Kevin Michaels and Tate Ballestero Earn All-BIG EAST Honors

QUEENS, N.Y.- After tremendous debut seasons in the red and white, Kevin Michaels and Tate Ballestero have garnered All-BIG EAST honors, the conference office announced on Wednesday afternoon.

Michaels earned a selection to the All-BIG EAST First Team while Ballestero snagged a spot on the All-BIG EAST Second Team.

Wednesday's announcement marks the first all-conference bids for Michaels and Ballestero in their respective collegiate tenures.

Since 2014, St. John's has seen 34 student-athletes on the All-BIG EAST First Team, an average of more than four honorees per season.

After transferring from Palomar Community College, Michaels made the most of his first season in Queens, earning a spot on the All-BIG EAST First Team and finishing as one of the Red Storm's leading hitters. The redshirt sophomore finished 2022 with a batting average of .330 with an on-base percentage of .389 in 55 starts. Michaels finished with a team-high 24 extra-base hits, including seven home runs. The Encinitas, Calif., native tallied five hits in a game on two separate occasions this season, including when he hit for the cycle against Sacred Heart on March 20, the first by a Johnnie in 15 years. After March 15, Michaels' average never dropped below .300 following any one start. Beyond the power and average, Michaels was the leading run-producer for the Red Storm offense, tallying a team-high 46 RBIs and recording two or more RBIs in 13 games, including three outings with four or more RBIs.

Another valued addition to the Johnnies lineup, Ballestero transferred to St. John's after two seasons at the University of Virginia and enjoyed a breakout campaign at the plate. Ballestero finished his first season in a Red Storm uniform with a team-high .333 batting average and reached base at a squad-best .427 clip. The Morristown, N.J., native finished second on the team in extra-base hits with 23 and paced the Johnnies with 18 doubles and 69 total base hits. Ballestero tallied 21 starts with two or more hits, including two four-hit starts. The everyday third baseman was one of two position players to start all 55 games for St. John's this season.

2022 BIG EAST Baseball Regular Season Awards Co-Players of the Year Luke Franzoni, Xavier, Sr., 1B
Alan Roden, Creighton, So., 1B Pitcher of the Year Dylan Tebrake, Creighton, Jr., RHP Freshman of the Year Owen Carapellotti, Georgetown, Fr., C ^ Coaching Staff of the Year Georgetown, Head coach Edwin Thompson All-BIG EAST First Team ^ Austin Peterson, UConn, R-Jr., SP
^ Dylan Tebrake, Creighton, Jr., SP
^ Nolan McCarthy, Georgetown, Grad, SP
Pat Gallagher, UConn, R-So., SP
Jack Lynch, Xavier, Jr., RP
Matt Donlan, UConn, R-Jr., C
Luke Franzoni, Xavier, Sr., 1B
Ethan Stern, Georgetown, Grad, 2B
Kevin Michaels, St. John's, R-So., SS
Jared Cushing, Xavier, Jr. 3B
Korey Morton, UConn, So., DH
^ Erik Stock, UConn, Sr., OF
^ Jared Wegner, Creighton, Jr., OF
Chris Rotondo, Villanova, Sr., OF All-BIG EAST Second Team Alan Roden, Creighton, So., 1B
Jake Hyde, Georgetown, So., OF
Travis Holt, Butler, Grad, SS
Casey Dana, UConn, Grad, OF
Tommy Steier, Creighton, Jr. RP
David Smith, UConn, So., 2B
Andrew Meggs, Creighton, Jr., 2B
Jeff Holtz, Xavier, Sr., DH
Derek Drees, Butler, R-Sr., SP
Enzo Stefanoni, UConn, Grad, SP
Tate Ballestero, St. John's, R-So., 3B
Joey Castellanos, Villanova, Sr., 3B
Tyler Arella, Villanova, Sr., SP
Jack Housinger, Xavier, Sr., SS ^ denotes unanimous selection

St. John's University Athletics

Kevin Michaels and Tate Ballestero Earn All-BIG EAST Honors

Players Mentioned

Tate Ballestero

Kevin Michaels

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