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Photo by: Brad Rempel
Minnesota Ranked No. 29 in Collegiate Baseball’s Preseason Fabulous 40
12/16/2019 10:47:00 AM | Baseball
MINNEAPOLIS – Minnesota Baseball was awarded with the No. 29 preseason ranking in Collegiate Baseball's annual Fabulous 40, as announced Monday morning. The Gophers received 428 points in the poll, coming in just ahead of Oklahoma (428) and following Georgia Tech (430) in the rankings.
With their current position at No. 29, Minnesota is the second-highest ranked Big Ten Conference team and one of only two to make the cut for the Fabulous 40. Only Michigan boasts a higher spot than the Maroon and Gold, with the Wolverines situated at No. 10 on the heels of an NCAA College World Series finals appearance in 2019.
Other Big Ten programs to receive preseason recognition via the receiving votes section are Nebraska, Ohio State, Indiana and Illinois. In being picked to finish second in the Big Ten, Minnesota comes in just ahead of Ohio State and Indiana, who are projected to finish third and fourth, respectively.
Minnesota's 2020 schedule includes 12 games against top-20 ranked teams: No. 3 Texas Tech, No. 10 Michigan, No. 13 North Carolina, No. 16 NC State, No. 18 Arizona and No. 20 TCU. Among those opponents, Michigan, North Carolina, NC State and TCU will all visit Minneapolis as part of Minnesota's stacked home slate.
Last year, the Gophers found themselves with a similar preseason status as determined by Collegiate Baseball, having been dubbed the No. 28 team at the time. This translated to a 29-27 (15-9 B1G) record in 2019, as the U finished the year tied for third in the Big Ten regular season standings.
Heading into 2020, the Gophers return 21 players from the prior campaign while adding an impressive selection of newcomers. Freshman right-handed pitcher/first baseman/outfielder Sam Ireland, transfer first baseman Ronald Sweeny and transfer right-handed pitcher Drake Davis headline a deep core of first-year players that are primed to make an impact in their debut campaigns.
The Gophers also welcome back several key starters in second baseman Zack Raabe, third baseman Jack Wassel, shortstop Jordan Kozicky, outfielder Easton Bertrand and outfielder Drew Hmielewski. These players combined for 196 hits, 22 homers, 126 RBI and 118 runs a season ago. On the pitching side, Minnesota returns ace Max Meyer and fellow right-handers Patrick Fredrickson, Sam Thoresen and Joshua Culliver to the 2020 rotation mix.
Minnesota will officially embark on their 2020 campaign on Feb. 14, when they open the Angels College Classic against Oregon in Tempe, Ariz.
With their current position at No. 29, Minnesota is the second-highest ranked Big Ten Conference team and one of only two to make the cut for the Fabulous 40. Only Michigan boasts a higher spot than the Maroon and Gold, with the Wolverines situated at No. 10 on the heels of an NCAA College World Series finals appearance in 2019.
Other Big Ten programs to receive preseason recognition via the receiving votes section are Nebraska, Ohio State, Indiana and Illinois. In being picked to finish second in the Big Ten, Minnesota comes in just ahead of Ohio State and Indiana, who are projected to finish third and fourth, respectively.
Minnesota's 2020 schedule includes 12 games against top-20 ranked teams: No. 3 Texas Tech, No. 10 Michigan, No. 13 North Carolina, No. 16 NC State, No. 18 Arizona and No. 20 TCU. Among those opponents, Michigan, North Carolina, NC State and TCU will all visit Minneapolis as part of Minnesota's stacked home slate.
Last year, the Gophers found themselves with a similar preseason status as determined by Collegiate Baseball, having been dubbed the No. 28 team at the time. This translated to a 29-27 (15-9 B1G) record in 2019, as the U finished the year tied for third in the Big Ten regular season standings.
Heading into 2020, the Gophers return 21 players from the prior campaign while adding an impressive selection of newcomers. Freshman right-handed pitcher/first baseman/outfielder Sam Ireland, transfer first baseman Ronald Sweeny and transfer right-handed pitcher Drake Davis headline a deep core of first-year players that are primed to make an impact in their debut campaigns.
The Gophers also welcome back several key starters in second baseman Zack Raabe, third baseman Jack Wassel, shortstop Jordan Kozicky, outfielder Easton Bertrand and outfielder Drew Hmielewski. These players combined for 196 hits, 22 homers, 126 RBI and 118 runs a season ago. On the pitching side, Minnesota returns ace Max Meyer and fellow right-handers Patrick Fredrickson, Sam Thoresen and Joshua Culliver to the 2020 rotation mix.
Minnesota will officially embark on their 2020 campaign on Feb. 14, when they open the Angels College Classic against Oregon in Tempe, Ariz.
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