The Hurricanes Baseball team, despite disappointing in 2017, is ranked #20 heading into the 2018 campaign.

Miami’s roster has been bolstered by a strong recruiting class, and as many as 8 starters could be changed from last year, despite much of the 2017 roster returning.

The ‘Canes lost only Jesse Lepore and Carl Chester from last year’s team, and gain studs such as Freshman Alex Toral and UF transfer Danny Reyes, who is likely to fill in for Chester.

In state rival and defending National Champion Florida is No.1, Miami will face them from February 23-25 at The Light. Elsewhere in the ACC Florida State and North Carolina are both in the Top 10, coming in at No.4 and No.7 respectively, while No. 15 Clemson, No. 16 Virginia, No. 21 Louisville, and No. 23 NC State are all also in the Top 25.

Several other ACC teams also received votes and landed just outside the Top 25, setting up the ACC as one of the top leagues in the NCAA yet again.

Miami’s schedule will also be intensely difficult as Miami faces Clemson, Virginia, North Carolina, and traditional rival FSU. The ‘Canes will also have to play a talented Georgia Tech team that lands just outside the Top 25, along with UCF, a team receiving votes, and FIU, a team that landed the nation’s 20th best recruiting class. This all in addition to facing off against the aforementioned Florida Gators.

The Hurricanes should have pitching depth, but Miami will need a big upswing in offensive production in Jim Morris’ last year to succeed. Newcomers such as Toral and Reyes will look to add that to Miami’s roster.

This first of many polls only shows how difficult Miami’s schedule will be this season, but Miami should have the talent to compete in every game. Look for this to be a bounceback year for Miami, hopefully last year refocused the players up and down the roster.

Keep it at State of the U for more preseason coverage as baseball season approaches, and...

Go Canes!