University of Minnesota Athletics
Big Ten Releases Players to Watch
2/10/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 10, 2016 
The Big Ten Conference announced that Austin Athmann, Dan Motl and Dalton Sawyer were named to the league's Players to Watch list. The trio of players help make up the list of 39 players from the 13 baseball programs in the Big Ten.
Athmann enters his junior season after hitting .286 in 39 games last season. The Cold Spring, Minn. native torched the conference opposition in 2015 with a .346 average in league play that ranked second on the team. In his career, Athmann has compiled 51 hits, including seven doubles and a home run, to go along with 17 runs and 16 RBI. This past summer, the third-year backstop participated in the Northwoods League Major League Dreams Showcase.
Motl, the only senior outfielder on the team, returns to the team after a breakout third season with the Gophers. He totaled career-highs in batting average (.291), slugging percentage (.418), hits (41), RBI (19) and stolen bases (13). The Burnsville, Minn. native has fared fell against league opponents throughout his career, batting at a .318 clip with 18 RBI and 32 runs scored. Motl was one of six total outfielders chosen on the list.
Donning the Maroon and Gold for his final season, Sawyer has maintained a 3.82 career ERA. In 130 innings, the Waconia, Minn. native has struck out 116 batters and racked up six saves. Last season, the southpaw made the transition into the rotation and started eight games, while appearing in seven others. Sawyer hurled 49.2 innings and led the rotation with an opposing batting average of just .222.
For the full list of the Big Ten's Players to Watch and the preseason poll, please click here.
Athmann enters his junior season after hitting .286 in 39 games last season. The Cold Spring, Minn. native torched the conference opposition in 2015 with a .346 average in league play that ranked second on the team. In his career, Athmann has compiled 51 hits, including seven doubles and a home run, to go along with 17 runs and 16 RBI. This past summer, the third-year backstop participated in the Northwoods League Major League Dreams Showcase.
Motl, the only senior outfielder on the team, returns to the team after a breakout third season with the Gophers. He totaled career-highs in batting average (.291), slugging percentage (.418), hits (41), RBI (19) and stolen bases (13). The Burnsville, Minn. native has fared fell against league opponents throughout his career, batting at a .318 clip with 18 RBI and 32 runs scored. Motl was one of six total outfielders chosen on the list.
Donning the Maroon and Gold for his final season, Sawyer has maintained a 3.82 career ERA. In 130 innings, the Waconia, Minn. native has struck out 116 batters and racked up six saves. Last season, the southpaw made the transition into the rotation and started eight games, while appearing in seven others. Sawyer hurled 49.2 innings and led the rotation with an opposing batting average of just .222.
For the full list of the Big Ten's Players to Watch and the preseason poll, please click here.
Players Mentioned
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