Culpepper, Neighbors Receive Preseason All-American Honors
Feb 06, 2024 | Baseball
MANHATTAN, Kan. – K-State's Kaelen Culpepper and Tyson Neighbors were each named to Preseason All-American First Team by Baseball America, the organization announced Monday.
Additionally, Neighbors received First Team honors by the National College Baseball Writers Association, D1Baseball and Perfect Game to become the third Wildcat in school history to earn four preseason All-American honors in the same season alongside right-hander Jordan Wicks (2021) and infielder Ross Kivett (2014).
In 2023, Culpepper had an electric sophomore campaign as the Wildcats' every day starter is projected to be the No. 28 overall selection in the 2024 MLB Draft by MLB Pipeline. The Memphis, Tenn., product turned in a career-best slash line of .325/.423/.576 with 10 home runs and 41 RBI. He was just one of three Wildcats to reach double digit homers while his slugging percentage led the Cats' offense and was second in batting average.
A two-time All-Big 12 Honorable Mention selection, Culpepper was the top slugger for Team USA last summer as he led the Red, White, and Blue with a .471 batting average and slugging percentage of .853.
After throwing just 8 1/3 innings in 2022, Neighbors broke out as one of the top relievers in the nation where he posted K-State season class records with a 1.85 ERA (10 ER, 48.2 IP) and league-high 11 saves. The consensus All-American and NCBWA Stopper of the Year Finalist held opponents to a .135 batting average with 86 strikeouts in 25 appearances.
Neighbors allowed just seven earned runs in 24 1/3 innings in Big 12 play for a 3-0 record along with five saves. He also broke the program's TrackMan-era pitch velocity record at 99-mph in the series opening win against Texas Tech (April 28).
The Wildcats begin the 2024 campaign on February 16 at the MLB Desert Invitational in Scottsdale, Ariz. K-State will lead off the season with games against with Cal, Boston College, and Georgetown during the three-day event held at Salt River Park and Sloan Park – the spring training homes of the Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies, and Chicago Cubs.
Season tickets are now available. To purchase season tickets, fans can visit K-StateSports.com/Tickets, call 1-800-221-CATS (2287), or stop by the K-State Athletics Ticket Office in Bramlage Coliseum.
How to follow the 'Cats: Stay up to date on K-State baseball online at www.kstatesports.com and on the team's social media channels on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Additionally, Neighbors received First Team honors by the National College Baseball Writers Association, D1Baseball and Perfect Game to become the third Wildcat in school history to earn four preseason All-American honors in the same season alongside right-hander Jordan Wicks (2021) and infielder Ross Kivett (2014).
Twice as nice #KStateBSB x @BaseballAmerica pic.twitter.com/UNkr7Wv0Nv
— K-State Baseball (@KStateBSB) February 5, 2024
In 2023, Culpepper had an electric sophomore campaign as the Wildcats' every day starter is projected to be the No. 28 overall selection in the 2024 MLB Draft by MLB Pipeline. The Memphis, Tenn., product turned in a career-best slash line of .325/.423/.576 with 10 home runs and 41 RBI. He was just one of three Wildcats to reach double digit homers while his slugging percentage led the Cats' offense and was second in batting average.
A two-time All-Big 12 Honorable Mention selection, Culpepper was the top slugger for Team USA last summer as he led the Red, White, and Blue with a .471 batting average and slugging percentage of .853.
After throwing just 8 1/3 innings in 2022, Neighbors broke out as one of the top relievers in the nation where he posted K-State season class records with a 1.85 ERA (10 ER, 48.2 IP) and league-high 11 saves. The consensus All-American and NCBWA Stopper of the Year Finalist held opponents to a .135 batting average with 86 strikeouts in 25 appearances.
Neighbors allowed just seven earned runs in 24 1/3 innings in Big 12 play for a 3-0 record along with five saves. He also broke the program's TrackMan-era pitch velocity record at 99-mph in the series opening win against Texas Tech (April 28).
The Wildcats begin the 2024 campaign on February 16 at the MLB Desert Invitational in Scottsdale, Ariz. K-State will lead off the season with games against with Cal, Boston College, and Georgetown during the three-day event held at Salt River Park and Sloan Park – the spring training homes of the Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies, and Chicago Cubs.
Season tickets are now available. To purchase season tickets, fans can visit K-StateSports.com/Tickets, call 1-800-221-CATS (2287), or stop by the K-State Athletics Ticket Office in Bramlage Coliseum.
How to follow the 'Cats: Stay up to date on K-State baseball online at www.kstatesports.com and on the team's social media channels on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Players Mentioned
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