Nebraska baseball predicted to finish fifth in preseason Big Ten poll
The Big Ten conference released its preseason poll on Wednesday afternoon two days prior to opening day. Each of the league’s 13 head coaches participated in the voting. The top six of polling results are released to the public.
| Big Ten Preseason Poll |
| 1. Iowa |
| 2. Indiana |
| 3. Maryland |
| 4. Rutgers |
| 5. Nebraska |
| 6. Michigan |
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Iowa, which is the Big Ten’s only ranked program at No. 20, is fresh off a season in which head coach Rick Heller’s squad tied a program record with 44 wins. Indiana and Maryland finish first and second respectively after regional appearances in 2023.
Each head coach also named three athletes from their roster to the Big Ten’s Players to Watch list for the upcoming season. Nebraska is represented by shortstop Dylan Carey, outfielder Gabe Swansen and left-handed pitcher/utility player Will Walsh. Swansen earned All-Big Ten Second-Team honors in 2023 after smashing 18 home runs, which tied for fifth in the conference.
Additionally, the list features four returning athletes from last year’s All-Big Ten First-Team. Indiana outfielder Devin Taylor joins fellow sophomore and right-handed pitcher Christian Coppola from Rutgers. The Hawkeyes selected former first-teamers in right-handed pitcher Brody Brecht and outfielder Sam Peterson. Second-Team All-Big Ten honoree and right-handed pitcher Marcus Morgan also made the list.
The complete group of 39 players can be found below:
| Name | School | Yr. | Pos. | Hometown |
| Jack Crowder | Illinois | Sr. | RHP | Romeoville, Ill. |
| Ryan Moerman ^ | Illinois | Jr. | OF | Lockport, Ill. |
| Logan Tabeling | Illinois | Sr. | RHP | Tuscola, Ill. |
| Connor Foley | Indiana | So. | RHP | Jasper, Ind. |
| Devin Taylor + | Indiana | So. | OF | Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Brock Tibbitts ^ | Indiana | Jr. | C | New Albany, Ohio |
| Brody Brecht + | Iowa | Jr. | RHP | Ankeny, Iowa |
| Marcus Morgan ^ | Iowa | Jr. | RHP | Iowa City, Iowa |
| Sam Petersen + | Iowa | Jr. | OF | Huxley, Iowa |
| Alex Calarco | Maryland | Jr. | C/DH | Wilmette, Ill. |
| Chris Hacopian | Maryland | Fr. | 3B | Potomac, Md. |
| Sam Hojnar | Maryland | Sr. | 2B | Naperville, Ill. |
| Jonathan Kim * | Michigan | So. | CF | Brookfield, Wis. |
| Dylan Vigue | Michigan | Fr. | RHP | Leominster, Mass. |
| Mitch Voit | Michigan | So. | RHP/1B | Whitefish Bay, Wis. |
| Joseph Dzierwa | Michigan State | So. | LHP | Haskins, Ohio |
| Jack Frank | Michigan State | Sr. | OF | Strongsville, Ohio |
| Nick Powers | Michigan State | Sr. | LHP | Flushing, Mich. |
| Brady Counsell | Minnesota | Jr. | 2B | Milwaukee, Wis. |
| Weber Neels | Minnesota | So. | C/1B | Cottage Grove, Minn. |
| Connor Wietgrefe | Minnesota | Jr. | LHP | Prior Lake, Minn. |
| Dylan Carey | Nebraska | So. | SS | Castle Rock, Colo. |
| Gabe Swansen ^ | Nebraska | Jr. | OF | Johnston, Iowa |
| Will Walsh | Nebraska | Jr. | UTL | Leawood, Kan. |
| Tyler Ganus | Northwestern | Gr. | OF | Los Angeles, Calif. |
| Owen McElfatrick | Northwestern | So. | INF | Tampa, Fla. |
| Garrett Shearer | Northwestern | Fr. | RHP | O’Fallon, Ill. |
| Landon Beidelschies | Ohio State | So. | LHP | Canfield, Ohio |
| Gavin Bruni | Ohio State | Jr. | LHP | Alliance, Ohio |
| Henry Kaczmar | Ohio State | So. | SS | Bath, Ohio |
| Adam Cecere | Penn State | Gr. | OF | Adams Township, Pa. |
| J.T. Marr | Penn State | Gr. | C | Fort Mill, S.C. |
| Bryce Molinaro | Penn State | So. | INF | Drums, Pa. |
| Mike Bolton Jr. | Purdue | 5th | OF | Chicago, Ill. |
| Connor Caskenette | Purdue | Sr. | C | Duncan, British Columbia |
| Couper Cornblum | Purdue | Sr. | OF | Woodway, Texas |
| Christian Coppola + | Rutgers | So. | RHP | Galloway, N.J. |
| Josh Kuroda-Grauer | Rutgers | Jr. | SS | Somerset, N.J. |
| Tony Santa Maria | Rutgers | So. | 3B | Absecon, N.J. |
+ 2023 All-Big Ten First Team
^ 2023 All-Big Ten Second Team
* 2023 All-Big Ten Third Team
