Kerman High pitcher Carlos Salazar, a Fresno State commit and one of the nation's top professional prospects, has been named a Rawlings Preseason All-American.

The 6-1, 210-pounder right-hander, clocked at 98 mph this season, is one of only 50 players on the team, one of 11 Californians and the only Central Section representative.

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Salazar, ranked No. 15 nationally among the high school Class of 2013 by Perfect Game USA, continues to post some of the most extraordinary numbers in section history while stacking the odds against Fresno State securing him as pro scouts prepare for the June amateur draft.

This season, he's 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA, 24 strikeouts, five walks and two hits allowed in 12 innings.

Last season, the North Sequoia League Player of the Year and Bee All-Star was 11-1 with a 1.27 ERA for the section Division IV champs. He struck out 159 in 77 1/3 innings.

Salazar also hit .404 with seven home runs last season, and is hitting .346 for the 6-2 Lions this year.

He'll pitch at home in a 4 p.m. game today against Selma.

And, in what promises to be a hot ticket-seller in the 44th Fresno Easter Classic, Kerman coach Jay Preuss says Salazar "will definitely" start at perennial section power Clovis of the Tri-River Athletic Conference on March 27 at 10 a.m.

The state-class 34-school tournament -- drawing 27 teams from the section and seven elsewhere around the state -- will run March 25-27 on 10 Fresno/Clovis diamonds.