University of Minnesota Athletics
Friday, February 14
Houston, TX
6:30 PM
University of Minnesota
at
Houston
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Minnesota Opens 2025 Season at University of Houston
2/12/2025 12:39:00 PM | Baseball
Minnesota Opens 2025 Season at University of Houston
Friday, Feb. 14
Minnesota at Houston
First Pitch: 6:30 P.M. CT
Location: Don Sanders Field at Darryl & Lori Schroeder Park
Gopher starter: Cole Selvig
Cougars starter: Ryan Dollar
Watch: ESPN+
Saturday, Feb. 15
Minnesota at Houston
First Pitch: 6:30 P.M. CT
Location: Don Sanders Field at Darryl & Lori Schroeder Park
Gopher starter: Kyle Remington
Cougars starter: Paul Schmitz
Watch: ESPN+
Sunday, Feb. 16
Minnesota at Houston
First Pitch: 1:30 P.M. CT
Location: Don Sanders Field at Darryl & Lori Schroeder Park
Gopher starter: Justin Thorsteinson
Cougars starter: Graysen Drezek
MINNEAPOLIS– The University of Minnesota Baseball program is set to open the 2025 season at the University of Houston, in Houston, Texas. The Gophers will play a three-game series against the Cougars from Friday, Feb 14 through Sunday, Feb. 16.
History in Season Openers
- Since 2011, the Gophers are 9-4 in season openers. In last season's season opener at the College Baseball Classic in Surprise, Ariz., the Gophers picked up the 12-inning victory over CSU Bakersfield.
Entering the McDevitt Era
- Head coach Ty McDevitt is entering his first season as the Gopher baseball skipper. McDevitt previously served as the 'U' pitching coach from 2019-2024 and volunteer assistant from 2017-2018.
- McDevitt takes over after the retirement of long time coach John Anderson's 43 years at the helm of the program.
Opponent Series History
- The Gophers and Cougars squared off for the first time in 1953, and most recently in 2023.
- The Cougars took the 2023 series at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn., 3-0 and currently lead the all-time series 16-13.
Scouting the Cougars
- The Cougars are entering their second year in the Big 12 Conference after competing in their inaugural season in 2024. The Cougars finished 26-28 overall and 7-21 in Big 12 play. Head coach Todd Whitting is entering his 15th season at the helm of the program.
- The last time Minnesota played at Houston was back in 2015, the Cougars took that series 3-0.
Last Season
- The 'U' is entering its 137th year in program history in the spring of 2025. Last season, they finished 25-23 overall with an 11-13 conference record.
- The 'U' ended the season on a high note, taking the final two games of the season on the road at Northwestern.
D1Baseball Honors
- Senior Jake Perry and junior Weber Neels were named D1Baseball 2025 Preseason Player Rankings: Top 50 Lists. Redshirt senior Josh Fitzgerald was named to the Top 100 Outfielders Preseason Player Rankings.
- Perry was ranked as the No. 23 third baseman and Neels the No. 40 catcher.
- Perry held a .305 batting average in 2024, smacking a team-high 20 doubles, which led the Big Ten.
- Neels hit .317 in 2024 and scored 33 runs which was a team-high. Perry and Neels tied with a team-high 43 RBIs each.
- Fitzgerald led the offense last season with a .360 batting average which ranked him ninth in the Big Ten. He was also perfect on the base paths with 11 stolen bags in 11 attempts.
Returners to Watch
- The Gophers return 19 players from last year's roster, including 10 position players and nine pitchers.
- The pitching staff returns sophomore Kyle Remington who threw 42.1 innings during his rookie season. Redshirt senior Justin Thorsteinson threw 37.1 innings in 2024. Redshirt junior Noah Rooney is looking to make an impact on the mound after missing the 2024 season due to an elbow injury.
- Other returners to keep an eye on are juniors Drew Berkland and Kris Hokenson and sophomores Charlie Sutherland and Jack Spanier.
- Berkland made 33 appearances last season, hitting .325 with 15 RBIs. Hokenson appeared in 41 games hitting .245 with 24 RBIs.
- Sutherland hit .274 with nine RBIs during his 33 appearances. Spanier was named to the All-Big Ten Freshman team, hitting .293 with 12 RBIs.
Gopher Newcomers
- The Gophers brought in 10 transfers and seven freshmen for the 2025 season.
- Six of the new additions are Minnesota natives looking to make an impact for their home state.
What's on Tap
-Following this weekend's series against the Cougars the Gophers will head back to Texas for the Round Rock Classic Feb. 21-23. They are set to take on Oklahoma, No.2 Virginia and No.7 Oregon State.
