CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The Illinois baseball team began official team practice Friday at the Irwin Indoor Practice Facility in preparation for the 140th season in program history. All NCAA baseball teams were allowed to start Friday, three weeks before the start of games.
The Illini begin the season ranked No. 29 by Perfect Game, No. 34 by Collegiate Baseball and also received votes in the USA TODAY/Coaches Poll. Preseason All-American 2B Michael Massey highlights a strong core of returners that includes C Jeff Korte, SS Ben Troike, 3B Grant Van Scoy, DH Michael Michalak, OF Zac Taylor, OF Jack Yalowitz and starting pitchers that combined for 52 of 53 starts.Â
Illinois returns 97 percent of its pitching wins, 98 percent of its pitching starts, 91 percent of its innings pitched, 75 percent of its hits, 69 percent of its runs and 48 percent of its home runs from last year. In 2018, Illinois finished 33-20 and 15-9 in the Big Ten, while finishing fourth in the conference and reaching the Big Ten Tournament semifinals.Â
