Brian Shaffer named Big Ten Pitcher of the Year, Tyler Blohm named Big Ten Freshman of the Year

Jake Eisenberg News

Terrapins RHP Brian Shaffer was named Big Ten Pitcher of the Year, LHP Tyler Blohm was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year, OF Marty Costes was named First Team All-B1G, and 3B AJ Lee was named Third Team All-B1G, the conference announced Tuesday.

Junior Brian Shaffer pitches during another stellar outing. Hannah Evans/Maryland Baseball Network 4/21/2017

Shaffer, who finished the regular season with a 7-3 record and a conference-best 1.67 ERA (ranked sixth nationally), is the first Maryland player to earn Big Ten Player of the Year honors. The Pylesville, Md., native—who was named to the Midseason Golden Spikes Award Watch List earlier this season—also led the conference in innings-pitched (97.0), WHIP (0.91), was second in strikeouts (98), and was third in opponents’ batting average (.206).

In 10 of his last 11 starts—including seven of eight in Big Ten play—Shaffer has eclipsed seven innings-pitched while allowing three or fewer earned runs. Over his last three starts—two in Big Ten action—Shaffer is 2-1 with a 1.50 ERA and has a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 23:2 over 24.0 innings.

Shaffer was also named First Team All-B1G.

Freshman Tyler Blohm pitches for the Terrapins. Hannah Evans/Maryland Baseball Network 4/15/2017

Blohm is the first Maryland player to be named Big Ten Freshman of the Year. The southpaw led the conference in victories (8), as well as having the third-most wins of any freshman in the nation. The Severna Park, Md., native was a mainstay in the Terps’ weekend rotation for the entire season, earning the Sunday starting role during the first weekend of the season, and moving to the Saturday starting role after two weeks of Big Ten play.

Blohm finished 8-6 with a 3.46 ERA, striking out 57 and walking 28 in 67.2 innings-pitched. His opponents’ batting average of .228 ranked sixth in the conference and was best among freshman. He tied for 12th in the conference in strikeouts (57), a mark that was also best among freshman.

Blohm was also a unanimous selection to the All-B1G Freshman team.

Sophomore Marty Costes slaps the ball for a double. Hannah Evans/Maryland Baseball Network 3/12/2017

Costes has started and played in every game Maryland has played this season, making 50 starts in right field and three starts in center field, and starting all 53 regular season games as the No. 3 hitter in the lineup. The Baltimore native finished the season eighth in the Big Ten in batting average (.336) and fifth in hits (71). The right-handed slugger also led the team in RBIs (39) for the second straights season. in addition to leading the team in RBIs (39) for the second consecutive season. Costes also hit nine home runs—good for second on the team and tied for ninth in the conference.

Costes is the first Maryland player to be named First Team All-B1G since RHP Mike Shawaryn (unanimous) and 2B Brandon Lowe were First Team All Big Ten selections in 2015.

Sophomore AJ Lee hits the ball. Hannah Evans/Maryland Baseball Network 5/9/2017

Lee enjoyed a breakout season that saw him finish third on the team in batting average (.323), home runs (7) and RBIs (31). He also tied-for second on the team in stolen bases, with 14 in 17 attempts. In Big Ten play, Lee was sixth in average (.366) over 24 conference games. The Washington, D.C., native’s success was catalyzed by his torrid month of April, when he slashed .400/.471/.650 with four home runs, three doubles, 11 runs scored, 12 RBIs and five stolen bases. He carries an 11-game hitting streak—which includes five multi-hit games—into this week’s Big Ten Tournament.

Lee is the first Maryland player to be named Third Team All-B1G since 2B Nick Dunn, RHP Brian Shaffer, and RHP Taylor Bloom were named All-Big Ten Third Team in 2016 and C Kevin Martir was named All Big Ten Third Team in 2015.

OF Zach Jancarski was named Maryland’s Sportsmanship Award recipient.