LEXINGTON, Ky. - D3baseball.com released its preseason All-American squads earlier today and Centre senior utility man and two-time All-American Ben Prather has been named a preseason First Team All-American.

Prather, who became Centre baseball's first ever All-American of any degree as a sophomore in 2024, earned First Team All-America honors from the American Baseball Coaches Association as a junior, as well as Second Team honors from d3baseball.com. He had another excellent statistical campaign in 2025 as one of the most versatile players in the country. Playing six different positions, Prather put his name in the Centre record book several times in 2025. His 66 hits were a new single season program high, topping his previous school record of 64 the year before. His 41 RBIs were the fourth most in a season in program history, and he also hit Centre baseball single-season top ten marks in stolen bases, runs scored and walks. He delivered both of the Colonels' walk-off hits in 2025, most notably a ninth inning grand slam to defeat Berry in an SAA Tournament elimination game.

On the mound, Prather went 8-0 with a 2.62 ERA, earning victories for the Colonels in the SAA Tournament and NCAA Tournament. His eight wins equaled his school record mark from 2024 for most wins in a single season and he held opposing hitters to a .221 average on the year.

Centre baseball will open the 2026 campaign with a home series against the University of Chicago on Feb. 14-15.