@CanesBaseball Ranked #16 by Baseball America
DURHAM, N.C. — The University of Miami baseball team checked in at No. 16 in the Baseball America annual preseason rankings released Monday, marking the team’s best preseason ranking from the publication since 2010.
Miami was ranked No. 13 in Collegiate Baseball Newspaper’s preseason rankings released in December.
The Hurricanes return a number of key contributors from a team that finished 37-25 overall and earned the program’s college baseball-record 41st consecutive NCAA tournament berth in 2013. The Canes have not missed the postseason since 1972, marking the longest active postseason streak of any Division I program nationwide.
Miami will return its entire starting rotation in 2014, including Louisville Slugger All-American lefthander Bryan Radziewski and USA Baseball Collegiate National Team member Chris Diaz. The duo combined to make 30 starts this past season, and both finished among the top three in the ACC in earned run average.
Both Radziewski (29th round, St. Louis Cardinals) and senior righthander Javi Salas (38th round, Minnesota Twins) decided to return to campus after being selected in the 2013 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, while Freshman All-America David Thompson (.286, six home runs, 46 RBI) will help anchor a Miami lineup that returns seven starters from a year ago.
Joining the returning nucleus is a recruiting class ranked among the best nationwide. The group was rated No. 4 by Collegiate Baseball and No. 6 by Baseball America – its highest ranking from the publication since 2006. The Hurricanes have had two classes ranked among the top 10 by both publications in back-to-back seasons.
Miami is one of six teams from the ACC ranked in the top 25 of the Baseball America poll, joining Virginia (No. 1), NC State (No. 5), Florida State (No. 6), Clemson (No. 13) and North Carolina (No. 17).
Season tickets to Miami’s 2014 season at Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field start for as low as $99, with a Family Plan option (two adult tickets, three youth tickets) covering all 33 home games available for just $199. For more information, visit CanesTix.com or call (305) 284-2263.
