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Preview: Gophers to Take on Twins Prior to 2020 Home Opener Against TCU
2/20/2020 8:41:00 AM | Baseball
Friday, Feb. 21
Gophers vs. Twins
First Pitch: 5:05 p.m. CT
Location: Hammond Stadium
Gophers Starter: RHP Trent Schoeberl (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Twins Starter: RHP Randy Dobnak
Saturday, Feb. 22
TCU vs. Minnesota
First Pitch: 6:30 p.m. CT
Location: U.S. Bank Stadium
Minnesota Starter: RHP Max Meyer (1-0, 1.80 ERA)
TCU Starter: RHP Johnny Ray (0-0, 1.93 ERA)
Sunday, Feb. 23
TCU vs. Minnesota
First Pitch: 2:00 p.m. CST
Location: U.S. Bank Stadium
Minnesota Starter: RHP Sam Thoresen (0-1, 15.43 ERA)
TCU Starter: RHP Charles King (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Monday, Feb. 24
TCU vs. Minnesota
First Pitch: 12:15 p.m. CT
Location: U.S. Bank Stadium
Minnesota Starter: RHP Patrick Fredrickson (0-1, 16.20 ERA)
TCU Starter: LHP Russell Smith 0-0 (1.93 ERA)
Minnesota Baseball embarks on week two of their 2020 campaign after going 2-2 to begin the year at the Angels College Classic in Tempe, Ariz. Due up this week for the Gopher will be the Minnesota Twins (Feb. 21) and TCU Horned Frogs (Feb. 22-24).
While in the desert, the Gophers recorded a season-opening win against Oregon of the Pacific-12 Conference. The Maroon and Gold rode a strong Max Meyer start to clinch the victory, with the right-hander going five innings and allowing just two runs (one earned) to open up a highly anticipated junior season.
The U would ultimately go 2-0 against the Pac-12 in Tempe, also defeating mighty Arizona to conclude the trip. Ranked as the nation's No. 22 team by Baseball America, the Wildcats were completely unable to solve Minnesota starter J.P. Massey through the first 4 2/3 innings of the game. By defeating Arizona, the Gophers concluded their road trip on a high note after dropping consecutive contests to West Coast Conference opponents Pepperdine and San Diego on days two and three, respectively.
With a .500 record and a signature win already in their back pocket, the Gophers' attention now turns to a familiar neighbor in the Minnesota Twins. The U is set to take on the Twins in an exhibition game in Fort Myers, Fla. on Feb. 21 before returning back to Minneapolis for their 2020 home opener against TCU on Feb. 22.
TCU enters the weekend series at 4-0 on the campaign, having swept Kentucky (5-1, 7-1, 10-5) to kick off their year. This past Tuesday, the Horned Frogs picked up a midweek victory against Abilene Christian, 14-4.
With Minnesota starters Meyer, Sam Thoresen and Patrick Fredrickson again projected to headline the rotation against TCU, the Gophers appear primed for yet another exciting and competitive weekend of baseball.
Opening Weekend Review
Minnesota is off to a 2-2 start to the 2020 campaign after playing .500 ball through four games in Tempe, Ariz. The Gophers defeated Oregon to begin the season, before dropping consecutive contests to Pepperdine and San Diego. Finishing off the road trip with a victory, Minnesota took down Arizona, 5-2.
Taking on the Twins
Although Friday's game in Fort Myers is simply an exhibition contest, the Gophers vs. Twins match-ups have been well-contested in the past. The Maroon and Gold last took on the Twins in 2018, falling to their MLB counterpart, 2-1. Prior to that, the Gophers dropped another close battle to the Twins in 2015, 3-1. The Twins' lineup will likely consist of Minor League prospects and non-roster invitees, but the game is positioned to be a worthwhile event to attend nonetheless.
