Link: http://www.collegebaseballdaily.com/2018/01/08/2018-cbd-season-preview-and-predictions-big-ten/
2018 College Baseball Daily Season Preview & Predictions: Big Ten
by Jake Mastroianni, College Baseball Daily
It was a good 2017 season for the Big Ten in the sense that they sent five teams to the NCAA Tournament. However, none of them hosted a regional and none of them moved on to super regionals. I think they have a chance to get five teams in again, but Maryland and Indiana have a shot to really make some noise in the postseason.
Nebraska (2017: 35-22-1, 16-7-1)
If I'm being perfectly honest, I didn't think Nebraska deserved an NCAA Tournament spot last year. Their best win of the season was a lone win over Arizona. Still, they made the NCAA Tournament and went two-and-out, losing to Yale and Holy Cross.
Lineup: Outfielder Scott Schreiber returns after being drafted in the 26th round in the 2017 MLB Draft by the Tampa Bay Rays. He hit .330 a year ago with 45 runs scored, 15 doubles, 7 home runs and 51 RBI. Shortstop Angelo Altavila hit .316 last year with 38 runs scored, 14 doubles, 1 home run and 39 RBI. Outfielder Luis Alvarado also returns after hitting .283 last year with 39 runs scored, 12 doubles, 2 home runs and 25 RBI. Outfielder Mojo Hagge and catcher Jesse Wilkening should also have a big impact on the 2018 lineup.
Pitching: Jake Hohensee should be back in the starting rotation after going 7-3 with a 4.39 ERA last year in 80 innings pitched with 57 strikeouts. Matt Waldron is also back after making six starts last year with a 4.09 ERA in 55 innings pitched with 43 strikeouts. Those two will try to replace Jake Meyers and Derek Burkamper who were their top two starters last year. Jake McSteen was solid out of the bullpen last year with a 2.04 ERA in 39.2 innings pitched with 28 strikeouts. Same for Robbie Palkert who had a 2.61 ERA in 41.1 innings pitched with 39 strikeouts. Chad Luensmann was the team's closer last year with a 3.74 ERA in 43.1 innings pitched with 33 strikeouts with 8 saves.
2018 Outlook
This will be a solid bullpen, but the starters will need to step up to repeat last year's numbers. The offense returns its top two hitters from last year and should be really good if they can find some depth early.
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2018 Preseason All-Big Ten
C - Tyler Cropley, Iowa
1B - Toby Hanson, Minnesota
2B - Ako Thomas, Michigan
SS - Angelo Altavila, Nebraska
SS - Harry Shipley, Purdue
3B - Micah Coffey, Minnesota
OF - Logan Sowers, Indiana
OF - Robert Neustrom, Iowa
OF - Marty Costes, Maryland
DH - Scott Schreiber, Nebraska
SP - Pauly Milto, Indiana
SP - Brady Schanuel, Iowa
SP - Tyler Blohm, Maryland
SP - Taylor Bloom, Maryland
SP - Ryan Feltner, Ohio State
RP - Riley McCauley, Michigan State
RP - Ross Learnard, Purdue
RP - Zach Daniels, Iowa
2018 Preseason All-Big Ten Honorable Mention
1B - Jacson McGowan, Purdue
2B - Luke Pattersen, Minnesota
2B - Michael Massey, Illinois
2B - Nick Dunn, Maryland
3B - Luke Miller, Indiana
3B - AJ Lee, Maryland
OF - Zach Jancarski, Maryland
OF - Jack Yalowitz, Illinois
OF - Bryce Kelley, Michigan State
OF - Dam Canzone, Ohio State
DH - Matt Lloyd, Indiana
SP - Jonathan Stiever, Indiana
SP - William Tribucher, Michigan
SP - Cal Krueger, Indiana
RP - Seth Kinker, Ohio State
RP - Matt Lloyd, Indiana
RP - Joey Gerber, Illinois
RP - Chad Luensmann, Nebraska
RP - Tommy Henry, Michigan
Predicted Order of Finish
1. Maryland
2. Indiana
3. Minnesota
4. Nebraska
5. Iowa
6. Michigan
7. Purdue
8. Michigan State
9. Illinois
10. Northwestern
11. Ohio State
12. Rutgers
13. Penn State
2018 College Baseball Daily Season Preview & Predictions: Big Ten
by Jake Mastroianni, College Baseball Daily
It was a good 2017 season for the Big Ten in the sense that they sent five teams to the NCAA Tournament. However, none of them hosted a regional and none of them moved on to super regionals. I think they have a chance to get five teams in again, but Maryland and Indiana have a shot to really make some noise in the postseason.
