University of Minnesota Athletics
Friday, March 8
Seattle, WA
5:00 PM
University of Minnesota
vs
Oregon State
Players Mentioned
IF
/ Baseball
IF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
IF
/ Baseball
1B/C
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
IF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
IF
/ Baseball
IF/OF
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
Photo by: Jaylynn Nash
Preview: Seattle Baseball Showcase
3/7/2019 1:00:00 PM | Baseball
SEATTLE – The Gopher Baseball team continues to navigate its way through one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the nation as Minnesota (2-8) travels to the Seattle Baseball Showcase this weekend at T-Mobile Park, home of the Seattle Mariners. The Maroon & Gold face No. 4 Oregon State in a rematch from earlier this season, San Diego, and Washington in a rematch from 2018. The Gophers then stick around for a match-up with the Redhawks of Seattle University on Monday.
Against the Competition
Minnesota could not slow the defending College World Series champions earlier this season in Arizona, falling 13-1 to Oregon State on Feb. 17. Patrick Fredrickson allowed two runs in 5.0 innings against the Beavers last season. Jordan Kozicky is 4-for-11 in three games against OSU. The Beavers have taken the last seven games in the series. The Gophers have not met San Diego since 1998, splitting a four-game series with the Toreros. Washington stole one in the 10th inning, beating Minnesota 6-4 at last year's DQ Classic: Big Ten/Pac-12 Challenge at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Gophers have won four straight against Seattle. Eduardo Estrada Jr. is 4-for-12 with two RBIs and three runs scored against the Redhawks. Brett Schulze tossed 5.0 innings, allowing two runs in 2017.
No Days Off
The Gophers have battled one of the toughest schedules in the nation so far in 2019, with its opponents a combined 41-14 on the year with only Gonzaga currently holding a losing record (4-6). The road gets no easier in Seattle with Minnesota's four opponents a combined 31-14 over the next four days.
Going Streaking
Eli Wilson saw his nine-game hitting streak to begin the season and 10-game streak overall end in the series finale on Sunday against N.C. State. He did extend his streak of consecutive games reaching base to 11 over the weekend. Max Meyer now leads Minnesota with his four-game hitting streak.
Line Drives
Cole McDevitt slugged a home run in each end of Minnesota's doubleheader againtst NC State last Saturday ... Max Meyer tossed a career-high 4.2 innings in game two at N.C State last weekend ... Joshua Culliver impresed in his first start of the season on Sunday, working a season-high 5.0 innings and matching his career high of four strikeouts ... Drew Hmielewski went 2-for-4 with a double in a start on Sunday. Two of his five career hits have gone for extra bases.
NCAA Superlatives
Ben Mezzenga ranks no. 71 in the nation with his five stolen bases already in 10 games ... Minnesota ranks sixth in the Big Ten with 12 stolen bases as a team ... the Gophers rank fifth in the B1G with 15 doubles and also in sacrifice bunts with three.
Weekend Forecast
T-Mobile Park features a retractable roof; so, weather shouldn't be a factor for the Seattle Baseball Showcase.
Friday (3pm PT): Mostly cloudy ... High/Low: 45°/34° ... Winds: S 6 mph ... Precipitation: 42%
Saturday (11am PT): Times of clouds and sun ... High/Low: 48°/32° ... Winds: W 5 mph ... Precipitation: 20%
Sunday (7pm PT): Mostly sunny ... High/Low: 50°/32° ... Winds: N 6 mph ... Precipitation: 8%
Monday (11:30am PT): Mostly cloudy ... High/Low: 51°/40° ... Winds: SSW 6 mph ... Precipitation: 30%
Road to 1,300 Wins
John Anderson entered 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.
Preseason All-Americans
Sophomore pitchers Patrick Fredrickson and Meyer received Preseason All-America recognition from four organizations to begin 2019. Fredrickson landed Second Team selections from Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, NCBWA, and Perfect Game, and a Third Team pick from D1Baseball. Meyer landed on D1Baseball's First Team, the Second Team from both NCBWA and Perfect Game, and Third Team from Collegiate Baseball.
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.
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.
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 Pat Casey expands his duties with the staff.
America's Big Ten Team
The Golden Gophers will be featured on national television seven times this season: five games on Big Ten Network, one on Fox Sports 1, and another on ESPNU. Minnesota makes its television debut on April 5 at Michigan followed by nationally broadcasted action on April 14 hosting Illinois, April 26 & 28 at Indiana, May 3-4 hosting Ohio State, and May 11 hosting Maryland. The Gophers finished 8-3 in televised games during the 2018 season.