History With TCU
The Gophers last competed against TCU in a three-game series against the Horned Frogs in 2018. Although the Maroon & Gold trail the all-time series, 4-5, they claimed two-out-of-three games against TCU in Fort Worth two season ago. Minnesota won 6-3, lost 4-5 in 13 innings and won the series premiere by shutting out TCU, 8-0. Fredrickson threw five shutout innings in the 8-0 victory, scattering four hits and striking out five.
Back at the Bank
After being away from their second home for the entirety of 2019 due to the NCAA Basketball Tournament, Minnesota is set to return to U.S. Bank Stadium on Saturday. The Gophers will begin their 2020 home slate with 14 consecutive contests at U.S. Bank, running from Feb. 22 to March 11. When the U last competed at U.S. Bank in 2018, they went 8-5 with series wins against Iowa and St. John's, while sweeping series against Purdue and Penn State.
Bats Coming Alive
Through the first four games of the season, Gopher batters experienced their ups and downs but ultimately out-hit their opponents. After one week, Minnesota is hitting .296 (40-for-135), while opposing lineups own a .269 (36-for-134) clip. The U is also out-slugging their competition with a .393 SLG compared to a .358 SLG totaled by opponents.
Meyer Shines in 2020 Debut
Consensus Preseason All-American Meyer did not waste time living up to the hype in his first start of the season, earning the win against Oregon on opening day while tossing five innings with two runs allowed (one earned). Meyer surrendered just two hits, three walks and struck out seven batters in the outing.
Massey Shuts Down Zona En Route to Career Highs
After combining to score 38 runs in their first three games of the season, Arizona was shut down at the plate against Minnesota pitching on Feb 17. Starting the game, Massey baffled Wildcat hitters through the first 4 2/3 innings, allowing zero runs to go with three hits allowed, one walk and seven strikeouts. Massey registered career highs in both innings pitched and strikeouts in the game.
Horton Earns First Career Save
Junior Bubba Horton pitched in relief of Massey against Arizona, firing 2 1/3 shutout innings with one hit and three strikeouts to record the first save of his collegiate career. Horton's first-ever save came in his 22nd career appearance in Maroon and Gold.
Going Streaking
Sophomore second baseman Zack Raabe recorded hits in each of Minnesota's first four games of 2020, extending his team-leading on-base streak to 19 consecutive games. Raabe's current streak dates back to April of the 2019 campaign. To begin the year, the sophomore is slashing .375/.474/.500 and tied for the team lead with two extra-base hits.
Career Firsts Aplenty
Many other Gophers achieved career firsts on opening weekend. Transfer junior Ronald Sweeny made his NCAA debut, notching his first career hit in his first plate appearance against Oregon with an infield single to shortstop. Sweeny recorded his first extra-base hit with a triple against Arizona. Freshmen Will Anderson, Noah Berghammer (redshirt), Otto Grimm (redshirt), Sam Ireland, Drew Stahl, Riley Swenson (redshirt), and Trent Schoeberl also made their college debuts. Grimm, Ireland, Stahl and Swenson all achieved their first career hits, while Schoeberl tossed three shutout innings.
Davis Returns to the Mound
After sitting out his first two collegiate seasons due to Tommy John Surgery and NCAA transfer restrictions, Drake Davis made his return to the mound with 2 2/3 innings of work against Pepperdine on Feb. 15. Davis allowed three earned runs, four hits, four walks and struck out five batters.
Preseason All-American Accolades
Junior right-handed pitcher Max Meyer has already received a plethora of accolades in 2020, beginning with a series of preseason honors. BA and D1Baseball named Meyer a Preseason First Team All-American, while PG (Second Team), CBN (Third Team) and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (Third Team) handed the right-hander honors as well.
B1G Buzz
CBN not only named Meyer a Preseason All-American, but the publication also honored the junior as their preseason pick for Big Ten Player of the Year. BA, D1Basebal and PG joined in on the action, tabbing Meyer as their Preseason Big Ten Pitcher of the Year. On top of that, PG named Meyer and redshirt senior shortstop Jordan Kozicky as Preseason All-Conference selections.