Nebraska (2017: 35-22-1, 16-7-1)
If I'm being perfectly honest, I didn't think Nebraska deserved an NCAA Tournament spot last year. Their best win of the season was a lone win over Arizona. Still, they made the NCAA Tournament and went two-and-out, losing to Yale and Holy Cross.
Lineup: Outfielder Scott Schreiber returns after being drafted in the 26th round in the 2017 MLB Draft by the Tampa Bay Rays. He hit .330 a year ago with 45 runs scored, 15 doubles, 7 home runs and 51 RBI. Shortstop Angelo Altavila hit .316 last year with 38 runs scored, 14 doubles, 1 home run and 39 RBI. Outfielder Luis Alvarado also returns after hitting .283 last year with 39 runs scored, 12 doubles, 2 home runs and 25 RBI. Outfielder Mojo Hagge and catcher Jesse Wilkening should also have a big impact on the 2018 lineup.
Pitching: Jake Hohensee should be back in the starting rotation after going 7-3 with a 4.39 ERA last year in 80 innings pitched with 57 strikeouts. Matt Waldron is also back after making six starts last year with a 4.09 ERA in 55 innings pitched with 43 strikeouts. Those two will try to replace Jake Meyers and Derek Burkamper who were their top two starters last year. Jake McSteen was solid out of the bullpen last year with a 2.04 ERA in 39.2 innings pitched with 28 strikeouts. Same for Robbie Palkert who had a 2.61 ERA in 41.1 innings pitched with 39 strikeouts. Chad Luensmann was the team's closer last year with a 3.74 ERA in 43.1 innings pitched with 33 strikeouts with 8 saves.
2018 Outlook
This will be a solid bullpen, but the starters will need to step up to repeat last year's numbers. The offense returns its top two hitters from last year and should be really good if they can find some depth early.
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2018 Preseason All-Big Ten
C - Tyler Cropley, Iowa
1B - Toby Hanson, Minnesota
2B - Ako Thomas, Michigan
SS - Angelo Altavila, Nebraska
SS - Harry Shipley, Purdue
3B - Micah Coffey, Minnesota
OF - Logan Sowers, Indiana
OF - Robert Neustrom, Iowa
OF - Marty Costes, Maryland
DH - Scott Schreiber, Nebraska
SP - Pauly Milto, Indiana
SP - Brady Schanuel, Iowa
SP - Tyler Blohm, Maryland
SP - Taylor Bloom, Maryland
SP - Ryan Feltner, Ohio State
RP - Riley McCauley, Michigan State
RP - Ross Learnard, Purdue
RP - Zach Daniels, Iowa
2018 Preseason All-Big Ten Honorable Mention
1B - Jacson McGowan, Purdue
2B - Luke Pattersen, Minnesota
2B - Michael Massey, Illinois
2B - Nick Dunn, Maryland
3B - Luke Miller, Indiana
3B - AJ Lee, Maryland
OF - Zach Jancarski, Maryland
OF - Jack Yalowitz, Illinois
OF - Bryce Kelley, Michigan State
OF - Dam Canzone, Ohio State
DH - Matt Lloyd, Indiana
SP - Jonathan Stiever, Indiana
SP - William Tribucher, Michigan
SP - Cal Krueger, Indiana
RP - Seth Kinker, Ohio State
RP - Matt Lloyd, Indiana
RP - Joey Gerber, Illinois
RP - Chad Luensmann, Nebraska
RP - Tommy Henry, Michigan
Predicted Order of Finish
1. Maryland
2. Indiana
3. Minnesota
4. Nebraska
5. Iowa
6. Michigan
7. Purdue
8. Michigan State
9. Illinois
10. Northwestern
11. Ohio State
12. Rutgers
13. Penn State
