University of Georgia junior pitcher Emerson Hancock has been tabbed a 2020 second-team preseason All-American by Collegiate Baseball, the publication announced Tuesday.

A 6-4, 213-pound right-hander from Cairo, Ga., Hancock posted a 1.99 Earned Run Average in 14 starts while going 8-3. In 90.3 innings, he struck out 97 with just 18 walks as the ace of the Bulldogs. He helped Georgia to a consensus top 20 final national ranking. The Bulldogs went 46-17 including 21-9 in the SEC. Hancock’s 1.99 ERA was the eighth-best in school history and lowest by a Bulldog starter since 1977 (Chuck Fore, 1.67). 

Hancock, who is projected as a first-round draft pick in June by multiple publications, is the 20th preseason All-American in school history. Following the 2019 campaign, Hancock was named a second-team All-American by Collegiate Baseball, D1Baseball.com, Baseball America, the NCBWA and Perfect Game/Rawlings. A first-team All-SEC selection, Hancock was a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award and the Dick Howser Trophy.

The 2020 season, under the direction of Ike Cousins head coach Scott Stricklin, begins on Feb. 14. The Bulldogs, preseason ranked No. 7 by Collegiate Baseball, will open the year by playing host to Richmond in a series at Foley Field.