Despite suffering the loss of a few digits as a toddler, Levi Prater seems destined for greatness. The Byng, Oklahoma native signed with the Sooners as a left-handed pitcher and stepped onto campus with a mission. During a freshman campaign, the tenacity showcased by the youngster produced 33 appearances — an OU Freshman Record — alongside four starts. Now, that same determination instilled in Prater at a young age earned the LHP a spot on the Freshman All-American team.
Congrats to Levi Prater for being named a Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper! pic.twitter.com/ZmGty5SnIg
— Oklahoma Baseball (@OU_Baseball) June 6, 2018
Over the course of the year, Skip Johnson entrusted Prater with 50.2 innings of work. In that span, the lefty held opponents to a .169 batting average while striking out 64 batters faced. There will be lofty expectations placed on the shoulders of Prater moving forward. He’ll look to fill a void left by those opting to sign with the MLB to provide stability in the bullpen for the foreseeable future.
Previously, Prater was a unanimous Big 12 All-Freshman Team selection. However, he becomes the first pitcher on the Oklahoma roster to earn Freshman All-American Team honors since Jake Irvin did so in 2016.