Courtesy of Lehigh Athletics Communications

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — The preseason accolades continue to pile up for junior right-handed pitcher Mason Black, who was named a Third Team Preseason All-American by Baseball America on Monday morning. The preseason accolades are chosen by scouting directors of Major League Baseball.
 
Black, entering his third season with the Mountain Hawks, was named Preseason Patriot League Pitcher of the Year by D1baseball.com on Friday afternoon as well as the No. 1 draft prospect in the league for the 2021 MLB Draft. He becomes the program's first preseason All-American since Mike Garzillo in 2016.
 
The Archbald, Pa. native went 1-2 with a 3.68 ERA in four starts last season but struck out 29 batters and walked just eight in 22 innings. He punched out nine batters in each of his final three starts of the shortened season.
 
In the summer, Black went 3-0 with a 0.64 ERA and was named Pitcher of the Year in the South Florida Collegiate Baseball League, allowing just 10 hits in 28 innings with 42 strikeouts, also starting the league's All-Star Game.
 
Black has struck out 57 batters in 55 innings with Lehigh over two seasons as he looks to become the third pitcher in the last four years to be drafted by a major league franchise. By most accounts, Black is projected to be selected in the first three rounds of the upcoming July draft.