On the Draft Radar
Meyer headlines the list of Minnesota's potential upcoming draftees, having been listed as the No. 25 overall prospect for the 2020 MLB Draft by MLB Pipeline.CBN also acknowledged Meyer in their 2020 Draft Preview section as a player likely to be selected within the first two rounds of this June's MLB Draft. Meyer was previously drafted out of high school in the 34th round by the Minnesota Twins. Overall, the Gophers have 16 draft-eligible players in 2020. Junior right-handed pitchers Patrick Fredrickson, Sam Thoresen, Drake Davis and Joshua Culliver, as well as position players Kozicky, Jack Kelly, Ronald Sweeny and Drew Hmielewski are among those also generating significant draft buzz.
Diamond Rooks
Eleven new faces can be found in the Gopher dugout this season, as the team welcomes eight freshmen and three transfers to the 2020 ranks. Davis will also be making his debut in the Maroon & Gold this year after sitting out the entirety of the 2019 season due to NCAA transfer restrictions. This year's rookie class was ranked third in the Big Ten and 54th in the country by CBN. Ten of the aforementioned 12 players received national rankings from either Perfect Game or Prep Baseball Report, while all 12 were ranked among the best at their position in their home state.
Familiar Faces
Coupled with the newcomers are 23 returners to Minnesota's 2020 dugout, including four positional starters and four starting pitchers. These returners will be led by Kozicky, the lone senior, although 12 juniors are back from last year as well.
Milestone Watch
As the lone senior on the roster, Kozicky has numerous career milestones in sight as he embarks on his final season in Gold Country. Kozicky is just 43 hits away from reaching 200 for his career, while also being within striking distance of Minnesota's top-10 all-time lists in the following stats: doubles (11 needed), home runs (seven needed), RBI (46 needed) and hit by pitches (one needed).
A Storied Program
The 2020 Gopher Baseball season will mark the 132nd in the history of the school. During that century-plus of competition, Minnesota owns a 2,660-1,651-25 record (.616), including a 1,033-632-3 in Big Ten Play (.620). The Gophers have made 32 NCAA Tournament appearances in that time, while winning 23 Big Ten titles and three College World Series Championships (five appearances).
Anderson Honored by Twins
After nearly four decades of service to the game of baseball in Minnesota and 1,317 wins to his credit, head coach John Anderson was awarded with the Minnesota Twins' 2019 Herb Carneal Lifetime Achievement Award in January. In winning the award, Anderson joined a legendary group of recipients that includes MLB Hall of Fame inductees Bert Blyleven, Rod Carew and Jack Morris.
Decade of Excellence
The 2010s represent a decade to remember for Minnesota Baseball. From 2010-19, the Gophers won 311 games, good for a .562 winning percentage. Minnesota also had 35 MLB Draft selections, received 15 First team All-Big Ten accolades and won three Big Ten Championships (2010, 2016, 2018). Two Big Ten Tournament Championships (2010, 2018) are included in the team's recent run of success.
out a 3-2 walk-off win in 12 innings in Minneapolis.
2019 in Review
The Gophers finished the 2019 campaign at 29-27 (15-9), earning a berth in the Big Ten Tournament for the fourth consecutive season and for the 33rd time since the tournament began in 1981. As the No. 4 seed, Minnesota advanced all the way to the semifinal game before their journey came to a close with a loss to Ohio State. Included in the tournament was a season highlight for the U, as the Gophers upset No. 1 seeded Indiana to keep their bid for a championship alive.
Up Next
Once this weekend's series with TCU concludes, the Gophers will host South Dakota State on Wednesday, Feb. 26 in a standalone midweek game at U.S. Bank Stadium. After that, Minnesota will host the 2020 CambriaCollegeClassic, taking on No. 22 North Carolina (Feb. 28), No. 16 Duke (Feb. 29) and No. 15 NC State (March 1).
