Long Beach State University Athletics
Dirtbags Picked to Finish Third in Big West Preseason Poll
2/10/2023 12:05:00 PM | Baseball
Jonathon Long and Connor Burns also earned spots on the inaugural Preseason All-Big West team.
LONG BEACH, Calif. – The Big West announced the preseason coaches poll on Friday and Long Beach was chosen to finish third, behind UC Santa Barbara and UC Irvine.
The defending champions, UC Santa Barbara, were the clear favorites earning 96 points and eight of the 11 first-place votes. UC Irvine totaled 84 points while the Dirtbags earned 79 points and one first-place vote.
For the first time, the conference coaches also voted on Preseason All-Big West selections that saw two Dirtbags, Jonathon Long and Connor Burns, earn spots on the 11-man team.
Long is arguably the top position player returning to the team after slashing .311/.411/.454 with six home runs, 37 RBI, and 33 runs scored. He went on to earn an All-Big West Honorable Mention. Additionally, the junior has been the unanimous choice among the major media outlets as the Preseason Big West Player of the Year and was recently ranked as the number 25 first baseman in D1Baseball's rankings.
Burns, the reigning Big West Defensive Player of the Year, is widely regarded as one of the best defensive catchers in the country and is expected to be an early round draft pick this coming summer. While he struggled at the plate last year (.162/.214/.215), he took a huge jump forward this offseason leading the team in home runs and RBI during fall ball.
The Dirtbags open the season a week from today, hosting old-time rival Wichita State at Bohl Diamond at Blair Field. First pitch times for the three-game set are 6 p.m. Friday, 6 p.m. Saturday, and 1 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are available at longbeachstate.com/DirtbagsTickets
2023 Big West Baseball Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. UC Santa Barbara – 96 (8)
2. UC Irvine – 84
3. Long Beach State – 79 (1)
4. Cal Poly – 71
5. Cal State Fullerton – 68 (1)
6. Hawai'i – 66 (1)
7. CSUN – 45
8. UC San Diego – 33
9. UC Davis – 28
10. CSU Bakersfield – 23
11. UC Riverside – 12
The defending champions, UC Santa Barbara, were the clear favorites earning 96 points and eight of the 11 first-place votes. UC Irvine totaled 84 points while the Dirtbags earned 79 points and one first-place vote.
For the first time, the conference coaches also voted on Preseason All-Big West selections that saw two Dirtbags, Jonathon Long and Connor Burns, earn spots on the 11-man team.
Long is arguably the top position player returning to the team after slashing .311/.411/.454 with six home runs, 37 RBI, and 33 runs scored. He went on to earn an All-Big West Honorable Mention. Additionally, the junior has been the unanimous choice among the major media outlets as the Preseason Big West Player of the Year and was recently ranked as the number 25 first baseman in D1Baseball's rankings.
Burns, the reigning Big West Defensive Player of the Year, is widely regarded as one of the best defensive catchers in the country and is expected to be an early round draft pick this coming summer. While he struggled at the plate last year (.162/.214/.215), he took a huge jump forward this offseason leading the team in home runs and RBI during fall ball.
The Dirtbags open the season a week from today, hosting old-time rival Wichita State at Bohl Diamond at Blair Field. First pitch times for the three-game set are 6 p.m. Friday, 6 p.m. Saturday, and 1 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are available at longbeachstate.com/DirtbagsTickets
2023 Big West Baseball Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. UC Santa Barbara – 96 (8)
2. UC Irvine – 84
3. Long Beach State – 79 (1)
4. Cal Poly – 71
5. Cal State Fullerton – 68 (1)
6. Hawai'i – 66 (1)
7. CSUN – 45
8. UC San Diego – 33
9. UC Davis – 28
10. CSU Bakersfield – 23
11. UC Riverside – 12
Players Mentioned
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