Here's your 411 on Gophers baseball. They start their season tomorrow.
Press release:
The University of Minnesota baseball team begins its 2016 slate with a road trip to Surprise, Ariz. for four neutral site games, Feb. 19-21. The Gophers take on Utah (twice), Utah Valley and Oregon State over a three-day span.
All-Time Series
Minnesota is 4-4 versus the likes of Oregon State and Utah all-time and will face Utah Valley for the first time. The Gophers won three of the first four meetings with the Beavers, dating back to 1990, but last time Minnesota took on the Oregon State was in 2001 when the team was swept on the road. The Gophers and Utes have only dueled one time in the past, with Minnesota winning 4-1 at the Dairy Queen Classic in 2013. Although the Gophers and Wolverines have not played, Minnesota is 27-7 all-time against teams from the WAC.
About the Utes
Utah wrapped up a 16-36-1 season last year. The lone tie came against Oregon State in a 15-inning battle in Corvallis, Ore. The Utes are led at the plate by outfielder Wyler Smith, who hit .329 with six doubles, a triple and 14 RBI in 2015. Starting pitcher Jason Rose returns after tossing 84.0 innings with a 3.54 ERA and 68 strikeouts.
About the Wolverines
Utah Valley went 19-35 last campaign and finished sixth in the WAC. The Wolverines lost 15 players who saw extensive action, but return their all four of their starting rotation. Senior outfielders Craig Brinkerhoff and Mark Kruger paced the team at plate last year with batting averages of .299 and .290, respectively. Kruger added 32 RBI and a team-high 12 doubles. In the bullpen, right-hander Kyle Valgardson made 25 appearances and notched six saves matched with a 3.32 ERA.
About the Beavers
Oregon State has made the postseason seven straight seasons, including last year’s regional in Dallas, Texas. The Beavers return infielder/catcher KJ Harrison, who hit .309 with 10 home runs and 60 RBI. Oregon State brings back four pitchers who maintained a sub-4.00 ERA and made 10-plus appearances in 2015. Returning starter Drew Rasmussen went 7-4 with a 2.80 ERA and threw two complete-game shutouts last season.
Surprise Stadium
Home to the Kansas City Royals and Texas Rangers for Spring Training, Surprise Stadium holds field dimensions of 350-379-400-379-350.
Last Campaign
Minnesota went 21-30, marking just the second losing season under head coach John Anderson’s tenure (34 seasons). Following a 20-35 record in 2008, the Gophers completed one of the top turnarounds in the nation, going 40-19 and making the NCAA Regional the following season.
Loaded Schedule
Minnesota plays seven teams who made the NCAA Tournament last year in Oregon State, Missouri State, Iowa, Michigan, Maryland, Illinois and Indiana. The Gophers also play 12 teams who won 30-plus games in 2015.
Program Upgrades
Minnesota is receiving two upgrades this season. Its new state-of-the-art locker room has been ready for use for a few weeks and the new hitting facility will open midway through the season, right next to Siebert Field.
Lead the Way
The Gophers have five senior leaders on the team in Jordan Jess, Ty McDevitt, Dan Motl, Dalton Sawyer and Connor Schaefbauer. Jess and McDevitt figure to be key in back end of the bullpen, while Sawyer returns to the starting rotation for the second season. Both Motl and Schaefbauer should be everyday players at centerfield and second base, respectively.
Lefties Galore
Minnesota boasts 16 left-handed hitters on its roster this season. That number is the highest among Power-5 schools, with Texas (15), Ohio State (14) and Virginia (14) the next closest.
Doing It All
Junior Matt Fiedler returns after a sensational 2015 season in which he was named to the John Olerud Award Watch List - given to the best two-way player in the country. He was recently named a Summer Collegiate All-American by Perfect Game.
Back at the Helm
Head coach John Anderson is back for his 35th season as the lead-man for the Minnesota baseball program. Through the three-plus decades of being in charge, Anderson has amassed 1,172 wins - which is the highest win total in Big Ten and program history. His win total currently sits in the top-30 all-time among collegiate head coaches. Anderson has coached 262 Academic All-Big Ten selections, six All-Americans and 18 players who made the major leagues.
Minnesota Heavy
The 2016 roster is highlighted by 66 percent of the players from inside the boarders of the state of Minnesota. Twenty-one players feature the highest number, with Wisconsin and Illinois close behind with four and three, respectively.
Another Year at Siebert
Siebert Field, which has been Minnesota baseball’s home for the past three seasons after being built in 2013. The Gophers will have two homes beginning in 2017 as the team will use U.S. Bank Stadium for games in the early months of the season.
