Miami No. 5 in Baseball America Preseason Poll
Jan. 10, 2005
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Baseball America released its 2005 Preseason Poll on Friday with the University of Miami Hurricanes ranked fifth.
The Hurricanes are coming off a fifth-place finish at the 2004 College World Series. UM produced a 50-13 record and captured their 11th straight NCAA Regional title.
Tulane earned the top spot after finishing 19th in the final 2004 poll. LSU is ranked seventh, defending CWS champion Cal State Fullerton is third and NCAA runner-up Texas is the preseason No. 4.
Miami was the highest ranked ACC team with North Carolina coming in next at No. 14 with Georgia Tech ranked 19th.
Junior Ryan Braun, who will either start at third base or shortstop for the Hurricanes this season, is a preseason second-team All-American at third base. Braun was Baseball America’s 2003 Freshman of the Year after hitting .364 with 17 home runs and 76 RBI. He suffered through an injury plagued 2004 season, but still hit .335 with 10 home runs and 45 RBI in just 45 games.
Junior right-hander Cesar Carrillo garnered third-team honors after going 12-0 with a 2.69 ERA and 91 strikeouts for Miami in 2004. The Hurricanes were 19-0 in games that Carrillo pitched.
Miami’s spring practice opens on Monday, Jan. 10, with two practices slated at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
The Hurricanes open the season with the annual Alumni game on Saturday, Jan. 29, at 7 p.m. at Mark Light Field and then open the season at home on Tuesday, Feb. 1, at 7 p.m. with Florida International. For more information on the Hurricanes log onto www.hurricanesports.com. For ticket information you can go to the website or call the ticket office at 1-800-GO CANES.
