*Courtesy of K-State Sports Information*
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Josh Rolette, one of K-State’s top hitters throughout the 2016 season, was named a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball newspaper, the publication announced.
A native of Shawnee, Oklahoma, Rolette is the first Wildcat to earn Freshman All-America honors since Jake Matthys in 2013. He is also the eighth different player to earn the distinction in program history (seventh by Collegiate Baseball).
Playing in 56 of K-State’s 57 games, Rolette hit .290 (62-for-214) with 13 doubles, six home runs and 34 RBI. He finished second on the team in home runs, tied for second in doubles and third in slugging percentage while his five Big 12 home runs were tied for the third most in the conference. In addition to serving as the designated hitter, he logged 13 games at catcher.
The freshman campaign by Rolette was one of the best in K-State history as his 62 hits were the third most by a freshman Wildcat in the last 60 years and his six homers were the most since 2011. Five of his six roundtrippers came in league play, which fell one shy of Brett Reid’s six in 1999 for the most by a freshman Wildcat in conference action during the Big 12 era. The Shawnee High School product was also the first K-State freshman with 60+ hits and 30+ RBI since Nick Martini in 2009.
Rolette, who was one of five designated hitters named to the Freshman All-American team, added to his postseason honor list. In May, he garnered All-Big 12 Honorable Mention and All-Big 12 Freshman Team accolades, both voted on by the conference’s head coaches. He was also named Big 12 Newcomer of the Week on March 14.
An 18th round pick by the St. Louis Cardinals in last year’s MLB Draft, Rolette was one of 13 Big 12 players selected to the Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American Team.
