Texas Tech University Athletics
Red Raiders Ranked 39th in Collegiate Baseball Preseason Poll
December 21, 2015 | Baseball
Eric Gutierrez and the Red Raiders are ranked in Collegiate Baseball's preseason poll for the second-straight year as Texas Tech is No. 39 heading into the 2016 season.
Dec. 21, 2015
This is the second-straight season the Red Raiders have appeared in the preseason national polls as Texas Tech spent most of the 2015 season ranked among the top 30 teams in the country by several publications.
The Red Raiders are one of four Big 12 Conference programs ranked in Collegiate Baseball's preseason poll, joining the likes of No. 15 TCU, No. 25 Oklahoma State and No. 40 Texas. In addition, six of Texas Tech's non-conference opponents -- No. 6 Louisiana-Lafayette, No. 12 Cal State Fullerton, No. 13 California, No. 18 Houston, No. 24 Arkansas and No. 36 San Diego State -- also appeared in the poll.
Tim Tadlock has the Red Raiders in the preseason national rankings for the second-straight season.
Tadlock and his staff bring back the bulk of a roster that finished 31-24 a year ago as 23 letterwinners will return this spring, including an accomplished eight-member senior class that features the likes of Eric Gutierrez, Tyler Neslony and Cory Raley.
Gutierrez is one of four returners who earned All-Big 12 honors in 2015 as he was named to the first team for the second-consecutive season after hitting .314 overall with three home runs, 42 RBI and a .447 on-base percentage. Gutierrez was also rewarded for his work defensively on the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Rawlings Gold Glove Team.
Gutierrez was joined on the All-Big 12 teams by both Raley, a second-team selection, and Neslony, an honorable mention recipient, as well as Stephen Smith, who received second team accolades after hitting .291 as a sophomore with 10 home runs and 32 RBI. Smith's 10 home runs ranked second in the Big 12.
On the mound, the Red Raiders return a pair of starters in Ryan Moseley and Ty Damron but also add several arms from a talented recruiting class that ranked as high as ninth nationally.
Texas Tech opens the 2016 season on Feb. 19 with the start of a four-game series against Wisconsin-Milwaukee inside Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park.
