LEXINGTON, Va. – VMI Baseball's first baseman
Grayson Fitzwater was voted to the 2025 ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division I All-Region Atlantic First Team as announced by the American Baseball Coaches Association on Tuesday.
The eight regions and 16 teams are voted on by members of the American Baseball Coaches Association, and the process is led by the ABCA NCAA Division I All-America & Coach of the Year Committee. The Chair of the ABCA NCAA D-I All-America & Coach of the Year Committee is Brian Green of Wichita State University. The committee also includes Mitch Canham (Oregon State University), Chris Curry (University of Arkansas at Little Rock), Dean Ehehalt (Monmouth University), Jeff Mercer (Indiana University), Brian O'Connor (Mississippi State University), Jim Penders (University of Connecticut), and Butch Thompson (Auburn University).
Fitzwater's junior season was one for the record books, as the lefty power hitter played and started in 52 games, helping the Keydets earn 27 victories and a winning record for the first time since 2014. At the beginning of the year, the Suffolk, Virginia, native was named Preseason All-SoCon and entered the season ranked 17th nationally among Division I first basemen by D1Baseball.com. After posting a career-high 64 hits, 53 runs, and 65 RBIs, along with a team-leading 17 home runs, Fitzwater earned All-SoCon First Team honors as a first baseman and was named a midseason top-50 first baseman by D1Baseball.com.
After his two-home run outing against William & Mary, Fitzwater now ranks first in VMI history with 159 career RBIs. He currently stands third with 41 home runs, fourth with a .595 slugging percentage, fifth with a .988 fielding percentage, and 10th with 95 walks. During the 2025 campaign, Fitzwater set a new on-base streak record, reaching base safely in 43 straight games.
The last time a Keydet was named ABCA/Rawlings All-Region was in 2018 when Matt Pita scored first-team honors. Including Fitzwater, only three Keydets have earned the honor (Matt Pita, 2018, & Rob Dickinson, 2013).
NCAA Div. I Atlantic All-Region First Team
Pos. Player Cl. School
C Luke Stevenson So. North Carolina
1B Grayson Fitzwater Jr. VMI
2B Eli Putnam Jr. Davidson
3B Ben Miller Gr. Duke
SS Marek Houston Jr. Wake Forest
OF James Quinn-Irons Jr. George Mason
OF Konni Durschlag Sr. High Point
OF Ben Parker Gr. William & Mary
DH Johnny Sweeney Sr. USC Upstate
P Jacob Morrison So. Coastal Carolina
P Jake Knapp Gr. North Carolina
P Zane Taylor Sr. UNC Wilmington
RP Lucas Mahlstedt Sr. Clemson
NCAA Div. I Atlantic All-Region Second Team
Pos. Player Cl. School
C Caden Bodine Jr. Coastal Carolina
1B Chris McHugh So. North Carolina State
2B Jackson Van De Brake Sr. North Carolina
3B Brady O'Brien Gr. Richmond
SS Eric Becker So. Virginia
OF Cam Cannarella Jr. Clemson
OF Scott Campbell Jr. USC Upstate
OF Henry Ford So. Virginia
DH Kaden Smith Jr. Charleston Southern
P Blake Gillespie Jr. Charlotte
P Clay Edmondson Jr. UNC Asheville
RP Ryan Lynch Sr. Coastal Carolina
RP Walker McDuffie Fr. North Carolina
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