Photo by: Texas A&M Athletics
Aggies Tabbed Fifth in Collegiate Baseball Preseason Ranking
Dec 21, 2015 | Baseball
Aggies Tabbed Fifth in Collegiate Baseball Preseason Ranking
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Texas A&M Aggies were ranked No. 5 in the Collegiate Baseball Preseason Top 40 Rankings presented by Big League Chew, the publication announced in a pre-Christmas release.
The Aggies were one of four SEC schools ranked in the top seven and the highest ranked among the seven Texas schools in the Top 40.
Florida was slotted No. 1 using Collegiate Baseball's point system, followed by Louisville, Vanderbilt, Miami and Texas A&M. Louisiana-Lafayette, LSU, Oregon State, Virginia and UCLA rounded out the Top 10.
The Aggies' lineup returns six starters from last season, led by All-America outfielder Nick Banks who batted .364 with 51 runs, 11 doubles, three triples, eight home runs and 48 RBI in 2015. First baseman Hunter Melton hit .300 with 36 runs, nine doubles, one triple, eight home runs and 37 RBI as a junior last season. Other returning starters include second baseman Ryne Birk, centerfielder JB Moss, third baseman/designated hitter Ronnie Gideon and catcher Michael Barash.
The Maroon and White also return a wealth of talent on the mound, including starting pitchers Kyle Simonds (3-2, 2.39 ERA), Tyler Stubblefield (0-0, 5.25 ERA – missed four months with injury) and Turner Larkins (5-1, 3.96 ERA). The return of standout relievers Andrew Vinson (5-2, 2.12 ERA, 5 saves), Mark Ecker (1-2, 2.45 ERA, 8 saves), Blake Kopetsky (0-0, 2.89 ERA), Corbin Martin (2-0, 2.95 ERA), Ryan Hendrix (6-4, 3.66 ERA, 5 saves) and Ty Schlottmann (3-1, 3.96) also buoy the squad's expectations for 2016.
Texas A&M is coming off a 2015 campaign in which they finished 50-14, the highest win total for the Aggies since 1999. They extended their school-record string of consecutive NCAA Championship appearances to nine seasons and claimed their seventh overall NCAA Regional title. The Maroon and White started the 2015 season with an SEC-record 24-game win streak.
Rob Childress' Aggies begin the 2016 season on February 19 as they host the Hofstra Pride in a three-game series on Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park.
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Texas A&M Aggies were ranked No. 5 in the Collegiate Baseball Preseason Top 40 Rankings presented by Big League Chew, the publication announced in a pre-Christmas release.
The Aggies were one of four SEC schools ranked in the top seven and the highest ranked among the seven Texas schools in the Top 40.
Florida was slotted No. 1 using Collegiate Baseball's point system, followed by Louisville, Vanderbilt, Miami and Texas A&M. Louisiana-Lafayette, LSU, Oregon State, Virginia and UCLA rounded out the Top 10.
The Aggies' lineup returns six starters from last season, led by All-America outfielder Nick Banks who batted .364 with 51 runs, 11 doubles, three triples, eight home runs and 48 RBI in 2015. First baseman Hunter Melton hit .300 with 36 runs, nine doubles, one triple, eight home runs and 37 RBI as a junior last season. Other returning starters include second baseman Ryne Birk, centerfielder JB Moss, third baseman/designated hitter Ronnie Gideon and catcher Michael Barash.
The Maroon and White also return a wealth of talent on the mound, including starting pitchers Kyle Simonds (3-2, 2.39 ERA), Tyler Stubblefield (0-0, 5.25 ERA – missed four months with injury) and Turner Larkins (5-1, 3.96 ERA). The return of standout relievers Andrew Vinson (5-2, 2.12 ERA, 5 saves), Mark Ecker (1-2, 2.45 ERA, 8 saves), Blake Kopetsky (0-0, 2.89 ERA), Corbin Martin (2-0, 2.95 ERA), Ryan Hendrix (6-4, 3.66 ERA, 5 saves) and Ty Schlottmann (3-1, 3.96) also buoy the squad's expectations for 2016.
Texas A&M is coming off a 2015 campaign in which they finished 50-14, the highest win total for the Aggies since 1999. They extended their school-record string of consecutive NCAA Championship appearances to nine seasons and claimed their seventh overall NCAA Regional title. The Maroon and White started the 2015 season with an SEC-record 24-game win streak.
Rob Childress' Aggies begin the 2016 season on February 19 as they host the Hofstra Pride in a three-game series on Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park.
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