Pitcher Noah Edders high-fives his teammates.
D1 Baseball, a college baseball media outlet, released its preseason poll on Jan. 13. The rankings featured Troy for the first time in program history. Troy enters the season ranked No. 25, making them the only program in the state of Alabama ranked in the preseason top 25.
Last season, the “Boys of Troy” reached the top 25 for the first time since 2013 after a series win over Coastal Carolina.
The Sun Belt Conference’s number two scoring offense returns Brooks Bryan, a top MLB prospect, and the 2023 Sun Belt Player of the Year Shane Lewis. Head coach Skylar Meade also attacked the transfer portal to bring in several key transfers at needed positions.
Outfielder Steven Meier joins the Trojans from Old Dominion to replace the loss of Kole Myers. Meier ranked third in the Sun Belt in stolen bases last season with the Monarchs.
Blake Cavill – who comes from Western Kentucky -- replaces Will Butcher at first base and brings a big bat with him. Cavill hit .313 last season with the Hilltoppers,recording 47 RBIs.
Meade also bolstered the pitching staff by adding Bradley transfer Noah Edders, who fired 76 strikeouts last season. Drew Nelson and Colby Frieda bring experience from the SEC after transferring in from Auburn and Kentucky, respectively. Garrett Gainous, Grayson Stewart and last season’s ace Luke Lyon all return to the team as well.
D1 Baseball has watched Troy’s offseason very closely, crowning the Trojans as the team to beat in the Sun Belt. D1 Baseball’s Aaron Fitt reports that this may be the deepest roster Coach Meade has had while with the Trojans. He also says the team clearly has potential to make a postseason run if it peaks at the right time.
“Coming off a 37-win regular season, this club is a viable Top 25 candidate heading into the season once again,” Fitt said in his D1 Baseball report on the Trojans.
The nationally ranked Trojans begin their season Feb. 14 through 16 with a series against Bellarmine at Riddle Pace Field. The first pitch of the season will be at 4 p.m. on Feb. 14.
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