University of Minnesota Athletics
Friday, February 15
Surprise, AZ
6:00 PM
University of Minnesota
vs
Gonzaga
Players Mentioned
IF
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IF
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RHP
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OF
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IF
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1B/C
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RHP
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OF
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IF/OF
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Preview: Gophers Open 2019 at the College Baseball Classic
2/14/2019 9:00:00 AM | Baseball
The defending Big Ten Regular Season and Tournament champion Gopher Baseball team will open the 2019 campaign at the College Baseball Classic in Surprise, Arizona this weekend facing a field of tough competition: 2018 College World Series champion and no. 8-ranked Oregon State, fellow 2018 NCAA Tournament team Gonzaga, and New Mexico.
Gophers in the Polls
Minnesota enters the season ranked No. 24 by Baseball America. The Gophers ended 2018 as the number 13th ranked team by RPI, and no. 8 at its peak among the major national polls. Also this preseason, both Perfect Game and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) ranked the Maroon & Gold as the No. 27 national team while the Collegiate Baseball newspaper ranked them No. 28 in the Preseason Fabulous 40. The USA Today Coaches Poll placed Minnesota with the third-highest total among the teams receiving votes just outside the top 25.
Preseason All-Americans
Sophomore pitchers Patrick Fredrickson and Max Meyer received Preseason All-America recognition from four organizations to begin 2019. Fredrickson landed Second Team recognition from Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, NCBWA, and Perfect Game, and a Third Team selection from D1Baseball. Meyer landed on D1Baseball's First Team, the Second Team from both NCBWA and Perfect Game, and Third Team from Collegiate Baseball.
Against the Competition
No one on the current Gophers squad has faced either New Mexico or Gonzaga with Minnesota's last meeting with each team coming in 2010 and 2011, respectively. Oregon State has won six-straight against the Gophers after knocking off Minnesota in the NCAA Super Regional Round last season on their way to an NCAA College World Series Championship. Fredrickson allowed just two earned in 5.0 innings against the Beavers, striking out three. Jordan Kozicky batted 3-for-7 in two games against OSU, while Ben Mezzenga was 4-for-8 with an RBI in the series.
USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award
Meyer became just the second Golden Gopher in the 42-year history of the USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award to be named to its Preseason Watch List on Feb. 7. Pitcher Tom Windle was the last student athlete to represent Minnesota back in 2013. Meyer competed for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team this summer, leading the way with 15 strikeouts and seven saves in eight appearances spanning 8.0 innings.
NCBWA Stopper of the Year
Meyer also landed on the NCBWA's Stopper of the Year Preseason Watch List announced Feb. 11. The sophomore right-hander previously made the watch list at midseason last year and was a finalist for the award in 2018 finishing with 16 saves, a Gopher program record.
Top of the Class
Fredrickson, Meyer, and senior first baseman Cole McDevitt also earned preseason recognition from Perfect Game among the best athletes in their given class. Meyer ranked no. 20 among sophomores and Fredrickson no. 56. McDevitt ranked no. 34 among seniors in 2019.
B1G Time Favorite
Big Ten coaches selected the defending champion Gophers to repeat in the Big Ten Preseason Coaches Poll announced Wednesday. Mezzenga and hurlers Fredrickson and Meyer were each chosen as Players to Watch in league play this season. Fredrickson, the reigning Big Ten Pitcher and Freshman of the Year, and Meyer each received First Team All-Big Ten honors last year, while Mezzenga was a Second Team selection.
Ahead of the Curve
Minnesota's nine-member rookie class ranked no. 37 according to Collegiate Baseball's NCAA Division I "2018 Recruiting Championship" rankings. The Gophers topped the Big Ten as the only team to crack the top-40 with nine conference opponents receiving recognition among other top classes outside the rankings. Chase Stanke and Gus Radel each received national rankings from both Perfect Game and Prep Baseball Report, while Noah Berghammer, Otto Grimm, Zack Raabe, and Andrew Wilhite were each ranked as the top players at their position in their home state. Six members of the incoming class achieved All-America status during their prep careers.
A New Look Dugout
Following the retirement of Gophers assistant head coach Rob Fornasiere following the 2018 season, John Anderson has revamped his coaching staff. Pitching coach Ty McDevitt has been elevated to assistant coach in his third season, former Upper Iowa University head coach Brandon Hunt joins the Maroon & Gold as a volunteer assistant, Golden Gopher alum and long-time Atlantic League standout Dan Lyons returns as a student assistant, and former head student manager Ryan Goll officially joins the staff as an undergraduate assistant. Hitting coach and recruiting coordinator Patrick Casey expands his duties with the staff.
