Shedler-McAvoy Named BIG EAST Preseason Co-Player of the Year

SOUTH ORANGE – Graduate student Tyler Shedler-McAvoy (Allendale, N.J.) has been named BIG EAST Preseason Co-Player of the Year and graduate student Matt Toke (Three Bridges, N.J.) has been named a unanimous Preseason All-BIG EAST selection, the conference office announced Wednesday.

As a team, the Pirates received one first-place vote and were picked to finish third in the eight-team BIG EAST Conference behind Creighton and Connecticut, respectively. Last year's squad was picked to finish second in the BIG EAST and picked up three first-place votes before the 2020 season's abrupt end. All preseason awards and preseason order of finish were voted on the by the league's eight head coaches.

Shedler-McAvoy was a Preseason All-BIG EAST selection in 2020 and a All-BIG EAST First Team performer in 2019. Last season, he started in all 14 games, hit .304 with two triples, stole seven bases, tallied five multi-hit games and didn't commit an error in 33 fielding chances in center field. The Allendale, N.J., native also started in 53 games as a junior in 2019 where he batted a team-best .324 with two home runs and 37 RBI, all career-highs.

Along with his preseason player of the year accolade, Shedler-McAvoy was also a unanimous selection to the preseason all-conference squad. Shedler-McAvoy, Toke and Xavier's Connor Schultz were the only three players that were unanimous picks.

Arguably the best defensive first baseman in the conference, Toke is a Preseason All-BIG EAST selection for the second time in his career after being picked last season. As a junior in 2019, the Three Bridges, N.J. product hit .290 with a four home runs and 29 RBI and committed just one error in 398 defensive chances. He had only one error in 102 chances in 2020 before the season's cancelation.

Seton Hall returns four 2020 graduates – including Toke and Shedler-McAvoy – that took advantage of the NCAA's extra year of eligibility for spring sport athletes. On the mound, The Hall brings back Friday starter Ryan McLinskey, senior arms Sean Miller and Tyler Burnham, and junior hurlers David Festa and Nick Payero.

2021 Preseason Baseball All-BIG EAST Team and Awards
Preseason Co-Player of the Year – TYLER SHEDLER-MCAVOY, SETON HALL, GR., OF
Preseason Co-Player of the Year – Kyler Fedko, Connecticut, So. OF
Preseason Pitcher of the Year – Connor Schultz, Butler, Sr., RHP

Preseason All-BIG EAST
Natale Monastra, Xavier, Sr., C
MATT TOKE, SETON HALL, GR., 1B ^
Christian Fedko, UConn, Jr., 2B
Jack Housinger, Xavier, Jr., 2B
Jake Lazarro, St. John's, RS-Fr., SS
Eddie McCabe, Georgetown, Sr., 3B/DH
Reggie Crawford, UConn., RS-Fr., DH
A.J. Lotsis, Georgetown, Grad Student, DH/OF
TYLER SHEDLER-MCAVOY, SETON HALL, GR, OF ^
Kyler Fedko, UConn, So., OF
Connor Schultz, Butler, Sr., RHP ^
Gordon Graceffo, Villanova, Jr., RHP
Ian Murphy, St. John's, RS-So., RHP
Nick Swack, Xavier, Sr., LHP
Caleb Wurster, UConn, LHP (Relief)

^ denotes unanimous selection

Preseason Coaches' Poll
First place votes in ( )
1. Connecticut – 45 pts. (5)
2. Creighton – 44 pts. (2)
3. SETON HALL – 35 pts. (1)
4. St. John's – 33 pts.
5. Xavier – 26 pts.
6. Villanova – 19 pts.
7. Butler – 15 pts.
8. Georgetown – 7 pts.