CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Jason Goldstein was named the No. 12 senior in college baseball by Perfect Game. Goldstein is the top rated catcher among players returning for their senior season.
Goldstein had a breakout year in 2015, hitting .286 with eight home runs and 47 RBI in 59 games behind the plate. He was drafted in the 17th round of the MLB Draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers but chose to come back to Champaign as the Illini look for back-to-back Big Ten titles.
The Highland Park, Illinois, native caught nearly every inning for Illinois last season and called pitches for one of the top staffs in the nation. Goldstein helped the Illini set program records with 50 wins and a 2.55 team ERA.
Illinois opens the season Feb. 19 at Tulane. The home opener at Illinois Field is scheduled for March 25 against Penn State.
| PERFECT GAME - TOP COLLEGE SENIORS |
|---|
| Player | Position | College |
| 1. Kyle Funkhouser | RHP | Louisville |
| 2. Kyle Cody | RHP | Kentucky |
| 3. Gio Brusa | OF | Pacific |
| 4. Eric Filla | OF | UCLA |
| 5. Kyle Nowlin | OF | Eastern Kentucky |
| 6. Donnie Walton | SS | Oklahoma State |
| 7. Kyle Clement | OF | Louisiana |
| 8. Reggie McClain | RHP | Missouri |
| 9. Stefan Trosclair | 1B | Louisiana |
| 10. Kyle Smith | RHP | North Carolina State |
| 11. Kyle Simonds | RHP | Texas A&M |
| 12. Jason Goldstein | C | Illinois |
