The Hoover native had a major impact for Auburn as the program advanced to the College World Series for the second time in three postseasons and won a game in Omaha for the first time since 1997.
Sonny DiChiara joined some royal company Monday as he became the third player in Auburn history -- and the second of the Butch Thompson era -- to earn consensus All-America honors on the Plains. The Tigers’ first baseman joins Frank Thomas and former No. 1 overall pick Casey Mize as the only players to earn consensus All-America designation in program history.
DiChiara was named a first-team All-American by D1 Baseball, Baseball America, Perfect Game and the American Baseball Coaches Association. He also picked up second-team honors from Collegiate Baseball, College Baseball Foundation and the National College Baseball Writers Association.The consensus All-America tag caps a memorable season for DiChiara, the former Samford slugger who transferred to Auburn last summer.
DiChiara was the SEC Co-Player of the Year, a first-team All-SEC selection and a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award and Dick Howser Trophy, both of which recognize college baseball’s top player. DiChiara hit .383 on the season with a .529 on-base percentage and .777 slugging percentage. He reached base at the second-best clip among all Division I players this season, and his .
He also hit 22 home runs this season, which led Auburn and ranked fourth in the SEC along with second-most in school history -- just one shy of matching 2010 SEC Player of the Year Hunter Morris. DiChiara’s 22 home runs this season gave him 63 for his career, which are tied for the second-most among active D-I players.
DiChiara drove in 59 runs for the Tigers this season while also drawing 68 walks on the year. That marked the second-most in a single season in team history and helped DiChiara reach base at a historic clip. Along with finishing second only to Thomas in single-season on-base percentage at Auburn, DiChiara reached base in all but two of Auburn’s 65 games, and he reached base multiple times in 49 of the Tigers’ games.
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