Road to 1,300 Wins
John Anderson enters the 2019 season needing just 12 victories to reach 1,300 in his career, moving him into a tie with Fresno State's Bob Bennett (1967, 1970-2002) for 26th all-time. Anderson is already the seventh-winningest active coach in NCAA baseball.
A Whole Year in Airports
Along with scheduling stiff competition in the non-conference slate, Minnesota will open its season with 21-straight games on the road in seven cities across four time zones. The Gophers are without their home-away-from-home in U.S. Bank Stadium this season due to the NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four in Minneapolis.
Going Streaking
Mezzenga carries a 13-game hitting streak into the new season and a 32-game streak of successfully reaching base. Kozicky and McDevitt each have a two-game hitting streak, next highest among Minnesota's returners. McDevitt's eight-game reached-base streak is the second-longest for the Gophers, while Kozicky has reached in five straight.
Returning All-Big Ten Selections
Minnesota earned seven All-Big Ten selections last season along with head coach John Anderson earning the 2018 Big Ten Coach of the Year award. The Gophers return the Big Ten Freshman and Pitcher of the Year starting pitcher Patrick Fredrickson and fellow All-Big Ten First Team selection relief pitcher Max Meyer as well as Second Team outfielder Ben Mezzenga. Senior infielder/catcher Cole McDevitt also returns having earned an All-Big Ten First Team selection back in 2017.
Gophers in the Pros
Minnesota continues to produce talent at the next level with four players drafted in 2018 (Micah Coffey, Reggie Meyer, Jackson Rose, and Terrin Vavra) and a pair of former Gophers reaching the big leagues for the first time last season. Ben Meyer ('15) made his debut with the Miami Marlins on June 7 last year and received an invite to major league camp this spring. D.J. Snelten ('13) made his big league debut on April 29 with the San Francisco Giants. Now with the Baltimore Orioles, he'll look to earn a return trip to The Show this season. In total, 12 former Gophers are currently serving their time in MLB organizations.
The action gets underway Friday at Surprise Stadium with Minnesota opening against Gonzaga. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. CT.
Gopher Baseball season tickets are available now! The Maroon & Gold return to campus on Friday, March 29 against Nebraska. This 21-game package includes Minnesota's game against Oklahoma at Target Field on Saturday, April 20. Click here to purchase yours today.
Gophers in the Polls
Minnesota enters the season ranked No. 24 by Baseball America. The Gophers ended 2018 as the number 13th ranked team by RPI, and no. 8 at its peak among the major national polls. Also this preseason, both Perfect Game and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) ranked the Maroon & Gold as the No. 27 national team while the Collegiate Baseball newspaper ranked them No. 28 in the Preseason Fabulous 40. The USA Today Coaches Poll placed Minnesota with the third-highest total among the teams receiving votes just outside the top 25.
Preseason All-Americans
Sophomore pitchers Patrick Fredrickson and Max Meyer received Preseason All-America recognition from four organizations to begin 2019. Fredrickson landed Second Team recognition from Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, NCBWA, and Perfect Game, and a Third Team selection from D1Baseball. Meyer landed on D1Baseball's First Team, the Second Team from both NCBWA and Perfect Game, and Third Team from Collegiate Baseball.
Against the Competition
No one on the current Gophers squad has faced either New Mexico or Gonzaga with Minnesota's last meeting with each team coming in 2010 and 2011, respectively. Oregon State has won six-straight against the Gophers after knocking off Minnesota in the NCAA Super Regional Round last season on their way to an NCAA College World Series Championship. Fredrickson allowed just two earned in 5.0 innings against the Beavers, striking out three. Jordan Kozicky batted 3-for-7 in two games against OSU, while Ben Mezzenga was 4-for-8 with an RBI in the series.
USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award
Meyer became just the second Golden Gopher in the 42-year history of the USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award to be named to its Preseason Watch List on Feb. 7. Pitcher Tom Windle was the last student athlete to represent Minnesota back in 2013. Meyer competed for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team this summer, leading the way with 15 strikeouts and seven saves in eight appearances spanning 8.0 innings.
