University of Georgia junior pitcher Emerson Hancock has been selected a 2020 First Team Preseason All-American by Perfect Game, it was announced Tuesday.
A 6-4, 213-pound right-hander from Cairo, Ga., Hancock registered a 1.99 Earned Run Average in 14 starts while going 8-3. In 90.1 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 ranked among the best in school history and was the lowest by a Bulldog starter since 1977 (Chuck Fore, 1.67).
The Perfect Game/Rawlings Preseason All-America teams were selected based on a balance of past performance, 2020 expectations and their prospective talent relative to the MLB Draft.
Hancock, who is projected as a first-round draft pick in June by multiple publications, is the 20th preseason All-American in school history. Last month, he was named a preseason All-American by Collegiate Baseball newspaper. 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.
![Emerson Hancock](https://photos.smugmug.com/Baseball/2020-Baseball/Player-Galleries/Emerson-Hancock-Gallery/i-whMnNk5/3/0126ad02/X3/GAP_9532-X3.jpg)
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. Season tickets are available at this link: http://www.gado.gs/42a