Terps Ranked 24th in Baseball America Poll
1/23/2017 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The University of Maryland baseball team was ranked No. 24 in Baseball America's preseason top-25, the publication announced Monday.
The Terps, who won 30 games and made an appearance in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals in 2016, return two weekend starting pitchers and seven members of its everyday lineup. Four of those players, junior RHP Taylor Bloom, junior RHP Brian Shaffer, sophomore second baseman Nick Dunn and sophomore outfielder Marty Costes, were All-Big Ten selections. Dunn and Costes were tabbed freshman All-Americans.
Maryland also boasts preseason All-American Kevin Smith. Smith enters his third campaign in College Park after a spectacular summer that saw him named a Cape Cod All-League honoree along with the MVP of the CCBL Championship Series. The junior shortstop was one of 10 Terps named an all-league selection in their respective summer leagues.
Maryland head coach John Szefc has led Maryland to 30-plus wins in each of his four seasons, and guided the Terps to consecutive NCAA Super Regional appearances in 2014 and 2015.
The Terps open their season at the Clearwater Tournament in Clearwater, Fla. The Terps will take on Ball State in its opener on Friday, February 17 at 7 p.m. at Spectrum Field.
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