Goldy Gopher
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With the opening of official practices today and 3 weeks until the first game I figured it was a good time to start the season thread. The Gophers will open up in California this season against Irvine. A couple different publications have come out with their conference predictions. I think D1Baseball.com had the Gophers 6th and Perfect Game had them 9th but I'm pretty sure most places had the Gophers towards the bottom in their predictions last year and they still ended up B1G champions and 2 wins away from making the Super Regionals.
The Gophers did lose Matt Fiedler, Dalton Sawyer, Jordan Jess, Austin Athmann, Dan Motl, Connor Schaefbauer, and Ty McDevitt who were all key contributors last season but they do have some nice pieces returning. 8 position players return that started at least 25 games and offense should be a strength this season. On the mound their are a few question marks with both your Friday and Saturday starters gone. Toby Anderson is the lone returner from the rotation that was used at the end of the year however Lucas Gilbreath was solid in the game he started in the regional and I'd anticipate him moving into the rotation. Tyler Hanson also stated in the rotation last year before moving to the bullpen and had a good Summer as a starter so I'd think he will also be back in the rotation this season. In the bullpen the Gophers return Brian Glowicki as a very solid option but will need some other guys to step up who haven't had a whole lot of experience though Reggie Meyer, Jake Stevenson, Nick Lackney, Jeff Fasching, and Fred Manke did have decent Summers in the Northwoods League.
The Gophers did lose Matt Fiedler, Dalton Sawyer, Jordan Jess, Austin Athmann, Dan Motl, Connor Schaefbauer, and Ty McDevitt who were all key contributors last season but they do have some nice pieces returning. 8 position players return that started at least 25 games and offense should be a strength this season. On the mound their are a few question marks with both your Friday and Saturday starters gone. Toby Anderson is the lone returner from the rotation that was used at the end of the year however Lucas Gilbreath was solid in the game he started in the regional and I'd anticipate him moving into the rotation. Tyler Hanson also stated in the rotation last year before moving to the bullpen and had a good Summer as a starter so I'd think he will also be back in the rotation this season. In the bullpen the Gophers return Brian Glowicki as a very solid option but will need some other guys to step up who haven't had a whole lot of experience though Reggie Meyer, Jake Stevenson, Nick Lackney, Jeff Fasching, and Fred Manke did have decent Summers in the Northwoods League.