PROVIDENCE, R.I.—ECU has been tabbed as the favorite in the 2020 American Athletic Conference Baseball Preseason Poll, as selected by the league’s head coaches.
ECU junior Jake Kuchmaner was picked as the Preseason Pitcher of the Year, while his Pirate teammate, junior Alec Burleson was selected as the Preseason Player of the Year. Burleson was selected as a first-team All-American by five publications, while Kuchmaner was named to last year’s American Athletic Conference All-Conference First Team.
Burleson was a finalist for the 2019 John Olerud National Player of the Year and hit .370 with 91 hits and 61 RBI while also going 6-2 on the mound with five saves and a 3.