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.
Returning All-Big Ten Selections
Minnesota earned seven All-Big Ten selections last season in addition to John Anderson earning the 2018 Big Ten Coach of the Year award. The Gophers return the Big Ten Freshman and Pitcher of the Year in 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.
Gopher Baseball season tickets remain available! 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. Single-game tickets for all Siebert Field home games are also available by clicking here.
Against the Competition
Minnesota could not slow the defending College World Series champions earlier this season in Arizona, falling 13-1 to Oregon State on Feb. 17. Patrick Fredrickson allowed two runs in 5.0 innings against the Beavers last season. Jordan Kozicky is 4-for-11 in three games against OSU. The Beavers have taken the last seven games in the series. The Gophers have not met San Diego since 1998, splitting a four-game series with the Toreros. Washington stole one in the 10th inning, beating Minnesota 6-4 at last year's DQ Classic: Big Ten/Pac-12 Challenge at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Gophers have won four straight against Seattle. Eduardo Estrada Jr. is 4-for-12 with two RBIs and three runs scored against the Redhawks. Brett Schulze tossed 5.0 innings, allowing two runs in 2017.
No Days Off
The Gophers have battled one of the toughest schedules in the nation so far in 2019, with its opponents a combined 41-14 on the year with only Gonzaga currently holding a losing record (4-6). The road gets no easier in Seattle with Minnesota's four opponents a combined 31-14 over the next four days.
Going Streaking
Eli Wilson saw his nine-game hitting streak to begin the season and 10-game streak overall end in the series finale on Sunday against N.C. State. He did extend his streak of consecutive games reaching base to 11 over the weekend. Max Meyer now leads Minnesota with his four-game hitting streak.
Line Drives
Cole McDevitt slugged a home run in each end of Minnesota's doubleheader againtst NC State last Saturday ... Max Meyer tossed a career-high 4.2 innings in game two at N.C State last weekend ... Joshua Culliver impresed in his first start of the season on Sunday, working a season-high 5.0 innings and matching his career high of four strikeouts ... Drew Hmielewski went 2-for-4 with a double in a start on Sunday. Two of his five career hits have gone for extra bases.
NCAA Superlatives
Ben Mezzenga ranks no. 71 in the nation with his five stolen bases already in 10 games ... Minnesota ranks sixth in the Big Ten with 12 stolen bases as a team ... the Gophers rank fifth in the B1G with 15 doubles and also in sacrifice bunts with three.
Weekend Forecast
T-Mobile Park features a retractable roof; so, weather shouldn't be a factor for the Seattle Baseball Showcase.
Friday (3pm PT): Mostly cloudy ... High/Low: 45°/34° ... Winds: S 6 mph ... Precipitation: 42%
Saturday (11am PT): Times of clouds and sun ... High/Low: 48°/32° ... Winds: W 5 mph ... Precipitation: 20%
Sunday (7pm PT): Mostly sunny ... High/Low: 50°/32° ... Winds: N 6 mph ... Precipitation: 8%
Monday (11:30am PT): Mostly cloudy ... High/Low: 51°/40° ... Winds: SSW 6 mph ... Precipitation: 30%
Road to 1,300 Wins
John Anderson entered 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.
Preseason All-Americans
Sophomore pitchers Patrick Fredrickson and Meyer received Preseason All-America recognition from four organizations to begin 2019. Fredrickson landed Second Team selections from Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, NCBWA, and Perfect Game, and a Third Team pick from D1Baseball. Meyer landed on D1Baseball's First Team, the Second Team from both NCBWA and Perfect Game, and Third Team from Collegiate Baseball.
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.
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.
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 Pat Casey expands his duties with the staff.
America's Big Ten Team
The Golden Gophers will be featured on national television seven times this season: five games on Big Ten Network, one on Fox Sports 1, and another on ESPNU. Minnesota makes its television debut on April 5 at Michigan followed by nationally broadcasted action on April 14 hosting Illinois, April 26 & 28 at Indiana, May 3-4 hosting Ohio State, and May 11 hosting Maryland. The Gophers finished 8-3 in televised games during the 2018 season.
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.
Returning All-Big Ten Selections
Minnesota earned seven All-Big Ten selections last season in addition to John Anderson earning the 2018 Big Ten Coach of the Year award. The Gophers return the Big Ten Freshman and Pitcher of the Year in 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.
Gopher Baseball season tickets remain available! 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. Single-game tickets for all Siebert Field home games are also available by clicking here.
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