Cats Ranked No. 26 in Collegiate Baseball Preseason Top 40
12/18/2018 | Baseball
TUCSON, Ariz. – Collegiate Baseball released its Fabulous 40 NCAA Division I preseason poll Tuesday morning and the Arizona Wildcats are ranked No. 26.
The Wildcats went 34-22 last season, posting their third straight 30-win season under Coach Jay Johnson. Arizona is one of six programs to be ranked in the Top 40, joining UCLA (No. 3), Stanford (No. 5), Oregon State (No. 7), Oregon (No. 31) and Arizona State (No. 36).
In addition, Collegiate Baseball named junior third baseman Nick Quintana a preseason third-team All-American. Quintana, one of several key players returning from last year's squad, hit .313 in 2018 as a sophomore, posting 14 home runs, 17 doubles, 55 RBI and a slugging percentage of .592. He led the Wildcats in home runs, RBI and slugging percentage and was a first-team All-Pac-12 selection.
Johnson's squad also returns junior shortstop Cameron Cannon. An honorable mention All-Pac-12 pick a year ago, Cannon hit .321 with a team-best 21 doubles. He hit eight home runs and drove in 50, while posting a .969 fielding percentage as a middle infielder. Sophomore second baseman Jacob Blas is also back after hitting .305 as a freshman. Other key position players returning include outfielders Matt Fraizer, Donta Williams and Blake Paugh, along with designated hitter Tate Soderstrom.
On the mound, Arizona will welcome back Randy Labaut, who posted a miniscule 1.60 ERA in 33 2/3 innings last year. Also back on the mound are right-handers Zach Sherman, Preston Price and Jonathan Guardado, along with lefties Avery Weems and Gil Luna.
Johnson and the Wildcats also welcome in the nation's No. 3 recruiting class this season, headlined by position players Austin Wells, Branden Boissiere, Ryan Holgate and Dayton Dooney, along with pitchers Bryce Collins, Vince Vannelle, Nate Brown, Andrew Nardi, George Arias Jr., and others.
The Wildcats open their season Feb. 15 at home versus UMass Lowell. Arizona will play 32 home games this season, the most since Johnson took over in 2016. Season tickets are available now.
The Wildcats went 34-22 last season, posting their third straight 30-win season under Coach Jay Johnson. Arizona is one of six programs to be ranked in the Top 40, joining UCLA (No. 3), Stanford (No. 5), Oregon State (No. 7), Oregon (No. 31) and Arizona State (No. 36).
In addition, Collegiate Baseball named junior third baseman Nick Quintana a preseason third-team All-American. Quintana, one of several key players returning from last year's squad, hit .313 in 2018 as a sophomore, posting 14 home runs, 17 doubles, 55 RBI and a slugging percentage of .592. He led the Wildcats in home runs, RBI and slugging percentage and was a first-team All-Pac-12 selection.
Johnson's squad also returns junior shortstop Cameron Cannon. An honorable mention All-Pac-12 pick a year ago, Cannon hit .321 with a team-best 21 doubles. He hit eight home runs and drove in 50, while posting a .969 fielding percentage as a middle infielder. Sophomore second baseman Jacob Blas is also back after hitting .305 as a freshman. Other key position players returning include outfielders Matt Fraizer, Donta Williams and Blake Paugh, along with designated hitter Tate Soderstrom.
On the mound, Arizona will welcome back Randy Labaut, who posted a miniscule 1.60 ERA in 33 2/3 innings last year. Also back on the mound are right-handers Zach Sherman, Preston Price and Jonathan Guardado, along with lefties Avery Weems and Gil Luna.
Johnson and the Wildcats also welcome in the nation's No. 3 recruiting class this season, headlined by position players Austin Wells, Branden Boissiere, Ryan Holgate and Dayton Dooney, along with pitchers Bryce Collins, Vince Vannelle, Nate Brown, Andrew Nardi, George Arias Jr., and others.
The Wildcats open their season Feb. 15 at home versus UMass Lowell. Arizona will play 32 home games this season, the most since Johnson took over in 2016. Season tickets are available now.
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