SEC BASEBALL: LSU the favorite to win 2023 title

STAFF REPORT

LSU has been predicted to win the 2023 Southeastern Conference baseball championship as voted by the league’s 14 head coaches in the annual preseason poll released Thursday. The Preseason All-SEC First and Second teams were also announced.

Alabama was picked to finish fifth in the Western Division, the highest pick for the Crimson Tide in eight years.

Auburn was picked just behind Alabama at sixth.

Four different schools received first place votes to win the SEC championship. LSU led the way with 11 votes, while Florida, Ole Miss and Texas A&M had one. LSU was predicted to win the SEC Western Division, followed by Texas A&M and Arkansas. Tennessee was the pick to win the Eastern Division, followed by Florida and Vanderbilt.

Two Preseason All-SEC Teams were selected by a vote of the head coaches. Ten schools were represented on the All-SEC teams with Texas A&M leading the way with five selections. LSU and Tennessee each had four, while Florida had three. Arkansas, Florida, LSU and Tennessee each claimed two first team accolades.

Neither Alabama or Auburn placed a player on first or second team.

The 2023 regular season for SEC teams begins Feb. 17 with conference play set to begin March 16. Eleven SEC teams have been ranked in the top-25 of the preseason polls.

The 2023 SEC Baseball Tournament will take place May 23-28 at the Hoover Met in Hoover, Ala.

 

2023 SEC Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll

 Eastern Division

1. Tennessee (12) – 90

2. Florida (2) – 79

3. Vanderbilt – 64

4. South Carolina – 51

5. Georgia – 48

6. Kentucky – 34

7. Missouri – 19

 

Western Division

1. LSU (12) – 88 

2. Texas A&M (1) – 69

3. Arkansas – 68

4. Ole Miss (1) – 64

5. Alabama – 34

6. Auburn – 33

7. Mississippi State – 29

SEC Champion: LSU (11), Florida (1), Ole Miss (1), Texas A&M (1)

 () – First place votes

 

2023 SEC Baseball Coaches Preseason All-SEC Team

First Team

C: BT Riopelle, Florida

1B: Jack Moss, Texas A&M

2B: Peyton Stovall, Arkansas

3B: Luke Mann, Missouri

SS: Jacob Gonzalez, Ole Miss

OF: Dylan Crews, LSU

OF: Enrique Bradfield Jr., Vanderbilt

OF: Wyatt Langford, Florida

DH/UTL: Tommy White, LSU

SP: Chase Dollander, Tennessee

SP: Chase Burns, Tennessee

RP: Brady Tygart, Arkansas

 

Second Team

C: Luke Hancock, Mississippi State

1B: Tre’ Morgan, LSU

2B: Ryan Targac, Texas A&M

3B: Trevor Werner, Texas A&M

SS: Maui Ahuna, Tennessee

OF: Connor Tate, Georgia

OF: Brett Minnich, Texas A&M

OF: Colton Ledbetter, Mississippi State

DH/UTL: Austin Bost, Texas A&M

SP: Carter Holton, Vanderbilt*

SP: Hurston Waldrep, Florida*

SP: Paul Skenes, LSU*

RP: Camden Sewell, Tennessee

*Ties