| Big Ten Coaches Poll |
|---|
| Rank | Team |
| 1. | Michigan |
| 2. | Maryland |
| 3. | Indiana |
| 4. | Iowa |
| 5. | Illinois |
| 6. | Michigan State |
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois baseball team was picked to finish in fifth place of the Big Ten by the conference's coaches, the Big Ten office announced Wednesday. Jason Goldstein, Cody Sedlock and Adam Walton were selected as Players to Watch.
Michigan was tabbed as the favorite to unseat Illinois as Big Ten champion. The Illini won a program record 50 wins, including a conference record 27-game winning streak, to claim its 30th Big Ten title. Michigan (35 Big Ten championships) is the only program with more conference titles than Illinois.
Goldstein, an All-Big Ten first team pick in 2015, is back for his senior season after being drafted in the 17th round of the MLB Draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers in June. He calls all the pitches for Illinois' staff that set a program record for ERA last season and hit .286 with eight homers and 47 RBI.
Sedlock was 4-0 with a 4.02 ERA as a sophomore in 2015. He is expected to have an increased role in 2016 after throwing 31.1 innings last season, including allowing no earned runs over 2.0 innings against Vanderbilt in the NCAA Super Regional. Sedlock projects to be the Illini's ace and could be a first-day pick in the MLB Draft according to multiple publications.
Walton started every game at shortstop and in the leadoff spot for Illinois in 2015. The 20th round pick of the Baltimore Orioles had a .954 field percentage while making just 14 errors in 61 games. Walton, an All-Big Ten first team selection last year, also hit .289 with three homers and 31 RBI.
Illinois opens the 2016 season Feb. 19 at Tulane. The home opener is scheduled for March 25 against Penn State.
Big Ten Players to Watch
Jason Goldstein, Sr., C, Illinois
Cody Sedlock, Jr., SP, Illinois
Adam Walton, Jr, SS, Illinois
Craig Dedelow, Jr., CF, Indiana
Kyle Hart, Sr., SP, Indiana
Jake Kelzer, Jr., RP, Indiana
Calvin Mathews, Sr., SP, Iowa
Tyler Peyton, Sr., SP/1B, Iowa
Nick Roscetti, Sr., SS, Iowa
Nick Cieri, Jr., C/DH, Maryland
Mike Shawaryn, Jr., SP, Maryland
Kevin Smith, So., SS, Maryland
Brett Adcock, Jr., SP, Michigan
Carmen Benedetti, Jr., IF/OF/RP, Michigan
Evan Hill, Sr., SP, Michigan
Walter Borkovich, Jr., SP, Michigan State
Cam Vieaux, Jr., SP, Michigan State
Jordan Zimmerman, Jr., 2B, Michigan State
Austin Athmann, Jr., C, Minnesota
Dan Motl, Sr., OF, Minnesota
Dalton Sawyer, Sr., SP, Minnesota
Ryan Boldt, Jr., CF, Nebraska
Derek Burkamper, Jr., SP, Nebraska
Colton Howell, Sr., SP, Nebraska
Jake Stolley, Sr., RP, Northwestern
Zach Jones, Sr., 1B, Northwestern
Joe Hoscheit, Jr., OF, Northwestern
Ronnie Dawson, Jr., OF, Ohio State
Troy Montgomery, Jr., OF, Ohio State
Tanner Tully, Jr., SP, Ohio State
Sal Biasi, So., SP, Penn State
Jim Haley, Jr., SS, Penn State
Taylor Lehman, So., SP, Penn State
Matt Frawley, Jr., RP, Purdue
Kyle Johnson, Sr., CF, Purdue
Kyle Wood, Sr., 1B, Purdue
Howie Brey, Sr., SP, Rutgers
Mike Carter, Jr., OF, Rutgers
Tom Marcinczyk, Jr., OF, Rutgers
