COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Texas A&M Baseball was recognized in two preseason polls released on Monday morning. The Aggies were tabbed No. 19 in the Perfect Game USA Preseason Top 25 Poll and selected No. 24 in the Baseball America Preseason Top 25 Poll.
A&M has been ranked in all three of the nationally recognized polls to date. The Aggies were tabbed No. 25 in a pre-Christmas release of the Collegiate Baseball Top 40 Ranking presented by Big League Chew. The USA Today Coaches Top 25 and National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Top 30 have yet to be announced.
The Aggies begin the season on February 14 with a three-game series against Northeastern on Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park.
The Aggies return 17 letterman from 2013, including seven starting position players and four starting pitchers. All-SEC Second Team performers Krey Bratsen, in centerfield, and Daniel Mengden, on the mound, highlight the group of returnees as well as SEC All-Defensive Team selection Cole Lankford at first base.
Bratsen is one of five seniors on the squad along with closer Jason Jester, starting pitcher Parker Ray, rightfielder Jace Statum and catcher Troy Stein.
Texas A&M is one of eight Southeastern Conference schools ranked in the Baseball America Preseason Top 25 poll. Also ranked are South Carolina (No. 7), Mississippi State (8), LSU (9), Vanderbilt (No. 10), Alabama (21), Florida (23) and Arkansas (25). Virginia is the preseason No. 1 team.
Seven teams from the SEC are included in the Perfect Game USA preseason poll. Also ranked are Mississippi State (No. 6), South Carolina (7), Vanderbilt (11), LSU (12), Florida (15) and Alabama (21). Virginia also tops the Perfect Game USA poll.
Season tickets are currently on sale online at the 12th Man Foundation Ticket Center. To learn more about the team, visit AggieAthletics.com and follow @Aggie_Baseball on Twitter.
2014 Perfect Game USA Preseason Top 25 Poll
Team 2013 Record 2013 Rank
1 Virginia 50-12 11
2 Cal State Fullerton 51-10 8
3 Oregon State 52-13 4
4 Florida State 47-17 10
5 Indiana 49-16 8
6 Mississippi State 51-20 2
7 South Carolina 43-20 13
8 UCLA 49-17 1
9 Oregon 48-16 17
10 North Carolina State 50-16 7
11 Vanderbilt 54-12 10
12 Louisiana State 57-11 5
13 North Carolina 59-12 3
14 Clemson 40-22 NR
15 Florida 29-30 NR
16 Louisville 51-14 9
17 Rice 44-20 16
18 Arizona State 37-22 21
19 Texas A&M 34-29 NR
20 Miami (Fla.) 37-25 NR
21 Alabama 35-28 NR
22 Kansas State 45-19 14|
23 Oklahoma State 41-19 23
24 Florida Atlantic 42-22 20
25 Texas 27-24 NR
2014 Baseball America Preseason Top 25 Poll
Team 2013 Record 2013 Rank
1 Virginia 50-12 11
2 Oregon State 52-13 4
3 Indiana 49-16 7
4 Cal State Fullerton 51-10 10
5 North Carolina State 50-16 6
6 Florida State 47-17 12
7 South Carolina 43-20 14
8 Mississippi State 51-20 2
9 Louisiana State 57-11 5
10 Vanderbilt 54-12 9
11 Oregon 48-16 17
12 UCLA 49-17 1
13 Clemson 40-22 NR
14 Louisiana-Lafayette 43-20 NR
15 Rice 44-20 16
16 Miami 37-25 NR
17 North Carolina 59-12 3
18 Texas 27-24 NR
19 Texas Christian 29-28 NR
20 Louisville 51-14 8
21 Alabama 35-28 NR
22 Kansas State 45-19 13
23 Florida 29-30 NR
24 Texas A&M 34-29 NR
25 Arkansas 39-22 18