Friday, Feb. 14
Minnesota at Houston
First Pitch: 6:30 P.M. CT
Location: Don Sanders Field at Darryl & Lori Schroeder Park
Gopher starter: Cole Selvig
Cougars starter: Ryan Dollar
Watch: ESPN+
Saturday, Feb. 15
Minnesota at Houston
First Pitch: 6:30 P.M. CT
Location: Don Sanders Field at Darryl & Lori Schroeder Park
Gopher starter: Kyle Remington
Cougars starter: Paul Schmitz
Watch: ESPN+
Sunday, Feb. 16
Minnesota at Houston
First Pitch: 1:30 P.M. CT
Location: Don Sanders Field at Darryl & Lori Schroeder Park
Gopher starter: Justin Thorsteinson
Cougars starter: Graysen Drezek
MINNEAPOLIS– The University of Minnesota Baseball program is set to open the 2025 season at the University of Houston, in Houston, Texas. The Gophers will play a three-game series against the Cougars from Friday, Feb 14 through Sunday, Feb. 16.
History in Season Openers
- Since 2011, the Gophers are 9-4 in season openers. In last season's season opener at the College Baseball Classic in Surprise, Ariz., the Gophers picked up the 12-inning victory over CSU Bakersfield.
Entering the McDevitt Era
- Head coach Ty McDevitt is entering his first season as the Gopher baseball skipper. McDevitt previously served as the 'U' pitching coach from 2019-2024 and volunteer assistant from 2017-2018.
- McDevitt takes over after the retirement of long time coach John Anderson's 43 years at the helm of the program.
Opponent Series History
- The Gophers and Cougars squared off for the first time in 1953, and most recently in 2023.
- The Cougars took the 2023 series at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn., 3-0 and currently lead the all-time series 16-13.
Scouting the Cougars
- The Cougars are entering their second year in the Big 12 Conference after competing in their inaugural season in 2024. The Cougars finished 26-28 overall and 7-21 in Big 12 play. Head coach Todd Whitting is entering his 15th season at the helm of the program.
- The last time Minnesota played at Houston was back in 2015, the Cougars took that series 3-0.
Last Season
- The 'U' is entering its 137th year in program history in the spring of 2025. Last season, they finished 25-23 overall with an 11-13 conference record.
- The 'U' ended the season on a high note, taking the final two games of the season on the road at Northwestern.
D1Baseball Honors
- Senior Jake Perry and junior Weber Neels were named D1Baseball 2025 Preseason Player Rankings: Top 50 Lists. Redshirt senior Josh Fitzgerald was named to the Top 100 Outfielders Preseason Player Rankings.
- Perry was ranked as the No. 23 third baseman and Neels the No. 40 catcher.
- Perry held a .305 batting average in 2024, smacking a team-high 20 doubles, which led the Big Ten.
- Neels hit .317 in 2024 and scored 33 runs which was a team-high. Perry and Neels tied with a team-high 43 RBIs each.
- Fitzgerald led the offense last season with a .360 batting average which ranked him ninth in the Big Ten. He was also perfect on the base paths with 11 stolen bags in 11 attempts.
Returners to Watch
- The Gophers return 19 players from last year's roster, including 10 position players and nine pitchers.
- The pitching staff returns sophomore Kyle Remington who threw 42.1 innings during his rookie season. Redshirt senior Justin Thorsteinson threw 37.1 innings in 2024. Redshirt junior Noah Rooney is looking to make an impact on the mound after missing the 2024 season due to an elbow injury.
- Other returners to keep an eye on are juniors Drew Berkland and Kris Hokenson and sophomores Charlie Sutherland and Jack Spanier.
- Berkland made 33 appearances last season, hitting .325 with 15 RBIs. Hokenson appeared in 41 games hitting .245 with 24 RBIs.
- Sutherland hit .274 with nine RBIs during his 33 appearances. Spanier was named to the All-Big Ten Freshman team, hitting .293 with 12 RBIs.
Gopher Newcomers
- The Gophers brought in 10 transfers and seven freshmen for the 2025 season.
- Six of the new additions are Minnesota natives looking to make an impact for their home state.
What's on Tap
-Following this weekend's series against the Cougars the Gophers will head back to Texas for the Round Rock Classic Feb. 21-23. They are set to take on Oklahoma, No.2 Virginia and No.7 Oregon State.
First Practice of Fall
Thursday, September 18
Weber Neels Highlights
Wednesday, May 28
Gophers (11) - Michigan State (5) Highlights
Friday, May 16
Gophers (4) - Michigan State (3) Highlights
Thursday, May 15