COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Maryland freshman second baseman
Matthew Shaw was named to the 2021 Perfect Game Freshman All-American Second Team, the publication announced Monday.
The standout freshman's latest accolade complements freshman All-American honors from Collegiate Baseball as well as ABCA/Rawlings All-Region plaudits.
Shaw's sensational freshman year helped the team to its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2017, making the Greenville Regional Final. The Brimfield, Massachusetts native led the team and ranked first among all Big Ten freshmen in batting average, hitting .332 over the spring.
Also a one-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week (5/25), Shaw's 16 doubles led the team and ranked second in the conference, while also leading the team and ranking second in the league in hits (61). Shaw slugged seven homers and stole seven bases, ranking fourth and fifth on the team, respectively.
Two of the freshman's home runs came on the biggest stage of the season, crushing home runs six and seven in back-to-back at bats in the Greenville Regional Final against No. 12 East Carolina. The utility-man played third base, left field, and second base at times in his rookie campaign, settling in and starting the last 15 games of the spring at second base, where his season began to blossom.
Shaw collects his second Freshman All-American honor of the 2021 award season, while junior shortstop
Benjamin Cowles earned Third Team All-American honors a week ago by Baseball America.
-Terps-