Press release:
The University of Minnesota baseball team begins its 2016 slate with a road trip to Surprise, Ariz. for four neutral site games, Feb. 19-21. The Gophers take on Utah (twice), Utah Valley and Oregon State over a three-day span.
All-Time Series
Minnesota is 4-4 versus the likes of Oregon State and Utah all-time and will face Utah Valley for the first time. The Gophers won three of the first four meetings with the Beavers, dating back to 1990, but last time Minnesota took on the Oregon State was in 2001 when the team was swept on the road. The Gophers and Utes have only dueled one time in the past, with Minnesota winning 4-1 at the Dairy Queen Classic in 2013. Although the Gophers and Wolverines have not played, Minnesota is 27-7 all-time against teams from the WAC.
About the Utes
Utah wrapped up a 16-36-1 season last year. The lone tie came against Oregon State in a 15-inning battle in Corvallis, Ore. The Utes are led at the plate by outfielder Wyler Smith, who hit .329 with six doubles, a triple and 14 RBI in 2015. Starting pitcher Jason Rose returns after tossing 84.0 innings with a 3.54 ERA and 68 strikeouts.
About the Wolverines
Utah Valley went 19-35 last campaign and finished sixth in the WAC. The Wolverines lost 15 players who saw extensive action, but return their all four of their starting rotation. Senior outfielders Craig Brinkerhoff and Mark Kruger paced the team at plate last year with batting averages of .299 and .290, respectively. Kruger added 32 RBI and a team-high 12 doubles. In the bullpen, right-hander Kyle Valgardson made 25 appearances and notched six saves matched with a 3.32 ERA.
About the Beavers
Oregon State has made the postseason seven straight seasons, including last year’s regional in Dallas, Texas. The Beavers return infielder/catcher KJ Harrison, who hit .309 with 10 home runs and 60 RBI. Oregon State brings back four pitchers who maintained a sub-4.00 ERA and made 10-plus appearances in 2015. Returning starter Drew Rasmussen went 7-4 with a 2.80 ERA and threw two complete-game shutouts last season.
Surprise Stadium
Home to the Kansas City Royals and Texas Rangers for Spring Training, Surprise Stadium holds field dimensions of 350-379-400-379-350.
Last Campaign
Minnesota went 21-30, marking just the second losing season under head coach John Anderson’s tenure (34 seasons). Following a 20-35 record in 2008, the Gophers completed one of the top turnarounds in the nation, going 40-19 and making the NCAA Regional the following season.
Loaded Schedule
Minnesota plays seven teams who made the NCAA Tournament last year in Oregon State, Missouri State, Iowa, Michigan, Maryland, Illinois and Indiana. The Gophers also play 12 teams who won 30-plus games in 2015.
Program Upgrades
Minnesota is receiving two upgrades this season. Its new state-of-the-art locker room has been ready for use for a few weeks and the new hitting facility will open midway through the season, right next to Siebert Field.
Lead the Way
The Gophers have five senior leaders on the team in Jordan Jess, Ty McDevitt, Dan Motl, Dalton Sawyer and Connor Schaefbauer. Jess and McDevitt figure to be key in back end of the bullpen, while Sawyer returns to the starting rotation for the second season. Both Motl and Schaefbauer should be everyday players at centerfield and second base, respectively.
Lefties Galore
Minnesota boasts 16 left-handed hitters on its roster this season. That number is the highest among Power-5 schools, with Texas (15), Ohio State (14) and Virginia (14) the next closest.
Doing It All
Junior Matt Fiedler returns after a sensational 2015 season in which he was named to the John Olerud Award Watch List - given to the best two-way player in the country. He was recently named a Summer Collegiate All-American by Perfect Game.
Back at the Helm
Head coach John Anderson is back for his 35th season as the lead-man for the Minnesota baseball program. Through the three-plus decades of being in charge, Anderson has amassed 1,172 wins - which is the highest win total in Big Ten and program history. His win total currently sits in the top-30 all-time among collegiate head coaches. Anderson has coached 262 Academic All-Big Ten selections, six All-Americans and 18 players who made the major leagues.
Minnesota Heavy
The 2016 roster is highlighted by 66 percent of the players from inside the boarders of the state of Minnesota. Twenty-one players feature the highest number, with Wisconsin and Illinois close behind with four and three, respectively.
Another Year at Siebert
Siebert Field, which has been Minnesota baseball’s home for the past three seasons after being built in 2013. The Gophers will have two homes beginning in 2017 as the team will use U.S. Bank Stadium for games in the early months of the season.
