COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Texas A&M Aggies is ranked No. 9 in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Preseason Poll released Tuesday.
Texas A&M is one of eight SEC teams listed among the top 17. Defending national champion Florida is slotted No. 1 with league brethren Arkansas (No. 6), Kentucky (No. 8), LSU (No. 11), Vanderbilt (No. 15), Ole Miss (No. 16) and Mississippi State (No. 17) joining the Aggies. South Carolina was ranked No. 32 in the poll that includes the top 35.
Following Florida in the top five were Oregon State, Texas Tech, Florida State and TCU. Arkansas, North Carolina, Kentucky, Texas A&M and Cal State Fullerton round out the top 10.
It marks the highest ranking for the Aggies in the respectable polls. They’ve been slotted No. 10 by D1Baseball.com and Baseball America and No. 11 in the USA Today Coaches Poll.
The Aggies’ lineup returns five starters from last season, led by All-America and SEC Freshman of the Year Braden Shewmake who batted .328 with 47 runs, 18 doubles, two triples, 11 home runs and 69 RBI in 2017. Cole Bedford (.301, 13 doubles, 3 HR, 26 RBI), Hunter Coleman (.283, 7 doubles, 5 HR, 22 RBI), Logan Foster (.280, 13 doubles, 6 HR, 24 RBI) and George Janca (.261, 9 doubles, 6 HR, 30 RBI) also return to the lineup.
The Maroon & White return a wealth of talent on the mound, including 2017 MLB Draft picks Cason Sherrod (4-1, 4 saves, 2.89 ERA) and Kaylor Chafin (7-2, 3 saves, 2.33 ERA). Stephen Kolek(4-5, 3.79 ERA), Mitchell Kilkenny (3-3, 7 saves, 3.67 ERA) and John Doxakis (4-3, 5.44 ERA) buoy the squad’s expectations for 2018.
Texas A&M capped their 2017 campaign with their sixth trip to the College World Series and a 41-23 record.
The Aggies begin the 2018 season on February 16 as they host the Rhode Island Rams in a three-game series on Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park.
Story courtesy of Texas A&M Athletics