Baylor Baseball’s Kolby Branch Named CBN Freshman All-American

[Calderone, Max]

BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS – June 7, 2023

Baylor Baseball’s Kolby Branch Named CBN Freshman All-American
Branch one of just four shortstops recognized among 62 honorees
For more information contact: Max Calderone, 254-265-1639, Max_Calderone at Baylor.edu<mailto:Max_Calderone at Baylor.edu>

TUCSON, Ariz. – Baylor baseball freshman shortstop Kolby Branch has been named a 2023 Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, as announced Wednesday by the publication.

Branch, who was previously named unanimously to the Big 12 All-Freshman Team, becomes the 16th Bear all-time to earn Freshman All-America status from CBN. Seventeen Baylor rookies in program history have now garnered a total of 27 Freshman All-America honors across all publications. This marks the fifth time in the last seven seasons that BU has had a Freshman All-American.

A product of Lovejoy High School in Lucas, Texas, Branch hit .325 in 2023 and led the Bears in virtually every offensive category with 69 hits, 49 runs, six home runs and 41 RBIs. Branch’s 17 doubles were one shy of the program’s freshman record and ranked tied for fourth nationally among Power 5 freshmen at the conclusion of the regular season. Branch finished his first season of collegiate baseball with more walks than strikeouts, 39 to 38, and was the only Bear to start and play in every game this year.

Compared to BU’s last five Freshman All-America honorees – Jared McKenzie, Nick Loftin, Shea Langeliers, Max Muncy and Logan Vick -- Branch ranks second in RBIs, third in batting average and fourth in home runs among their true freshman seasons.

Branch is one of just four shortstops recognized on CBN’s Freshman All-America Team, which includes a total of 62 players from across the country, and one of six Big 12 rookies honored.

To stay up to date on all things Baylor baseball, follow the team on its official Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts: @BaylorBaseball.

BAYLOR’S ALL-TIME FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICANS
Baseball America
1996 – Jeremy Dodson, OF (Honorable Mention)
1996 – Jon Topolski, OF (Honorable Mention)
1997 – Jason Jennings, P (First Team)
2000 – Zane Carlson, P (First Team)
2010 – Logan Vick, OF (First Team)
2017 – Shea Langeliers, C (First Team)
2018 – Nick Loftin, SS (First Team)

Collegiate Baseball
1996 – Jeremy Dodson, OF (Honorable Mention)
1996 – Jon Topolski, OF (Honorable Mention)
1998 – Josh Scott, P (Honorable Mention)
2000 – Zane Carlson, P (First Team)
2000 – Mike Huggins, 1B (Honorable Mention)
2002 – Michael Griffin, 3B (Honorable Mention)
2003 – Ryan LaMotta, P (First Team)
2003 – Abe Woody, P (First Team)
2006 – Beamer Weems, SS
2007 – Raynor Campbell, 3B
2010 – Logan Vick, OF
2010 – Max Muncy, 1B
2017 – Shea Langeliers, C
2018 – Nick Loftin, SS
2020 – Jared McKenzie, OF
2023 – Kolby Branch, SS

D1Baseball
2017 – Shea Langeliers, C (First Team)

NCBWA
2010 – Max Muncy, 1B (Second Team)
2017 – Shea Langeliers, C (First Team)
2021 – Jared McKenzie, OF (Second Team)

-BaylorBears.com-


__________________________________

Max Calderone | Associate Director of Athletics Communications (BSB, FB, EQ)
Department of Athletics | Baylor University
C: 254-265-1639

[signature_3783393132]<http://baylorbears.com/>

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