LITTLE ROCK – With the 2017 baseball season on the horizon, the Sun Belt Conference named Little Rock baseball’s Dalton Thomas as its Preseason Player of the Year on Thursday morning. In addition to Preseason Player of the Year honors, Thomas was also named to the Sun Belt’s Preseason All-Conference Team.

Thomas is the first Trojan to ever earn Sun Belt Preseason Player of the Year honors.

Thomas was awarded All-Sun Belt First Team honors in 2016 after hitting .375 with 87 hits, 46 runs, 19 doubles, nine home runs, 52 RBIs, a .415 on-base percentage and a .582 slugging percentage. The Meridian Community College transfer also put together a 21-game hitting streak, 28 multiple-hit games and 12 multiple-RBI games for the Trojans.

Earlier in the day, Perfect Game named Thomas as its pick for Sun Belt Player of the Year, and he also earned a spot on the website’s Sun Belt Preseason All-Conference Team.

Thomas and the Trojans will begin the 2017 season at Oral Roberts on Feb. 17 in Tulsa, Okla.

The Sun Belt’s Preseason Team Poll will be announced on Wednesday, Feb. 8.

2017 Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference Baseball Team
Andrew Beckwith (Coastal Carolina, Starting Pitcher, Senior)
Evan Challenger (Georgia Southern, Starting Pitcher, Redshirt Senior)
Gunner Leger (Louisiana, Starting Pitcher, Junior)
Dylan Moore (Louisiana, Relief Pitcher, Junior)
Brady Cox (UT Arlington, Catcher, Senior)
Ryan Cleveland (Georgia Southern, First Base, Senior)
Jonathan Ortega (Texas State, Second Base, Sophomore)
Drew LaBounty (South Alabama, Shortstop, Redshirt Junior)
Seth Lancaster (Coastal Carolina, Third Base, Junior)
Dalton Thomas (Little Rock, Outfield, Senior)
Billy Cooke (Coastal Carolina, Outfield, Junior)
Travis Swaggerty (South Alabama, Outfield, Sophomore)
Steven Sensley (Louisiana, Designated Hitter, Junior)
Joe Robbins (Louisiana, Utility Player, Senior)

2017 Preseason Player of the Year
Dalton Thomas (Little Rock, Outfield, Senior)

2017 Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Andrew Beckwith (Coastal Carolina, Starting Pitcher, Senior)

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