UT Pitcher Taylor Jungmann Named National Player of the Year

By Jordan Schraeder in Blog on June 21, 2011 at 12:05 pm | 2 Comments

Despite being eliminated from the College World Series last night, the Longhorn baseball team has something extra to be proud of today.

Starting pitcher Taylor Jungmann has received the Dick Howser Trophy, an award given to the nation’s top college baseball player of the year.

The junior ended his season with an outstanding 13-3 record and 1.60 ERA. Additionally, he led the Longhorns in a 13-game winning streak at the beginning of the season.

Despite being described as modest, Jungmann’s confidence shines each time he steps onto the mound, and with good reason: head coach Augie Garrido has described the Temple native as the best pitcher he’s had in his 42 years of coaching.

This isn’t Jungmann’s first accolade this season, either. He was named Big 12 Pitcher of the Year in May and is a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award, another of college baseball’s most prestigious.

The National Player of the Year Award is given by the members of the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.

Jungmann’s freshman teammate Corey Knebel was also named Stopper of the Year by the organization. Knebel had 19 saves this season, matching the record held by assistant coach J. Brent Cox.

Photo courtesy UT Athletics.