next year.
Taylor is the first IU player to be named an ABCA/Rawlings All-American since 2014. 10 years ago, in a season that saw IU earn a national seed, four players were named to the three All-American teams. Kyle Schwarber and Sam Travis were on the First Team, Dustin DeMuth was on the Second Team and all-time great Joey DeNato was a Third Team selection.
Taylor's Postseason Honors (2024)
- ABCA/Rawlings 3rd Team All-American
- Perfect Game 2nd Team All-American
- ABCA/Rawlings 1st Team All-Midwest District
- 2024 USA Collegiate National Team Training Camp Invite
- 1st Team All-Big Ten Selection
- NCAA Knoxville All-Regional Team
Players Mentioned
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