Missouri State University

June 6, 2012

2012 Louisville Slugger Freshman All-America Team

TUCSON, Ariz. - Tyler Burgess became the second Missouri State pitcher to earn All-America accolades in 2012, as Collegiate Baseball tabbed the left-hander for its Louisville Slugger Freshman All-America squad on Wednesday. Burgess joins sophomore right-hander Nick Petree -- who was named a First-Team All-American and National Player of the Year by Collegiate Baseball last Thursday -- on the Bears' list of 2012 national post-season honorees following MSU's 40-22 season that culminated in the school's eighth NCAA Division I Championship appearance.

The 2012 MVC Freshman of the Year, Burgess went 5-2 with a 2.08 ERA and 11 saves to lead the Bears' relief corps, notching a victory or a save in each of his first seven appearances without allowing an earned run to earn First-Team All-MVC honors and NCBWA National Stopper of the Year consideration. The Webb City, Mo., product served as the linchpin of the Bears' bullpen throughout his freshman season, setting unprecedented standards for MSU rookie pitchers in the process while ranking 29th nationally in saves. Burgess surpassed fellow Bear Grant Gordon's freshman MSU saves record, finishing the campaign third on the Bears' single-season saves list, trailing only Dan Kickham (2011) and Shaun Marcum (2003), who share the school record with 13 saves.

Burgess became just the fifth Bear to earn the Valley's rookie of the year award, joining Ryan Howard (1999), Bob Zimmerman (2001), Brett Sinkbeil (2004), Kevin Medrano (2009) and Petree (2011) on an exclusive list that now includes four Major League Baseball draftees, as well as a national collegiate player of the year honoree.