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Georgia Tech Baseball: Wade Bailey, Joey Bart named preseason third-team All-Americans

By Dylan Callaghan-Croley

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JUNE 15: Gloves and balls in the Seattle Mariners dugout during batting practice before their game against the San Francisco Giants at AT
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JUNE 15: Gloves and balls in the Seattle Mariners dugout during batting practice before their game against the San Francisco Giants at AT /
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Georgia Tech baseball stars Wade Bailey and Joey Bart have been named to Collegiate Baseball Newspaper’s 2018 Preseason All-American third-team.

On Monday, the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper released their three preseason All-American teams. While no Georgia Tech Baseball player made either of the first or second team squads, two Yellow Jackets made the third-team.  Those Jackets are senior infielder Wade Bailey and junior catcher Joey Bart.

The senior from Villa Rica, Georgia had a great junior season that put him on Collegiate Baseball Newspaper’s 2017 All-American second-team. He also was named to the All-ACC First team. Bailey will be getting drafted this upcoming summer in the MLB Draft, the only question is, where?

Last season, Bailey played in all 55 games for the Jackets while playing second base. At the plate, he was consistent and solid as a rock, hitting .347 with six home runs and 38 RBI. All three numbers were career highs for Bailey. The now-senior also reached base a staggering 42% of the time last season reached base via walks (30) and hit by pitches (4) more times than he struck out (31). He was also successful on six of nine base stealing attempts.  In the field, Bailey had a career low in errors, making just eight in 258 chances.

Bart has been in the news recently as he’s been named by both MLB.com and Baseball America as a top prospect in next year’s MLB Draft. The junior is expected to be a first or second round pick in next year’s draft. He is also considered one of the top, if not the top catching prospect available next year as well.

Next: Georgia Tech Football Recruiting: Jackets flip Jaylen Jackson from Cincinnati

Last season, Bart played in 44 games for the Yellow Jackets and hit .296/.370/.575 with 13 home runs and 43 RBI. Bart’s 13 home runs last year were a revelation after he hit just one during his freshman season. For his collegiate career, the Buford native is a batting .297 with 14 home runs and 74 RBI.  Bart missed 11 games due to injury that derailed the back half of last season and his summer.

The Yellow Jackets kick off their 2018 season against Minnesota on February 18th.