Georgia pitcher Robert Tyler (22) during Georgia’s Senior Day game against Arkansas on Saturday, May 16, 2015, in Athens, Ga. ( Photo by John Kelley )
Junior pitcher Robert Tyler has been tabbed a 2016 second-team preseason All-American by Collegiate Baseball, the publication announced Tuesday.
A 6-4, 226-pound right-hander from Cordele, Ga., Tyler was limited to 23.2 innings in 2015 for the Bulldogs due to an injury and finished 1-1 with a 5.32 ERA. He registered 29 strikeouts and 11 walks. Then, Tyler returned to form during a successful summer stint with the 2015 USA Collegiate National Team, posting a 3-0 mark and a 1.00 ERA. In his final start for the USA Team, he clinched a series over Cuba with four scoreless innings in front of 10,352 fans at BB&T Ballpark in Charlotte on July 4. Tyler earned Freshman All-America honors in 2014 after going 6-4 with a 2.68 ERA in 15 appearances including 12 starts for Georgia.
Tyler is the 18th preseason All-American in school history and the first since 2009 when first baseman Rich Poythress and catcher Bryce Massanari were honored by Collegiate Baseball and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.
The 2016 season, under the direction of head coach Scott Stricklin, begins on Feb. 19 with the Bulldogs playing host to a three-game series with Georgia Southern at Foley Field.