Elian Merejo
Ben Ennis

Baseball

Merejo Named Preseason All-America, All-Sun Belt

With the 2021 baseball season opening this weekend, Georgia State's top returnee, senior Elian Merejo has been named to the Preseason All-America third team by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association as well as the Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference team, as voted upon by the league head coaches.

Merejo, the senior from Orlando, Fla., who returned for a fifth season, was selected as the designated hitter on the preseason teams but will also play in the outfield.

Georgia State opens the season by hosting 14th-ranked West Virginia for a four-game series, Friday through Sunday at the GSU Baseball Complex. Opening Day is Friday at 2 p.m.

"We're thrilled to have Elian back for another year as the anchor of our lineup," head coach Brad Stromdahl said. "The guy can just flat-out hit. He's our go-to guy."

In 2020, Merejo led the Panthers with a .407 batting average, a .763 slugging percentage and a .527 on-base percentage, along five homers, six doubles and 13 RBI in 16 games. He was second on the team with 18 runs scored.

He ranked in the top five in the Sun Belt in average (3rd), homers (4th), slugging (.763/2nd), on-base percentage (.527/T-2nd) and walks (15/T-2nd).

One of his highlights came on Opening Day 2020, when scored the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning in the Panthers' 9-8 victory over Cincinnati. He went on to be named Sun Belt Player of the Week.

Following the abbreviated season, he was recognized as the Sun Belt's "Breakout Player" by D1 Baseball.

In his two seasons in a Panther uniform, Merejo has hit .300 with 12 home runs and 48 RBI in 67 games.

 
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Players Mentioned

Elian Merejo

#18 Elian Merejo

C
6' 0"
Senior
R/R

Players Mentioned

Elian Merejo

#18 Elian Merejo

6' 0"
Senior
R/R
C