ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The University of New Mexico baseball team begins its quest to return to the NCAA Tournament next Friday against Michigan State in Surprise, Ariz., and one major college baseball website thinks it will do just that.
The Lobos were predicted to win the Mountain West by D1Baseball.com in its review of the Conference released Thursday. It would mark the fourth straight year the Lobos have won at least a share of the MW regular-season title, and it would be the fifth straight championship season for UNM.
Behind a pay wall, the article also mentions several Lobos as some of the top draft-eligible prospects both this year and next, including junior closer Victor Sanchez as the No. 1 overall MLB prospect in the entire conference for the 2016 draft.
Sanchez is just one of many stars from last season returning to UNM. Junior infielders Sam Haggerty (.340, 57 runs, 35 walks) and Jared Holley (.314, .379 OBP) will stabilize the infield. Left fielder and 2014 Freshman All-American Danny Collier (.353) and senior center fielder Aaron Siple (.290) both walked more than they struck out last season and cover lots of ground in the outfield. Colton Thomson (6-6, 3.68) and Drew Bridges (4-1, 3.66) return as starters while Sanchez will be joined in the bullpen by righties Taylor Duree (2-0, 3.55) and Jake Cole (3-1, 3.67) and sophomore lefty Carson Schneider (3.81, 2-1).
UNM opens its home schedule on Feb. 27 against San Francisco in the Lobo Invite. Fans can reserve their seat to all 29 home games by purchasing a Lobo Pride Pass.