Jerry Allen Eller
May 19, 2025News
May 20, 2025Lichtenberger Named Sun Belt Freshman of the Year
May 19, 2025
Contact: Matt Present (pr******@ap******.edu)
NEW ORLEANS – App State shortstop Tyler Lichtenberger has been named the Sun Belt Baseball Freshman of the Year, while he, Kameron Miller and Tyler Figueroa earned all-conference honors the league announced Monday.
Lichtenberger earned first-team recognition at shortstop, while Miller represented the league as its first-team designated hitter. Figueroa garnered second-team recognition as a utility player.
It marks the first time since 2021 that App State earned three all-conference selections, while Lichtenberger became the second App State player to earn Sun Belt Freshman of the Year honors, joining Austin St. Laurent (2022). Scott Waugh (1988), Johnny McCraw (1989), Kenny Osborne (1993) and Jaylin Davis (2013) earned Southern Conference Freshman of the Year honors.
Lichtenberger burst onto the scene in 2025, reaching base safely in each of his first 34 games played. Overall, Lichtenberger has reached base safely in 46 of his 52 games played, registering hits in 40 of those contests, including a team-leading 24 multi-hit efforts. The Boca Raton, Fla. native ranks among Sun Belt leaders in batting (seventh – .342) and hits (sixth – 69), while his 40 hits in league play are also tied for fourth-most in the conference.
Lichtenberger has impacted the game in all facets. He has hit 13 doubles and stolen seven bases, while he has been a part of 21 double plays turned defensively. He was named to the mid-season watch list for the Brooks Wallace Award, presented to the top shortstop in college baseball at the conclusion of the season.
Miller turned himself into a complete hitter in his sophomore campaign. He has reached base safely in 37 of his last 40 games, including an 11-game hitting streak during that span. Miller has belted 12 home runs this season including a 471-foot blast against Western Carolina on April 8, the longest measured for an App State player in the TrackMan Era (since 2019). Miller ranks among Sun Belt leaders in OBP (fifth – .470), walks (fifth – 41), on-base (sixth – .473), RBIs (sixth – 50) and OPS (seventh – 1.049).
In Sun Belt play the Harrisburg, N.C. native ranks among Sun Belt leaders in OBP (second – .514), walks (tied second – 27), batting average (third – .368), OPS (third – 1.146), RBIs (third – 35) hits (tied seventh – 39), slugging (eighth – .632) and home runs (ninth – 8). Miller has walked a team-leading 41 times this season after not walking once as a freshman. He has also recorded 17 multi-hit games and 15 multi-RBI efforts.
Figueroa has been one of the most versatile players in the Sun Belt this season, starting games at second base, third base, left field and center field. The Colonie, N.Y. native has played in all 53 games (starting 52), leads the team with 43 runs scored and ranks second with 14 doubles. Figueroa also paces the Mountaineers with seven stolen bases and has committed just three errors defensively. Figueroa was named the Sun Belt Player of the Week on April 8 after going 8-for-19 (.421) at the plate, with a double, three home runs, 10 RBIs and five runs scored against Western Carolina and ULM.
App State Baseball opens Sun Belt Tournament play on Tuesday at Riverwalk Stadium in Montgomery, Ala. The 10th-seeded Mountaineers will face seventh-seeded Texas State at 4 p.m. ET in an elimination game, with the winner advancing to the double-elimination portion of the tournament on Wednesday.
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