Baseball America has named Youngstown State junior third baseman Drew Dosch its Preseason Horizon League Player of the Year in its conference preview released on Feb. 4.
Dosch was also named the top professional prospect in the conference by the publication, and YSU junior pitcher Nic Manuppelli was ranked as the third-best prospect. Baseball America writer Jim Callis wrote Dosch "starred in the Cape Cod League during the summer, showing pure hitting ability to all fields and some power potential." Regarding Manuppelli, Callis wrote he "took a huge step forward in the New England Collegiate League, where he showed a 90-94 mph fastball and a quality changeup with tumble."
Dosch batted .353 with eight home runs and 13 doubles in 55 games last season as a sophomore en route to being voted First-Team All-Horizon League. He was named the starting designated hitter in the Cape Cod All-Star Game for the West Division and finished the summer batting .326 with eight home runs and 30 RBIs for Falmouth.
Manuppelli pitched in 24 games last season for YSU, posting a 1-4 record and a save while striking out 36 batters in 37.1 innings. He pitched in the New England Collegiate League All-Star game as a member of the Laconia Muskrats and finished with a league-high eight saves and 17 strikeouts in 11.1 innings during the summer.
Milwaukee was tabbed the conference's preseason favorite, and UWM pitcher Cale Tassi was named the Preseason Pitcher of the Year. Wright State, Valparaiso, UIC and Youngstown State were picked to follow.
The Penguins begin the 2013 season next Friday, Feb. 15, at Samford.