NCBWA Stopper of the Year
Meyer also landed on the NCBWA's Stopper of the Year Preseason Watch List announced Feb. 11. The sophomore right-hander previously made the watch list at midseason last year and was a finalist for the award in 2018 finishing with 16 saves, a Gopher program record.
Top of the Class
Fredrickson, Meyer, and senior first baseman Cole McDevitt also earned preseason recognition from Perfect Game among the best athletes in their given class. Meyer ranked no. 20 among sophomores and Fredrickson no. 56. McDevitt ranked no. 34 among seniors in 2019.
B1G Time Favorite
Big Ten coaches selected the defending champion Gophers to repeat in the Big Ten Preseason Coaches Poll announced Wednesday. Mezzenga and hurlers Fredrickson and Meyer were each chosen as Players to Watch in league play this season. Fredrickson, the reigning Big Ten Pitcher and Freshman of the Year, and Meyer each received First Team All-Big Ten honors last year, while Mezzenga was a Second Team selection.
Ahead of the Curve
Minnesota's nine-member rookie class ranked no. 37 according to Collegiate Baseball's NCAA Division I "2018 Recruiting Championship" rankings. The Gophers topped the Big Ten as the only team to crack the top-40 with nine conference opponents receiving recognition among other top classes outside the rankings. Chase Stanke and Gus Radel each received national rankings from both Perfect Game and Prep Baseball Report, while Noah Berghammer, Otto Grimm, Zack Raabe, and Andrew Wilhite were each ranked as the top players at their position in their home state. Six members of the incoming class achieved All-America status during their prep careers.
A New Look Dugout
Following the retirement of Gophers assistant head coach Rob Fornasiere following the 2018 season, John Anderson has revamped his coaching staff. Pitching coach Ty McDevitt has been elevated to assistant coach in his third season, former Upper Iowa University head coach Brandon Hunt joins the Maroon & Gold as a volunteer assistant, Golden Gopher alum and long-time Atlantic League standout Dan Lyons returns as a student assistant, and former head student manager Ryan Goll officially joins the staff as an undergraduate assistant. Hitting coach and recruiting coordinator Patrick Casey expands his duties with the staff.
Road to 1,300 Wins
John Anderson enters the 2019 season needing just 12 victories to reach 1,300 in his career, moving him into a tie with Fresno State's Bob Bennett (1967, 1970-2002) for 26th all-time. Anderson is already the seventh-winningest active coach in NCAA baseball.
A Whole Year in Airports
Along with scheduling stiff competition in the non-conference slate, Minnesota will open its season with 21-straight games on the road in seven cities across four time zones. The Gophers are without their home-away-from-home in U.S. Bank Stadium this season due to the NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four in Minneapolis.
Going Streaking
Mezzenga carries a 13-game hitting streak into the new season and a 32-game streak of successfully reaching base. Kozicky and McDevitt each have a two-game hitting streak, next highest among Minnesota's returners. McDevitt's eight-game reached-base streak is the second-longest for the Gophers, while Kozicky has reached in five straight.
Returning All-Big Ten Selections
Minnesota earned seven All-Big Ten selections last season along with head coach John Anderson earning the 2018 Big Ten Coach of the Year award. The Gophers return the Big Ten Freshman and Pitcher of the Year starting pitcher Patrick Fredrickson and fellow All-Big Ten First Team selection relief pitcher Max Meyer as well as Second Team outfielder Ben Mezzenga. Senior infielder/catcher Cole McDevitt also returns having earned an All-Big Ten First Team selection back in 2017.
Gophers in the Pros
Minnesota continues to produce talent at the next level with four players drafted in 2018 (Micah Coffey, Reggie Meyer, Jackson Rose, and Terrin Vavra) and a pair of former Gophers reaching the big leagues for the first time last season. Ben Meyer ('15) made his debut with the Miami Marlins on June 7 last year and received an invite to major league camp this spring. D.J. Snelten ('13) made his big league debut on April 29 with the San Francisco Giants. Now with the Baltimore Orioles, he'll look to earn a return trip to The Show this season. In total, 12 former Gophers are currently serving their time in MLB organizations.
The action gets underway Friday at Surprise Stadium with Minnesota opening against Gonzaga. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. CT.
Gopher Baseball season tickets are available now! The Maroon & Gold return to campus on Friday, March 29 against Nebraska. This 21-game package includes Minnesota's game against Oklahoma at Target Field on Saturday, April 20. Click here to purchase yours today.
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