TUCSON, Ariz. – Illinois State freshman outfielder John Rave has been named to the 2017 Collegiate Baseball Freshmen All-America team, the newspaper announced Wednesday.
Rave, a native of Bloomington, Illinois and graduate of Central Catholic High School, quickly established himself as Illinois State's everyday center fielder in his first season. Rave hit .258/.352/.362 during his freshman campaign and led Illinois State in triples (4) and stolen bases (12). He ranked second on the team in at-bats (213), hits (55) and walks (30), and third in runs scored (31) and total bases (77).
Playing exclusively in center field, Rave registered a .985 fielding percentage, with 129 putouts and two outfield assists against just two errors.
Rave homered in his third game wearing the Illinois State uniform in a win over Youngstown State. He later compiled a 19-game on-base streak, the team's longest of the season. Rave showcased his bunting skills as well, with a team-high three sacrifice bunts, while going 9-for-16 (.563) when bunting for a hit. Â
Rave was named an All-Missouri Valley Conference Honorable Mention and MVC All-Defensive Team selection. He was one of only three freshmen to earn all-conference honors and was the league's only freshman representative on the all-defensive team.
The Illinois State baseball team recently concluded its 2017 season in the title game of the MVC Tournament. The Redbirds topped nationally-ranked and regular-season champion Missouri State three times over the final two weeks of the season and fell to Dallas Baptist in the tournament's championship game on May 28.
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