COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – On the heels of one of the most successful individual seasons in San José State history, first baseman Ruben Ibarra has been honored as an All-Mountain West second team selection.
The awards were announced by the league on Thursday afternoon. The all-conference teams were selected by a survey of the league's seven head coaches.
"Ruben was an offensive threat in every game we played and he put impressive numbers in a shortened, challenging season," says head coach Brad Sanfilippo. "Besides some of the jaw-dropping, majestic, moonshot home runs, he also hit for a high average, played a tremendous defense and was an energetic presence for his teammates every day. He was an all-around force."
This marks the second straight season that Ibarra has received All-Mountain West recognition. In addition, this marks the ninth consecutive campaign with a Spartan representative on an all-conference team.
Ibarra, a junior from Watsonville, dominated at the plate all season for SJSU en route to the second-team honors. He started 34 of the 35 contests he appeared in and belted 14 home runs on the season, a mark that set the program record for home runs per game (0.4) in a single season. The first baseman also remains in contention for the NCAA slugging percentage title, ranking No. 2 nationally at the completion of the regular season with a .850 clip.
The mark of 0.4 home runs per game has Ibarra ranked No. 8 nationally in that category. His on-base percentage is also one of the nation's best, coming in at No. 22 in all of Division I with an average of .503.
In the Mountain West, Ibarra finished the regular season slotted second in home runs. The respect for his big bat along with his patience at the plate helped draw 28 walks, ranking third-most throughout the league.
Ibarra led San José State in batting average (.381), OPS (1.353), runs (30), hits (43), doubles (9), home runs (14), RBI (32), total bases (96), slugging percentage (.850), walks (28), on-base percentage (.503) and sacrifice flies (4). The above accomplishments were achieved despite only playing in 35 games on the season.
In addition to his stellar work at the plate, the junior also flashed a golden glove defensively at first base. Ibarra led the Mountain West in fielding percentage (.996) among fielders with over 150 chances, recording 243 putouts, 28 double plays and 12 assists in the 2021 campaign.
Ibarra is one of just two Spartans (Shane Timmons, 2017 and 2018) to earn all-conference recognition in back-to-back seasons since 2010.
2021 ALL-MOUNTAIN WEST BASEBALL FIRST TEAM
Paul Skenes, Fr., C/DH, Air Force
Andrew Kachel, So., 3B, Fresno State
Tyler Bosetti, Jr., 3B, Nevada
Dario Gomez, So., OF, Nevada
Dillan Shrum, Sr., 1B, Nevada
Kyler Castillo, Jr., OF, New Mexico
Wyatt Hendrie, So., C, San Diego State
Matt Rudick, Jr., OF, San Diego State
Brendan Brooks, Jr., SS, UNLV
Jack-Thomas Wold, Jr., 1B/DH, UNLV
John Byrnes, Sr., RHP, Air Force
Cam Walty, Fr., RHP, Nevada
Shane Gustafson, Sr., RHP, Nevada
Justin Armbruester, Sr., RHP, New Mexico
2021 ALL-MOUNTAIN WEST BASEBALL SECOND TEAM
Braydon Altorfer, Jr., C/DH, Air Force
EJ Andrews, So., OF, Fresno State
Joshua Zamora, Jr., 2B, Nevada
Jaden Fein, So., OF, San Diego State
Mike Jarvis, Sr., SS, San Diego State
Ruben Ibarra, Jr., 1B, San José State
Myles Denson, Sr., OF, UNLV
Edarian Williams, So., 2B, UNLV
Jake Jackson, Jr., RHP, Nevada
Tre Brown, Jr., RHP, San Diego State
Mike Paredes, So., RHP, San Diego State
Bradley Spooner, Sr., RHP, UNLV