Gophers vs. Twins
First Pitch: 5:05 p.m. CT
Location: Hammond Stadium
Gophers Starter: RHP Trent Schoeberl (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Twins Starter: RHP Randy Dobnak
Saturday, Feb. 22
TCU vs. Minnesota
First Pitch: 6:30 p.m. CT
Location: U.S. Bank Stadium
Minnesota Starter: RHP Max Meyer (1-0, 1.80 ERA)
TCU Starter: RHP Johnny Ray (0-0, 1.93 ERA)
Sunday, Feb. 23
TCU vs. Minnesota
First Pitch: 2:00 p.m. CST
Location: U.S. Bank Stadium
Minnesota Starter: RHP Sam Thoresen (0-1, 15.43 ERA)
TCU Starter: RHP Charles King (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Monday, Feb. 24
TCU vs. Minnesota
First Pitch: 12:15 p.m. CT
Location: U.S. Bank Stadium
Minnesota Starter: RHP Patrick Fredrickson (0-1, 16.20 ERA)
TCU Starter: LHP Russell Smith 0-0 (1.93 ERA)
Minnesota Baseball embarks on week two of their 2020 campaign after going 2-2 to begin the year at the Angels College Classic in Tempe, Ariz. Due up this week for the Gopher will be the Minnesota Twins (Feb. 21) and TCU Horned Frogs (Feb. 22-24).
While in the desert, the Gophers recorded a season-opening win against Oregon of the Pacific-12 Conference. The Maroon and Gold rode a strong Max Meyer start to clinch the victory, with the right-hander going five innings and allowing just two runs (one earned) to open up a highly anticipated junior season.
The U would ultimately go 2-0 against the Pac-12 in Tempe, also defeating mighty Arizona to conclude the trip. Ranked as the nation's No. 22 team by Baseball America, the Wildcats were completely unable to solve Minnesota starter J.P. Massey through the first 4 2/3 innings of the game. By defeating Arizona, the Gophers concluded their road trip on a high note after dropping consecutive contests to West Coast Conference opponents Pepperdine and San Diego on days two and three, respectively.
With a .500 record and a signature win already in their back pocket, the Gophers' attention now turns to a familiar neighbor in the Minnesota Twins. The U is set to take on the Twins in an exhibition game in Fort Myers, Fla. on Feb. 21 before returning back to Minneapolis for their 2020 home opener against TCU on Feb. 22.
TCU enters the weekend series at 4-0 on the campaign, having swept Kentucky (5-1, 7-1, 10-5) to kick off their year. This past Tuesday, the Horned Frogs picked up a midweek victory against Abilene Christian, 14-4.
With Minnesota starters Meyer, Sam Thoresen and Patrick Fredrickson again projected to headline the rotation against TCU, the Gophers appear primed for yet another exciting and competitive weekend of baseball.
Opening Weekend Review
Minnesota is off to a 2-2 start to the 2020 campaign after playing .500 ball through four games in Tempe, Ariz. The Gophers defeated Oregon to begin the season, before dropping consecutive contests to Pepperdine and San Diego. Finishing off the road trip with a victory, Minnesota took down Arizona, 5-2.
Taking on the Twins
Although Friday's game in Fort Myers is simply an exhibition contest, the Gophers vs. Twins match-ups have been well-contested in the past. The Maroon and Gold last took on the Twins in 2018, falling to their MLB counterpart, 2-1. Prior to that, the Gophers dropped another close battle to the Twins in 2015, 3-1. The Twins' lineup will likely consist of Minor League prospects and non-roster invitees, but the game is positioned to be a worthwhile event to attend nonetheless.
