SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Missouri State's Dakota Kotowski added another honor to his list of first-year accomplishments Wednesday, as Collegiate Baseball tabbed the outfielder for its 2019 Freshman All-America squad, marking the seventh time in nine seasons at least one Bear has been selected for the publication's top rookie squad.

Kotowski, the lone Valley freshman named to Collegiate Baseball's distinguished list, made an immediate impact for the Bears in his first season in Maroon and White, becoming the ninth MSU player to be honored as the top freshman in The Valley. He finished his freshman year with 12 home runs and a .576 slugging percentage to lead the Bears en route to earning first-team All MVC recognition. Kotowski ranked second overall in the MVC in home runs and third in slugging percentage and rated among the top 15 MVC hitters in batting, slugging, on-base percentage, home runs, RBI, total bases and walks during league play.

The Channahon, Ill., native's home run total ranks third on MSU's freshman chart, trailing only former big leaguers Ryan Howard (19 in 1999) and Jason Hart (15 in 1996). Additionally, he became the sixth Bear to earn the MVC's Freshman of the Year award over the last decade, as well as the 42nd Missouri State baseball player to garner All-America status in the 56-year history of the program.