The Oklahoma State baseball program ranks second in the Big 12 preseason poll before the start of the 2017 college baseball season.
The Oklahoma State baseball season is approaching very quickly. We are nearly two weeks away from the first pitch of the Cowboys’ 2017 season. They kick off their season in Phoenix, AZ, against Grand Canyon. However, we still have plenty to talk about before the season comes around in a few weeks.
Today, the Big 12 office released its preseason rankings for 2017. OK State came in second place only behind the TCU Horned Frogs, who were voted nearly a unanimous no. 1 team. Yet, TCU is considered the best team in the country by nearly every preseason poll for college baseball.
The Texas Tech Red Raiders and Texas Longhorns followed up the Cowboys in the preseason poll. The West Virginia Mountaineers came in fifth, and somehow received the only other first-place vote of any team. WVU managed to receive a first place vote while the Horns, Red Raiders, and Cowboys did not get a single first-place vote.
Following up behind TTU, UT and WVU are the Oklahoma Sooners, Baylor Bears, Kansas State Wildcats and Kansas Jayhawks at the bottom. The top of the rankings are similar to how the Big 12 turned out in 2016.
TTU, TCU, and OK State all made it to Omaha last season in the College World Series. The Cowboys ended the CWS in third place, highest of all Big 12 teams in Omaha.
Overall, the Cowboys finished the 2016 campaign with a 43-22 record. They return a talented roster for head coach Josh Holliday’s fifth season at the helm. Holliday never had a finish lower than second place in the Big 12 in any of his four years previous with the Pokes.
The first time you can catch the Pokes at home at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium this season is on Feb. 25 against the Texas State Bobcats.
Next: Oklahoma State Basketball: Cowboys can pull off huge upset against West Virginia
You can view the entire Big 12 preseason poll here. You can view the entire 2017 Cowboy baseball schedule here.