Loading ...Indiana picked to win Big Ten baseball title
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by Dustin Dopirak | Tuesday, February 12, 2013 - 2:06 pm UTC
From the Big Ten:
INDIANA NAMED BIG TEN BASEBALL PRESEASON FAVORITE
PARK RIDGE, Ill. – Indiana has been selected by the conference coaches as the favorite to win in 2013, the Big Ten office announced on Tuesday. The conference’s baseball coaches voted on the top six teams and also selected three players from their own squads to a Players to Watch list. Following the Hoosiers on the coaches’ preseason top six list are No. 2 Nebraska, No. 3 Michigan State, No. 4 Ohio State, No. 5 Minnesota and No. 6 Illinois.
Indiana returns 20 players from last year’s squad that advanced to the Big Ten Tournament championship game, including Players to Watch Joey DeNato, Kyle Schwarber and Sam Travis. Travis, the reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Year, and Schwarber were second-team All-Big Ten honorees last season, while DeNato was named to the third team.
Nebraska welcomes back 20 letterwinners from last year’s team that advanced to the Big Ten Tournament. The Huskers are led by starting pitcher Brandon Pierce, outfielder/designated hitter Michael Pritchard and relief pitcher Dylan Vogt. Pritchard was a first-team All-Conference honoree a season ago, while Vogt is one of five Big Ten relievers named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award watch list.
Michigan State is coming off its first NCAA Championship appearance since 1979 and a Big Ten Tournament berth and welcomes back 20 letterwinners. The Spartans are led by first-team All-Big Ten left fielder Jordan Keur and starting pitchers David Garner and Andrew Waszak.
Ohio State welcomes back 19 letterwinners from last year’s squad that advanced to the Big Ten Tournament for the 15th time in the last 16 years. The Buckeyes are led by first-team All-Big Ten starting pitcher Jaron Long, first baseman/designated hitter/reliever Josh Dezse and starting pitcher Brad Goldberg.
Minnesota returns 22 letterwinners from last year’s team, including six position starters. The Gophers are led by third-team All-Big Ten outfielder Andy Henkemeyer, first baseman Dan Olinger and starting pitcher Tom Windle.
Illinois returns 17 letterwinners from last year’s squad, including seven position starters. The Illini are led by starting pitcher Kevin Johnson and outfielders Jordan Parr and Justin Parr, a third-team All-Big Ten performer last season.
The complete Players to Watch list and top-six preseason poll can be found below and attached.
2013 BIG TEN BASEBALL PRESEASON POLL (top six teams)
1. Indiana
2. Nebraska
3. Michigan State
4. Ohio State
5. Minnesota
6. Illinois
2013 BIG TEN BASEBALL PLAYERS TO WATCH
Kevin Johnson, Sr., SP, Illinois
Jordan Parr, Jr., OF, Illinois
Justin Parr, Sr., OF, Illinois
Joey DeNato, Jr., SP, Indiana
Kyle Schwarber, So., C/OF/DH, Indiana
Sam Travis, So., 1B/OF, Indiana
Sasha Kuebel, So., SP, Iowa
Dan Sheppard, Sr., C, Iowa
Jake Yacinich, So., SS, Iowa
Ben Ballantine, Sr., SP, Michigan
Patrick Biondi, Sr., OF, Michigan
Michael O’Neill, Jr., OF, Michigan
Jordan Keur, Sr., LF, Michigan State
David Garner, Jr., SP, Michigan State
Andrew Waszak, Sr., SP, Michigan State
Andy Henkemeyer, Sr., OF, Minnesota
Dan Olinger, Jr., 1B, Minnesota
Tom Windle, Jr., SP, Minnesota
Brandon Pierce, Jr., SP, Nebraska
Michael Pritchard, Jr., OF/DH, Nebraska
Dylan Vogt, Sr., RP, Nebraska
Luke Farrell, Sr., SP, Northwestern
Zach Morton, Sr., SP/UT, Northwestern
Trevor Stevens, Sr., SS, Northwestern
Josh Dezse, Jr., 1B/DH/RP, Ohio State
Brad Goldberg, Sr., SP, Ohio State
Jaron Long, Jr., SP, Ohio State
Steve Hill, Sr., SP, Penn State
Steve Snyder, Jr., CF, Penn State
David Walkling, Sr., SP, Penn State
Sean McHugh, Jr., 3B/C, Purdue
Brad Schreiber, Jr., SP, Purdue
Kyle Wood, Fr., SP/OF/1B, Purdue
Dustin, you have a strong interest in BB and have a good relationship with Coach Smith. Where do you stand on this prediction?
And by coincidence, the Hoosiers finally have a showcase stadium worthy of Coach Smith and his squad. Looking forward to the season.
Clarion,
Makes a good bit of sense to me, though I haven’t really delved into the rest of the Big Ten rosters. I do know that Travis and Schwarber are two of the best hitters in the league and the country. Tracy says he really likes his bullpen despite the loss of Hoffman. He thinks he’s got balance in the lineup, too. That’s big. They need offense outside of Travis and Schwarber and a bullpen that will lessen the dependence on the starters. if those two things are constants they have a shot. I see the potential, but you’d have to see it in action.