via Ben Heath Named Pro-Line Athletic NCBWA Third Team All-American | astros.baseball-news-update.com.

The Houston Astros announced Sunday the signing of Penn State power-hitting catcher Ben Heath, the team’s fifth-round pick in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft.

Heath, 21, led the Nittany Lions in most offensive categories this season, hitting .369 with a school-record 19 homers, 57 RBI, 53 runs scored, 16 doubles, 148 total bases and a .747 slugging percentage.

He homered against six of Penn State’s eight Big 10 opponents, including multiple home-run games versus Illinois, Michigan State and Ohio State.

via Astros sign fifth-rounder Heath.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The awards and accolades continue to roll in for Penn State junior catcher Ben Heath (Huntersville, N.C.), who was named a PING!Baseball Second Team All-American on Friday. It already marks Heath’s second All-America honor, along with Louisville Slugger Second Team All-America laurels announced last week. The Houston Astros’s; fifth round draft pick finished a remarkable junior campaign with a school-record 19 home runs along with 57 RBI and a .369 batting average.

The honor rounds out a memorable week for Heath, who was selected by the Astros in the fifth round (#153 overall) of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Tuesday. In the process, he became the Nittany Lions’s; highest position player chosen since Greg Vogel in 1976 and the highest for an underclassman in school history.

via Ben Heath Named PING!Baseball Second Team All-American – PENN STATE OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State junior Heath Johnson (Alamogordo, N.M.) was selected by the New York Yankees in the 45th round (#1375 overall) of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player on Wednesday afternoon, bringing the Nittany Lion total of draftees to four. Johnson joins junior catcher Ben Heath (Huntersville, N.C.), who was chosen by the Houston Astros in the fifth round, along with a pair of incoming freshmen who also went Tuesday. After starting the season as an outfielder, Johnson turned to the mound in April where his fastball consistently registered in the low-to-mid 90s.

via Heath Johnson Selected by New York Yankees on Final Day of MLB Draft – PENN STATE OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State junior catcher Ben Heath (Huntersville, N.C.) was selected by the Houston Astros in the fifth round (#153 overall) of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Tuesday afternoon. The Louisville Slugger All-American joins the former organization of current Penn State head coach Robbie Wine, who reached the Major League level with Houston in 1986. Also drafted on Tuesday were two incoming freshmen – Kyle Redinger (Lebanon, Pa.) in the 11th round (Astros) and Austin Urban (Windber, Pa.) in the 27th (Baltimore Orioles).

via Ben Heath Selected by Houston Astros in the Fifth Round of the MLB Draft; Two Incoming Freshmen Also Drafted – PENN STATE OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE.

Heath becomes the Nittany Lions’ highest position player chosen since Greg Vogel in 1976.

via State College, PA – Penn State Baseball: Ben Heath Selected by the Houston Astros in the Fifth Round of the MLB Draft.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Following one of the best seasons in school history, Penn State junior catcher Ben Heath (Huntersville, N.C.) continues to receive serious attention heading into the Major League Baseball First-Year Draft which begins with the first round on Monday at 7 p.m. Heath, who has gained incredible momentum throughout his record-breaking season, was invited to more than 10 teams’ pre-draft workouts and has a chance to become Penn State’s highest selection since Nate Bump in 1998.

via Heath Gains Momentum Heading Into MLB Draft Beginning Monday – PENN STATE OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Following a sensational junior season, Penn State baseball catcher Ben Heath (Huntersville, N.C.) was recognized on Thursday by being named to the Louisville Slugger All-America Second Team as chosen by Collegiate Baseball newspaper. Penn State’s first All-American since 2002, Heath enjoyed a historic season with a school-record 19 home runs along with 57 RBI and a .369 batting average. He was recently named First Team All-Big Ten while also cracking the Dick Howser Trophy and Johnny Bench Award semifinal lists.

via Ben Heath Named to Louisville Slugger All-America Second Team – PENN STATE OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State senior pitcher David Lutz (West Chester, Pa.) was named to ESPN The Magazine's Academic All-America® Third Team, as announced by CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America) on Tuesday. Lutz becomes the second Nittany Lion pitcher in as many years to crack the Academic All-America® squad, following Paul Cianciolo, who was named to the second team in 2009.

In his first year of graduate school, Lutz marks Penn State's ninth Academic All-American® in program history. He currently owns a 3.84 GPA in the Master of Health Administration Program after earning his Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology, where he accumulated a 3.67 undergraduate GPA.

via Baseball’s Lutz Named to CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Third Team – PENN STATE OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE.