JONESBORO, Ark. (5/24/21) – A pair of Arkansas State baseball players earned All-Sun Belt Conference honors on Monday, as Ben Klutts and Tyler Duncan garnered first and second-team laurels, respectively.
Klutts earned First Team All-Sun Belt honors at third base. His honor marks the first time since 2018 (Jeremy Brown, utility) that A-State boasts a member on the first team, and the first time since Tanner Ring in 2016 that the Red Wolves had a first-team third baseman.
The Poteau, Oklahoma, native ranks second on the team in hitting (.317) with a team-best 60 hits, seven homers and 28 RBI. His 16 doubles ranks second in the conference and are the most by an A-State hitter since Jeremy Brown's 20 in 2018, while he is slugging at a .524 mark. Klutts played his best in conference play, leading the Red Wolves in hitting (.344, 32 hits) with eight doubles, four home runs and 15 runs driven in. He also boasts a .559 slugging percentage in league action.
Duncan garnered a spot on the second team in the outfield as A-State's top power bat. The Sooke, British Columbia, native is third on the squad with a .300 average while being second on the team with 57 hits. His 10 home runs lead the Red Wolves while he ranks atop the Sun Belt Conference with 52 RBI – the most by an A-State hitter since 2014.
This is the first time since 2018 that A-State has placed two players on the all-conference squads.
Klutts, Duncan and the rest of the Red Wolves open up Sun Belt Conference Tournament play at 12:30 p.m. CT Tuesday at Riverwalk Stadium in Montgomery, Alabama. A-State will open up Pool D play versus East No. 3 seed Troy before taking on West No. 2 seed UT Arlington Thursday at 3 p.m.
For the latest on A-State Baseball, follow the team by liking Arkansas State Baseball on Facebook, as well as following the team on Twitter (@AStateBaseball) and Instagram (astatebaseball).
2021 Sun Belt Conference Postseason Awards
Player of the Year
Mason McWhorter, Georgia Southern (Gr., OF – Cumming, Ga.)
Pitcher of the Year
Hayden Arnold, Little Rock (Sr., P – Rison, Ark.)
Freshman of the Year
Garrett Gainous, Troy (Fr., P – Cairo, Ga.)
Newcomer of the Year
Drake Osborn, Louisiana (Sr., C – Sandia, Texas)
Ron Maestri Coach of the Year
Mark Calvi, South Alabama
All-Sun Belt First Team
Connor Cooke, Louisiana (So., P – Sulphur, La.)
Hayden Arnold, Little Rock (Sr., P – Rison, Ark.)
Carlos Tavera, UTA (Jr., P – Fort Worth, Texas)
Nick Jones, Georgia Southern (Sr., RP – Johns Creek, Ga.)
Drake Osborn, Louisiana (Sr., C – Sandia, Texas)
Robbie Young, App State (Sr., 1B – Louisville, Ky.)
Luke Drumheller, App State (Jr., 2B – Charlotte, N.C.)
Drew Frederic, Troy (Sr., SS – Niceville, Fla.)
Ben Klutts, Arkansas State (Jr., 3B – Poteau, Okla.)
Mason McWhorter, Georgia Southern (Gr., OF – Cumming, Ga.)
Logan Cerny, Troy (So., OF – Lawrenceville, Ga.)
Ethan Wilson, South Alabama (Jr., OF – Andalusia, Ala.)
Cameron Jones, Georgia State (Fr., UT – Kathleen, Ga.)
Ben Fitzgerald, Louisiana (Jr., DH – Mason City, Iowa)
All-Sun Belt Second Team
JoJo Booker, South Alabama (Sr., P – Brewton, Ala.)
Tyler Tuthill, App State (Jr, P – Clayton, N.C.)
Jeremy Lee, South Alabama (Fr., P – Valley Grand, Ala.)
Aaron Barkley, Little Rock (Gr., RP – El Cajon, Calif.)
BT Riopelle, Coastal Carolina (Jr., C – Marietta, Ga.)
Dylan Paul, UTA (RS Sr., 1B – Allen, Texas)
Travis Washburn, ULM (So., 2B – Conroe, Texas)
Eric Brown, Coastal Carolina (So., SS – Bossier City, La.)
Grant Schulz, ULM (Jr., 3B – Mereaux, La.)
Tyler Duncan, Arkansas State (Sr., OF – Sooke, British Columbia, Canada)
Parker Chavers, Coastal Carolina (RS Jr., OF – Montgomery, Ala.)
Josh Smith, Georgia State (So., OF – College Park, Ga.)
Andrew Miller, UTA (Sr., UT – Frisco, Texas)
Noah Ledford, Georgia Southern (Jr., DH – Buford, Ga.)