History With TCU
The Gophers last competed against TCU in a three-game series against the Horned Frogs in 2018. Although the Maroon & Gold trail the all-time series, 4-5, they claimed two-out-of-three games against TCU in Fort Worth two season ago. Minnesota won 6-3, lost 4-5 in 13 innings and won the series premiere by shutting out TCU, 8-0. Fredrickson threw five shutout innings in the 8-0 victory, scattering four hits and striking out five.
Back at the Bank
After being away from their second home for the entirety of 2019 due to the NCAA Basketball Tournament, Minnesota is set to return to U.S. Bank Stadium on Saturday. The Gophers will begin their 2020 home slate with 14 consecutive contests at U.S. Bank, running from Feb. 22 to March 11. When the U last competed at U.S. Bank in 2018, they went 8-5 with series wins against Iowa and St. John's, while sweeping series against Purdue and Penn State.
Bats Coming Alive
Through the first four games of the season, Gopher batters experienced their ups and downs but ultimately out-hit their opponents. After one week, Minnesota is hitting .296 (40-for-135), while opposing lineups own a .269 (36-for-134) clip. The U is also out-slugging their competition with a .393 SLG compared to a .358 SLG totaled by opponents.
Meyer Shines in 2020 Debut
Consensus Preseason All-American Meyer did not waste time living up to the hype in his first start of the season, earning the win against Oregon on opening day while tossing five innings with two runs allowed (one earned). Meyer surrendered just two hits, three walks and struck out seven batters in the outing.
Massey Shuts Down Zona En Route to Career Highs
After combining to score 38 runs in their first three games of the season, Arizona was shut down at the plate against Minnesota pitching on Feb 17. Starting the game, Massey baffled Wildcat hitters through the first 4 2/3 innings, allowing zero runs to go with three hits allowed, one walk and seven strikeouts. Massey registered career highs in both innings pitched and strikeouts in the game.
Horton Earns First Career Save
Junior Bubba Horton pitched in relief of Massey against Arizona, firing 2 1/3 shutout innings with one hit and three strikeouts to record the first save of his collegiate career. Horton's first-ever save came in his 22nd career appearance in Maroon and Gold.
Going Streaking
Sophomore second baseman Zack Raabe recorded hits in each of Minnesota's first four games of 2020, extending his team-leading on-base streak to 19 consecutive games. Raabe's current streak dates back to April of the 2019 campaign. To begin the year, the sophomore is slashing .375/.474/.500 and tied for the team lead with two extra-base hits.
Career Firsts Aplenty
Many other Gophers achieved career firsts on opening weekend. Transfer junior Ronald Sweeny made his NCAA debut, notching his first career hit in his first plate appearance against Oregon with an infield single to shortstop. Sweeny recorded his first extra-base hit with a triple against Arizona. Freshmen Will Anderson, Noah Berghammer (redshirt), Otto Grimm (redshirt), Sam Ireland, Drew Stahl, Riley Swenson (redshirt), and Trent Schoeberl also made their college debuts. Grimm, Ireland, Stahl and Swenson all achieved their first career hits, while Schoeberl tossed three shutout innings.
Davis Returns to the Mound
After sitting out his first two collegiate seasons due to Tommy John Surgery and NCAA transfer restrictions, Drake Davis made his return to the mound with 2 2/3 innings of work against Pepperdine on Feb. 15. Davis allowed three earned runs, four hits, four walks and struck out five batters.
Preseason All-American Accolades
Junior right-handed pitcher Max Meyer has already received a plethora of accolades in 2020, beginning with a series of preseason honors. BA and D1Baseball named Meyer a Preseason First Team All-American, while PG (Second Team), CBN (Third Team) and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (Third Team) handed the right-hander honors as well.
B1G Buzz
CBN not only named Meyer a Preseason All-American, but the publication also honored the junior as their preseason pick for Big Ten Player of the Year. BA, D1Basebal and PG joined in on the action, tabbing Meyer as their Preseason Big Ten Pitcher of the Year. On top of that, PG named Meyer and redshirt senior shortstop Jordan Kozicky as Preseason All-Conference selections.
