Baseball America Names Terps B1G Favorites
2/7/2017 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Baseball America tabbed Maryland as its favorites to win the Big Ten, the publication announced Tuesday.
Junior shortstop Kevin Smith was named the preseason conference Player of the Year while junior right-handed pitcher Brian Shaffer was recognized as the preseason Big Ten Pitcher of the Year.
A number for Terps were included in Baseball America's Big Ten “top tools” rankings; Smith (Best Defensive Shortstop), Shaffer (Best Fastball), sophomore second baseman Nick Dunn (Best Pure Hitter), junior first baseman Kevin Biondic (Best Defensive 1B) and junior right-handed pitcher Taylor Bloom (Best Control).
Smith and Dunn are rated as the top prospects in the Big Ten in 2017 and 2018 respectively.
Maryland is ranked in four preseason polls entering the 2017 season; D1Baseball (22), Baseball America (24), Perfect Game (23) and the NCBWA (25). The Terps were named the favorites to win the Big Ten by Perfect Game and D1Baseball.
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. He is eight wins away from becoming the fastest Maryland coach to reach 150 wins.
Smith was named the preseason Big Ten Player of the Year by Perfect Game and D1Baseball.com. Perfect Game and Baseball America named Smith a preseason first-team All-American, while D1Baseball tabbed Smith a preseason third-team All-American.
Maryland opens its 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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