CLEVELAND, Ohio – Ball State was selected to win the 2023 Mid-American Conference title in a preseason poll conducted by the league’s 11 head coaches.  

Despite losing all three of its starting outfielders and ace pitcher from a season ago, Ball State picked up five first-place votes and are favorites to win the MAC according to the coaches in the conference. BSU also secured five votes to win the MAC Tournament.
 
The Cardinals will be led by defending Gold Glove winner, Ryan Peltier, and closer, Sam Klein. Both Peltier and Klein earned Preseason All-American honors from Collegiate Baseball Newspaper. Klein was named to a Preseason All-America team by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA).
 
BSU will have most of its starting rotation return, including Trennor O'Donnell and Ty Johnson. Ryan Brown was named the No. 49 prospect in college baseball by D1 Baseball. The Cardinals were effective as a pitching staff, striking out 559 batters, and look to continue the success on the mound this season.

The MAC baseball season begins on Friday, February 17, while conference play starts up Friday, March 10. For more information visit getsomemaction.com or follow the MAC on Twitter at @MACSports.

2023 Baseball Preseason Poll (first place votes)
1. Ball State (5) – 115 points
2. Central Michigan (3) – 107 points
3. Kent State (1) – 96 points
4. Toledo (1) – 86 points
5. Miami (1) – 70 points
6. Ohio – 68 points
7. Western Michigan – 53 points
8. Eastern Michigan – 52 points
9. Bowling Green – 39 points
10. Northern Illinois – 27 points
11. Akron – 13 points
 
Tournament Champion: Ball State (5), Central Michigan (2), Kent State (1), Miami (1), Northern Illinois (1), Toledo (1)