CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The Illinois baseball team was picked to finish third in the Big Ten by the leagues' coaches, the conference office announced Wednesday. Each of the Big Ten's 13 head coaches voted on the top six teams.

Illinois looks to lean on its deep returning pitching staff with 98% of its pitching starts and 97% of its wins returning in 2019. Earlier today the Fighting Illini announced the opening weekend starting rotation of Quinn Snarskis (6-1, 2.84 ERA in 2019), Andy Fisher (6-3, 3.96) and Cyrillo Watson (1-1, 4.25) (story).

The Illini returns 80+ career starts at seven of 10 positions: center field (123), right field (120), shortstop (104), second base (104), pitcher (91), designated hitter (91), and catcher (82). Preseason All-American Michael Massey highlights the returners, along with 2018 All-Big Ten second team selection Ben Troike and 2017 All-Big Ten first team selection Jack Yalowitz. 

In addition to the veterans, Illinois brought in one of the most talented freshman classes in the nation. The Illini's freshman class was ranked No. 22 by D1Baseball and No. 24 by Baseball America, which had Jacob Campbell (No. 25) and Aidan Maldonado (No. 49) among its top 50 freshmen.

Illinois starts the season Friday against Georgetown at Wake Forest's David F. Couch Ballpark. The Big Ten opener is March 29 at Iowa. 

2019 Big Ten Preseason Poll (top six teams and ties)
1. Minnesota
2. Michigan
3. Illinois
4. Indiana
5. Ohio State
6t. Nebraska
6t. Purdue

2019 Big Ten Preseason Honors List
Andy Fisher, LHP, Sr., Illinois
Michael Massey, 2B, Jr., Illinois
Quinn Snarskis, RHP, Sr., Illinois
Tanner Gordon, RHP, Jr., Indiana
Matt Gorski, OF, Jr., Indiana
Matt Lloyd, UTIL/RHP, Sr., Indiana
Jack Dreyer, LHP, So., Iowa
Cole McDonald, RHP, Sr., Iowa
Chris Whelan, OF, Sr., Iowa
AJ Lee, SS, Sr., Maryland
John Murphy, RHP, Sr., Maryland
Hunter Parsons, RHP, Sr., Maryland
Dominic Clementi, DH, Jr., Michigan
Jesse Franklin, OF, So., Michigan
Jordan Nwogu, OF, So., Michigan
Marty Bechina, SS, Sr., Michigan State
Indigo Diaz, RHP, Jr., Michigan State
Mason Erla, RHP, So., Michigan State
Patrick Fredrickson, RHP, So., Minnesota
Max Meyer, RHP/OF, So., Minnesota
Ben Mezzenga, OF, Sr., Minnesota
Angelo Altavilla, SS, Sr., Nebraska
Chad Luensmann, RHP, Jr., Nebraska
Luke Roskam, C/INF, Jr., Nebraska
Hank Christie, RHP, Jr., Northwestern
Jack Dunn, SS, Sr., Northwestern
Alex Erro, 2B, Jr., Northwestern
Dominic Canzone, OF, Jr., Ohio State
Dillon Dingler, C, So., Ohio State
Conner Pohl, 1B, Jr., Ohio State
Dante Biasi, LHP, So., Penn State
Parker Hendershot, DH/IF, So., Penn State
Ryan Sloniger, C, Sr., Penn State
Zac Fascia, C, Jr., Purdue
Skyler Hunter, OF, Jr., Purdue
Ben Nisle, OF, So., Purdue
Mike Nyisztor, OF, So., Rutgers
Harry Rutkowski, LHP, So., Rutgers
Kevin Welsh, INF, Jr., Rutgers