The Eastern Kentucky University baseball team has reason to be optimistic heading into the 2023 season as two of its star players, Will King and Logan Thomason, were recently named to the Preseason ASUN All-Conference Team by Perfect Game.
King, a junior catcher, is coming off a standout 2022 campaign that saw him earn First Team All-ASUN Conference honors, a spot on the ASUN All-Tournament Team, and recognition as a player to watch for the Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award. The New York, New York native batted .313 with 19 doubles, 11 home runs, 60 RBIs and 31 runs, showcasing his ability as a consistent hitter with impressive power. Perfect Game lauded King as a “plus defender, consistent hitter with mature approach and power.”
Thomason, a senior middle infielder, was equally impressive last season, hitting .284 with 14 doubles, six home runs, 41 RBIs and 52 runs scored. He ranked fourth in the ASUN in walks and 11th in runs, demonstrating his quick hands and sound approach at the plate. Perfect Game described him as “sure-handed in the field,” with only seven errors last season, and possessing “gap-to-gap power with quick hands and a sound approach.”
The Colonels finished the 2022 season with a 38-20 record, earning the title of champions of the ASUN Conference West Division and tying for the best conference record in the ASUN. It was the most wins for an EKU team since 1990, and the Colonels’ three wins in pool play earned them a spot in the ASUN Tournament semifinals. The team’s success hasn’t gone unnoticed, as it was ranked 46th in the recent Fabulous 50 NCAA Division I Pre-Season Poll presented by Big League Chew, higher than well-established programs such as South Carolina, Alabama, and BYU.
With King and Thomason leading the way, the Eastern Kentucky University baseball team is poised for another successful season. The Colonels will open the 2023 season on February 17th against Alabama-Birmingham in Mobile, Alabama, and fans can expect to see more exciting performances from this talented duo.