By Staff Report.
DURHAM , N.C– Florida is No. 1 in Baseball America ‘s preseason Top 25 rankings for the first time in school history. The Gators return five freshman All-Americans and numerous other stars from a team that won the Southeastern Conference regular-season title and reached the College World Series in 2010. Florida ‘s previous high ranking in BA’s preseason Top 25 was No. 3, in 1992 and 2006.
The other seven participants of the 2010 CWS all rank among the top 12 heading into 2011. Defending national champion South Carolina , which must replace its entire weekend rotation, opens the season at No. 7, while runner-up UCLA starts at No. 2.
There are a few fresh names in the preseason rankings. No. 9 Connecticut, No. 14 Oregon and No. 20 College of Charleston earn preseason rankings for the first time in the history of BA’s top 25, which dates back to 1981. No. 23 St. John’s is ranked in the preseason for the first time since the inaugural Baseball America rankings in 1981.
The Pacific-10 Conference leads all conferences with six teams in the rankings, and all six appear in the top 20. The Southeastern Conference places the most teams in the top 10 (three), and lands four teams in the rankings overall, tied with the Atlantic Coast and Big 12 conferences.
The staff of Baseball America determines the Top 25 rankings. Last year’s records do not include ties.
Team 2010 Record Final 2010 Ranking
1. Florida 47-17 7
2. UCLA 51-17 2
3. Texas Christian 54-14 3
4. Vanderbilt 46-20 14
5. Oklahoma 50-18 5
6. Texas 50-13 9
7. South Carolina 54-16 1
8. Cal State Fullerton 46-18 11
9. Connecticut 48-16 NR
10. Clemson 45-25 10
11. Arizona State 52-10 4
12. Florida State 48-20 6
13. Stanford 31-25 NR
14. Oregon 40-24 25
15. Virginia 51-14 8
16. Baylor 36-24 NR
17. California 29-25 NR
18. Rice 40-23 21
19. Arizona 34-24 NR
20. College of Charleston 44-19 NR
21. Texas A&M 43-21 23
22. Louisiana State 41-22 NR
23. St. John’s 43-20 NR
24. Miami 43-20 15
25. Tulane 32-24 NR
