CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The Illinois baseball team begins its 2018 baseball campaign in 10 days - Feb. 16 at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas. Here are 10 things to keep an eye on this season.

1. Yalowitz Returns After All-Big Ten Season
First team All-Big Ten selection Jack Yalowitz headlines the returners to the Illini in 2018. Yalowitz led Illinois with a .335 batting average during his sophomore season and added 12 homers and 44 RBIs.

2. Three Projected as Top-10 Round Picks by D1Baseball.com
D1Baseball.com projected RHP Joey Gerber, RHP Luke Shilling and OF Zac Taylor as top-10 round picks. Illinois has had five top-10 round picks in the last three years.

3. Sophomore Combo Up the Middle
SS Ben Troike and 2B Michael Massey, one of the top double-play combos in the Big Ten, return to the lineup in 2018. Troike and Massey only missed one game between the two last season, as the Illini ranked second in the nation in double plays per game.

4. Three Transfers Now Eligible
Transfers LHP Andy Fisher (Eastern Illinois), RHP Sean Leland (Louisville) and Zac Taylor (Houston) are all eligible to play this season after sitting out 2017 due to NCAA transfer rules. All are projected to contribute in big ways in 2018.

5. Pitching Returns
Illinois returns 83 percent of its wins (19/24), 76 percent of its innings (342/449 1/3) and 100% of its saves (10/10) from a year ago. Starting pitchers RHP Ty Weber and RHP Cyrillo Watson are back, along with closer RHP Joey Gerber.

6. Stacked Outfield
Jack Yalowitz (.335, 12 HR) and Doran Turchin (.275, 8 HR) are both back in the outfield and Zac Taylor could fill the third spot. All three are capable of hitting in the middle of the order in 2018.

7. Who's on First?
Illinois has a big hole to fill at first base after the departure of Pat McInerney. The now-Brewers minor leaguer led the Illini with 15 homers and 44 RBIs in his final season in Champaign.   

8. Questions at the Corners and Catcher
Third base is another position Illinois needs to fill, along with first base, after two-year starter Trent Hammond graduated. Bren Spillane (.295, 5 HR) is a candidate to fill either corner spot. The final hole is catcher, where four student-athletes are battling for time -- David Craan, Jeff Korte, Kellen Sarver and Mark Skonieczny.

9. 21 Home Games
Illinois has 21 games slated for Illinois Field, including four Big Ten series (Iowa, Rutgers, Ohio State, Nebraska). The home opener is scheduled for March 13 against Milwaukee.

10. Promo Schedule Coming Soon
The promotional calendar will be released soon, which includes giveaways, theme days and the popular Bleacher Bum BBQ. Follow @IlliniBaseball on Twitter to stay updated.