2011 Preseason All-America Baseball Team
Matt Purke
Left-handed pitcher | TCUPurke has played only one season but already has produced some of the best storylines. The Rangers drafted the 6-foot-4 lefty 14th overall in 2009, but the team's ownership issues prevented it from meeting Purke's bonus demands. So he went to TCU and led the Horned Frogs to the CWS for the first time in school history. While there, Purke drew as much attention for his Eric Gagne goggles and tilted cap as he did for the fact that his two wins in Omaha gave him the most of any pitcher in the country. Purke's mid-90s fastball and power slider put him in position to become the first pitcher taken from a deep class of college arms that includes these All-Americans, plus UConn's Matt Barnes, Vanderbilt's Sonny Gray, Virginia's Danny Hultzen and Texas A&M's John Stilson.
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ESPN Video
- 00:43
High schooler with Down syndrome sinks 3-pointer
Leslie County (Ky.) High School's Ethan Wolfe, who has Down syndrome, checks into the game and knocks down a 3-pointer.
- 02:04
Hurts surprises family with donation toward a new home
Eagles QB Jalen Hurts surprises a family, whose child is battling cancer, with a $30,000 donation to go toward a new home.
- 01:25
Ron Rivera rings the bell after final day of cancer treatment
Washington coach Ron Rivera receives an ovation as he walks down the hospital hallway to ring the bell after his final day of cancer treatment.
