Redshirt senior shortstop Trey Law and sophomore infielder Matt Thompson of the Youngstown State baseball team were each named to Perfect Game's Horizon League Preseason All-Conference Team in the website's 2024 conference preview.
Law returns for his fifth season as a Penguin after a breakout 2023 season. The Camp Hill, Pa., native was named to the All-Horizon League Second Team and the ABCA/Rawlings East All-Region Second Team last season after batting .362 and slugging .452 with 80 hits, 17 doubles, one home run and 29 RBIs. He also recorded 50 runs scored, 24 walks, 100 total bases, a .437 on-base percentage and 10 stolen bases while starting 52 games at shortstop.
Law led the Horizon League in hits in 2023 while ranking second in batting average, fifth in doubles and on-base percentage and sixth in runs scored. Law's 80 hits tied for the third most in a season in program history and were the most by a Penguin since 2010 while his 50 runs scored tied for the eighth most in a single season in school history. Law's .362 batting average was the highest mark by a Penguin since 2015. He hit safely in 43 of his final 49 games after putting together a career-best 15-game hitting streak from April 15 to May 18. Law was named Horizon League Co-Batter of the Week on Feb. 28, 2023.
Thompson returns for his sophomore season after becoming the first player in YSU history to be named Horizon League Freshman of the Year in 2023. Thompson, who was also selected to the Horizon League All-Freshman Team, batted .316 and slugged .439 with 54 hits, 10 doubles, one triple, three home runs and 28 RBIs. He played in 47 games and made 46 starts at second base during his debut collegiate campaign.
Thompson ranked eighth in the Horizon League with a .316 batting average and a .421 on-base percentage last season. The Akron, Ohio, native became just the seventh YSU freshman to bat at least .300 since YSU joined the Horizon League in 2002. He was the first YSU freshman to bat at least .300 since Jason Shirley hit .303 in 2012. Thompson batted .324 and slugged .480 with five doubles, three home runs and 20 RBIs in Horizon League play in 2023.
In addition, six different Penguins were listed among Perfect Game's Top MLB Draft Prospects in the Horizon League. Junior right-hander and Ohio State transfer Jacob Gehring was ranked the league's No. 9 prospect for the 2024 MLB Draft. He was joined on the website's top-25 prospects for 2024 by Law (No. 21), senior outfielder RJ Sherwood (No. 23) and junior catcher Ian Francis (No. 25). Thompson was listed as Perfect Game's top 2025 MLB Draft prospect while freshman outfielder Derrick Tarpley Jr. was ranked as the league's No. 2 Top MLB Draft prospect for 2026.
Youngstown State will begin its 2024 season on Friday when it opens a three-game series at Texas State. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET, and the game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
For news and updates throughout the 2024 season, follow @YSUBaseball on X and Instagram.
