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University of Minnesota Athletics
Preseason Roundup
2/13/2017 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Minneapolis, Minn. - Before the 2017 season begins, the University of Minnesota baseball team and its student-athletes have been recognized in many different preseason polls and rankings.
The Gophers are picked to finish sixth in the conference by D1Baseball.com while CollegeSportsMadness.com tabs them second in the conference and 43rd in the nation overall. The Gophers also begin 2017 receiving votes in the USA Today Coaches' Poll and College Baseball Newspaper.
The junior third basemen Micah Coffey compiled 20 extra-base hits and 7 home runs last season to complement his .958 fielding percentage. His defensive performance earned him recognition as he starts the upcoming season, as D1Baseball.com recognized him as No. 28 in the country at the hot corner. Additionally, Baseball America named him the best defensive third baseman in the Big Ten.
Junior southpaw Lucas Gilbreath was named to the Big Ten Preseason All-Conference Team by Perfect Game USA. In 16 appearances out of the bullpen in 2016, Gilbreath posted a team-best 1.36 ERA. He was also named the No. 8 MLB Draft prospect in the Big Ten by D1Baseball.com for 2017 and No. 7 according to Baseball America.
Nick Lackney, Eduardo Estrada Jr., and Terrin Vavra were all listed amongst D1Baseball.com's top prospects out of the Big Ten for 2018. Vavra was also ranked the No. 11 best shortstop in the nation according to D1Baseball.com.
Vavra's counterpart at second base, sophomore Riley Smith, was named No. 45 in D1Baseball.com's Top 50 second basemen in the NCAA.
The Maroon and Gold begin play February 17 at UC-Irvine at 8:30 pm central. You can follow the action this year by following the Gophers on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
