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By Jeff Agase

Daily Bruin Staff

jagase@media.ucla.edu

  Daily Bruin File Photo

Freshman Wes Whisler was named a Third Team All-American by Baseball America. Whisler broke Chase Utley’s UCLA freshman single-season home run record.

UCLA freshman sensation Wes Whisler added to his growing collection another accolade last week, while catcher Josh Arhart and pitcher Wade Clark inked free agent contracts.

The do-everything Whisler, a pitcher/first baseman/designated hitter from Noblesville, Ind., was named a Third Team All-American by Baseball America. It came just days after the publication dubbed Whisler a First Team Freshman All-American.

“I expected more than good things from Wes,” UCLA head coach Gary Adams said. “I expected great things. But what surprised me was that he caught on so quickly in his freshman year.”

Whisler is just the second UCLA freshman to land on the All-American team, joining Garret Atkins, who was a selection in 1998. He also rode a torrid finish to the year to brake Chase Utley’s UCLA freshman single-season home run record.

After a shaky feeling-out process, Whisler exploded onto the collegiate scene, finishing with a .320 average, 18 home runs, and a 5-2 pitching record with a 4.06 ERA. His versatility and offensive prowess aided the Bruins when starting pitcher Casey Janssen and batting average leader Ben Francisco both went down with mid-season injuries.

It came as little surprise to Adams, then, that Whisler’s renaissance coincided with his team’s late-season improvement.

“He hates to lose, hates to fail and loves to succeed,” Adams said. “We were playing with such mediocrity that I think he just said, ‘I’m tired of this, so I’m going to do my part to change things and turn things around.’”

Arhart, a senior catcher from Tustin, Calif., signed a contract with the Princeton Devil Rays of the rookie-level Appalachian League. After not being drafted, he joined the team for its late season, which began June 18.

Arhart was second on the Bruins in batting average among regular starters, and his 37 RBI put him behind only Whisler and fellow senior Adam Berry. He improved his throw to second base and caught 17 of 53 men attempting to steal base.

“I think his senior year he got rid of the ball quicker,” Adams said. “He improved himself in three areas – getting rid of the ball quicker, accuracy and strength, and if you improve a little bit in each area you might improve one to two tenths of a second and it can make all the difference.”

Mock draft predictions had Arhart going as high as the 15th round, but his name was not called on draft day. Neither was Clark’s, despite the 6-foot-7, 235 pound righty’s imposing mound presence and big-league build.

Clark struggled to find his range in his three years at UCLA, ending with a 6.88 ERA in 69.1 innings but plenty of potential.

“He’s not wild, but he has to locate his pitches a little bit better,” Adams said.

Clark will play for the Detroit Tigers organization in the short-season Rookie Gulf Coast League.