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D1Baseball Ranks Raabe, Wassel Top-10 at their Positions
4/29/2020 11:00:00 AM | Baseball
MINNEAPOLIS – Minnesota infielders Zack Raabe and Jack Wassel have each been ranked within the top-10 in the nation at their respective positions of second base and third base by D1Baseball. The rankings were announced as part of the publication's annual end-of-season positional power rankings of all NCAA Division I players.
Although Raabe and Wassel were each left off of D1Baseball's preseason power rankings, which list the top-30 at each position and are used to select Preseason All-America status, their standout performances in 2020 launched them up more than 20 spots each into the top-10. Raabe was ranked No. 5 overall at the second base position, while Wassel jumped to No. 10 at third base.
Being the only player in the top-5 not eligible for the 2020 draft, Raabe will enter 2021 as arguably the top-rated second baseman in the country – an almost unbelievable rise for a player left outside of the top-30 power rankings heading into the season. One need not look far to understand why, however, as the Gopher second baseman led the entire nation in hits in 2020 with 31 and slashed .463/.526/.612 across 67 at bats. In the process, Raabe launched his first career home run and registered 16 runs to go with 10 RBI. Raabe paced the Big Ten Conference in batting average and hits, while finishing second in both total bases (41) and OBP, third in doubles (seven) and sixth in slugging percentage.
Raabe was not alone in producing a true breakout campaign this past season, as Wassel also mashed to the tune of a .364/.475/.591 slash line (all career highs). Wassel chipped in two home runs and finished in the top-five of the Big Ten in hits (24), doubles (seven), total bases (39), RBI (16) and walks (14). While bringing his positional status from unranked to No. 10 overall at third base, Wassel also improved his 2020 draft stock to No. 220 on this year's board, according to D1Baseball.
With their newly-acquired top-10 positional rankings paired with excellent 2020 seasons, these two Gopher infielders have potentially put themselves in the conversation for 2021 Preseason All-American status. The 2021 season will represent Raabe's true junior campaign and Wassel's redshirt senior season.
Although Raabe and Wassel were each left off of D1Baseball's preseason power rankings, which list the top-30 at each position and are used to select Preseason All-America status, their standout performances in 2020 launched them up more than 20 spots each into the top-10. Raabe was ranked No. 5 overall at the second base position, while Wassel jumped to No. 10 at third base.
Being the only player in the top-5 not eligible for the 2020 draft, Raabe will enter 2021 as arguably the top-rated second baseman in the country – an almost unbelievable rise for a player left outside of the top-30 power rankings heading into the season. One need not look far to understand why, however, as the Gopher second baseman led the entire nation in hits in 2020 with 31 and slashed .463/.526/.612 across 67 at bats. In the process, Raabe launched his first career home run and registered 16 runs to go with 10 RBI. Raabe paced the Big Ten Conference in batting average and hits, while finishing second in both total bases (41) and OBP, third in doubles (seven) and sixth in slugging percentage.
Raabe was not alone in producing a true breakout campaign this past season, as Wassel also mashed to the tune of a .364/.475/.591 slash line (all career highs). Wassel chipped in two home runs and finished in the top-five of the Big Ten in hits (24), doubles (seven), total bases (39), RBI (16) and walks (14). While bringing his positional status from unranked to No. 10 overall at third base, Wassel also improved his 2020 draft stock to No. 220 on this year's board, according to D1Baseball.
With their newly-acquired top-10 positional rankings paired with excellent 2020 seasons, these two Gopher infielders have potentially put themselves in the conversation for 2021 Preseason All-American status. The 2021 season will represent Raabe's true junior campaign and Wassel's redshirt senior season.
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