Baseball America Tabs @CanesBaseball No. 9
CORAL GABLES, Fla. — The University of Miami baseball team earned its second top 10 ranking of the preseason Monday, checking in at No. 9 in Baseball America’s first top 25 poll of the spring.
One week after cracking Perfect Game’s top 10 at No. 10, the Hurricanes earned their top ranking of the preseason and fourth top-25 recognition by a major outlet. Collegiate Baseball Newspaper slotted Miami at No. 14 in its preseason poll released in December, while D1Baseball rated Miami No. 15 in its rankings released last week.
Miami ended the 2014 season No. 23 in Baseball America’s poll. Six teams on Miami’s 2015 schedule were also ranked: Virginia (No. 4), Florida (No. 6), Louisville (No. 12), North Carolina (No. 17), Florida State (No. 21) and UCF (No. 22).
Miami’s No. 9 ranking continued an impressive stretch of preseason honors for the Hurricanes. Perfect Game and Collegiate Baseball Newspaper named sophomore catcher Zack Collins to the Preseason All-America first team, while closer Bryan Garcia was a third-team selection by both publications. In addition, nine Hurricanes were ranked among the Perfect Game top 100 player breakdowns by class released earlier in January – click HERE for more.
Miami, which finished 44-19 in 2014 and earned one of 16 NCAA postseason Regional host sites, ended the season atop the ACC with a 24-6 record in conference play. The Hurricanes, who in 2014 extended their postseason streak to a college baseball-record 42 consecutive years, return a number of key contributors from last season both on the mound and in the field.
Collins was named 2014 Baseball America National Freshman of the Year after a prolific first season, lefthander Andy Suarez was the highest-drafted college player to return to school (second round, Washington Nationals), while Garcia earned NCBWA All-America honors after setting the a new freshman record for saves (15) at Miami.
Season tickets to the Miami Hurricanes’ 2015 baseball season at Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field are available for as little as $99, while family plans (two adults, three youth) for the entire 35-game home slate are available for just $199. Call (305) 284-2263 for more information, or click HERE to view the 2015 schedule.
