JONESBORO, Ark. (6/7/24) – The 2024 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District® Baseball Teams have been announced with five Red Wolves earning recognition for their academic success.
 
Hunter Draper, Wil French, Cason Tollett, Blaine Harpenau, and Jelle van der Lelie become the first honorees from the A-State baseball program since Ben Klutts (2021). All five players were selected for the first time in their careers.
 
Draper led A-State with 25 appearances during the 2024 campaign, holding a 5.54 ERA over 39 innings pitched. He finished with a 3.62 cumulative grade-point average and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in general studies.
 
French finished fourth on the team with a .280 batting average over 36 starts, recording 62 total bases and 26 RBIs while launching four home runs this season. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural business after posting a 3.55 cumulative GPA.
 
Tollett appeared in 45 games and started in 44, recording a .274 batting average and tying for the team lead in home runs. He earned a bachelor’s degree in finance and holds a 3.56 cumulative GPA.
 
Harpenau became the Scarlet and Black’s go-to reliever in close situations, holding opponents to a .187 batting average and claiming four saves with a 3.98 ERA. He owns a 3.81 cumulative GPA and remains in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree in general studies.
 
Van der Lelie struck out a team-high 47 batters over 52.0 innings pitched and started in 11 games for the Red Wolves. He holds a 3.70 cumulative GPA and looks to graduate with a degree in general studies.
 
The 2024 Academic All-District® Baseball teams recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the diamond and in the classroom. To qualify, student-athletes must compete in 90 percent of the institution’s games played or must start in at least 66 percent of the contests. For baseball and softball pitchers, it is 17 appearances or 25 innings pitched.

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