Jan. 31, 2013

STANFORD, Calif. - Stanford copped a nation-best three players on Baseball America's preseason All-America first team, as announced by the publication Thursday. Ranked ninth in Baseball America's preseason top 25, Stanford was represented on the first team by pitcher Mark Appel, outfielder Austin Wilson and first baseman Brian Ragira.

Appel is the nation's only player to repeat as a preseason first team All-American. Appel was the only unanimous selection in the scouting director balloting.

North Carolina State was the only other team to land multiple players on the first team in Trea Turner and Carlos Rodon.

The Pac-12 Conference landed more players on the first team (four) than any other conference and produced nine All-Americans overall.

Baseball America annually polls major league scouting directors to vote on the team and make their selections based on performance, talent and professional potential.

In the past, the preseason All-America team has been a predictor both of the first round of the draft and of team success. Nine of the 15 draft-eligible members of last year's first team became first-round picks last June, two others were supplemental first-rounders and all 15 were selected in the top three rounds.

The Cardinal opens the 2013 season with a three-game series at Rice (Feb. 15-17).

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