On the Draft Radar
Meyer headlines the list of Minnesota's potential upcoming draftees, having been listed as the No. 25 overall prospect for the 2020 MLB Draft by MLB Pipeline.CBN also acknowledged Meyer in their 2020 Draft Preview section as a player likely to be selected within the first two rounds of this June's MLB Draft. Meyer was previously drafted out of high school in the 34th round by the Minnesota Twins. Overall, the Gophers have 16 draft-eligible players in 2020. Junior right-handed pitchers Patrick Fredrickson, Sam Thoresen, Drake Davis and Joshua Culliver, as well as position players Kozicky, Jack Kelly, Ronald Sweeny and Drew Hmielewski are among those also generating significant draft buzz.
Diamond Rooks
Eleven new faces can be found in the Gopher dugout this season, as the team welcomes eight freshmen and three transfers to the 2020 ranks. Davis will also be making his debut in the Maroon & Gold this year after sitting out the entirety of the 2019 season due to NCAA transfer restrictions. This year's rookie class was ranked third in the Big Ten and 54th in the country by CBN. Ten of the aforementioned 12 players received national rankings from either Perfect Game or Prep Baseball Report, while all 12 were ranked among the best at their position in their home state.
Familiar Faces
Coupled with the newcomers are 23 returners to Minnesota's 2020 dugout, including four positional starters and four starting pitchers. These returners will be led by Kozicky, the lone senior, although 12 juniors are back from last year as well.
Milestone Watch
As the lone senior on the roster, Kozicky has numerous career milestones in sight as he embarks on his final season in Gold Country. Kozicky is just 43 hits away from reaching 200 for his career, while also being within striking distance of Minnesota's top-10 all-time lists in the following stats: doubles (11 needed), home runs (seven needed), RBI (46 needed) and hit by pitches (one needed).
A Storied Program
The 2020 Gopher Baseball season will mark the 132nd in the history of the school. During that century-plus of competition, Minnesota owns a 2,660-1,651-25 record (.616), including a 1,033-632-3 in Big Ten Play (.620). The Gophers have made 32 NCAA Tournament appearances in that time, while winning 23 Big Ten titles and three College World Series Championships (five appearances).
Anderson Honored by Twins
After nearly four decades of service to the game of baseball in Minnesota and 1,317 wins to his credit, head coach John Anderson was awarded with the Minnesota Twins' 2019 Herb Carneal Lifetime Achievement Award in January. In winning the award, Anderson joined a legendary group of recipients that includes MLB Hall of Fame inductees Bert Blyleven, Rod Carew and Jack Morris.
Decade of Excellence
The 2010s represent a decade to remember for Minnesota Baseball. From 2010-19, the Gophers won 311 games, good for a .562 winning percentage. Minnesota also had 35 MLB Draft selections, received 15 First team All-Big Ten accolades and won three Big Ten Championships (2010, 2016, 2018). Two Big Ten Tournament Championships (2010, 2018) are included in the team's recent run of success.
out a 3-2 walk-off win in 12 innings in Minneapolis.
2019 in Review
The Gophers finished the 2019 campaign at 29-27 (15-9), earning a berth in the Big Ten Tournament for the fourth consecutive season and for the 33rd time since the tournament began in 1981. As the No. 4 seed, Minnesota advanced all the way to the semifinal game before their journey came to a close with a loss to Ohio State. Included in the tournament was a season highlight for the U, as the Gophers upset No. 1 seeded Indiana to keep their bid for a championship alive.
Up Next
Once this weekend's series with TCU concludes, the Gophers will host South Dakota State on Wednesday, Feb. 26 in a standalone midweek game at U.S. Bank Stadium. After that, Minnesota will host the 2020 CambriaCollegeClassic, taking on No. 22 North Carolina (Feb. 28), No. 16 Duke (Feb. 29) and No. 15 NC State (March 1).
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