Jan. 16, 2013
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – A year after earning Freshman All-American honors, University of New Mexico sophomore outfielder Ryan Padilla enters 2013 as one of the top returning sophomores in college baseball. Dan Kirby of ThroughTheFenceBaseball.com named him one of the top 16 sophomores in the country.
“At 6’-4” and 220 pounds, Padilla has the size to be a big-time power hitter at the next level,” Kirby wrote. “Over 56 games last season, he hit .353 with 19 doubles, five home runs and drove in 49 runs. The (lefty) showed up in the fall of 2011 with a lot of flaws to his swing. After putting in a ton of work with coach Ray Birmingham, he ended the year as one of the best-hitting freshmen in the nation.”
Kirby isn’t the only one expecting big things from Padilla this season because the Albuquerque native earned Louisville Slugger Preseason All-America honors in December.
Padilla finished third on the Lobos last season in batting, doubles, home runs, slugging (.525), and on base percentage (.430).
Dan Kirby’s Top Returning Sophomores
Tyler Beede, RHP, Vanderbilt
Michael Conforto, OF, Oregon State
Austin Cousino, OF, Kentucky
Andrew Daniel, SS, San Diego
Derek Fisher, OF, Virginia
Preston Morrison, RHP, TCU
Benton Moss, RHP, North Carolina
Aaron Nola, RHP, LSU
Ryan Padilla, OF, New Mexico
Travis Radke, LHP, Portland
Carlos Rodon, LHP, North Carolina State
Sam Travis, 1B, Indiana
Jose Trevino, 3B, Oral Roberts
Trea Turner, 3B, North Carolina State
Andrew Vasquez, LHP, UC Santa Barbara
Mark Zagunis, C, Virginia Tech