Big Ten Release

ROSEMONT, Ill. - The Fighting Illini baseball team was picked to finish third in the Big Ten by the conference coaches, announced the conference office Wednesday. Junior pitchers Kevin Duchene and Tyler Jay and shortstop Adam Walton were named Big Ten Baseball Players to Watch heading into the 2015 campaign.

The Illini and 10th-year head coach Dan Hartleb have high goals for the 2015 season with every position starter returning and nearly the entire pitching staff back after setting the ERA school record (3.25) last season. Last season, Illinois (32-21) earned its best Big Ten record under Hartleb at 17-7 and notched a school-record four Big Ten sweeps.

• Offense: UI will bring back 100 percent of its hits (487), home runs (21), RBI (233) and total bases (652); 98.8 percent of its runs (250 of 253); and 98.5 percent of its stolen bases (65 of 66).
• Pitching: The Illini return 82.8 percent of their innings pitched (392.1 of 474); 86.8 percent of their strikeouts (317 of 365); and 84.4 percent of their wins (27 of 32).

2015 BIG TEN BASEBALL PRESEASON POLL (top six teams)
1. Maryland
2. Nebraska
3. ILLINOIS
4. Indiana
5. Michigan
6. Ohio State

RP Tyler Jay (Jr., LHP - Lemont, Ill.)
• 2015 Big Ten Preseason Player to Watch
• USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award Watch List and NCBWA Stopper of the Year Watch List
• 2015 Preseason Second-Team All-American by Collegiate Baseball and Perfect Game
• 2015 Preseason Third-Team All-American by Baseball America and NCBWA
• Second-team All-Big Ten and second-team All-Mideast Region relief pitcher in 2014
• Posted a 4-1 record and was a perfect 10-for-10 in save opportunities last season
• Led the bullpen with a 1.94 ERA and 47 strikeouts in a team-high 23 appearances (41.2 IP) in 2014
• 5-4 career record with 10 saves and a 2.32 ERA in 41 appearances (62 IP)

SP Kevin Duchene (Jr., LHP - Joliet, Ill.)
• 2015 Big Ten Preseason Player to Watch (second straight season)
• Two-year starter entering his third season in the rotation
• Went 4-1 with a Big Ten-best 1.80 ERA, 35 strikeouts and 55 innings pitched in nine starts in 2014
• Freshman All-American and second-team All-Mideast Region in 2013
• Big Ten Freshman of the Year, Second-Team All-Big Ten and All-Big Ten Freshman Team selection in 2013
• 13-2 career record with a 2.39 ERA and 103 strikeouts in 27 appearances (21 starts)

SS Adam Walton (r-So., R/R - Buffalo Grove, Ill.)
• 2015 Big Ten Preseason Player to Watch
• Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball newspaper in 2014
• Second-team All-Big Ten and All-Big Ten Freshman Team at shortstop last season
• Led the team with a .329 average in 2014 and was second in stolen bases (13), which both ranked 10th in the Big Ten
• Ranked seventh in the Big Ten with a .356 average during conference games last season