DURHAM, N.C. – The Duke baseball team took to Jack Coombs Field for its first official fall practice Tuesday, uniting 23 returning letterwinners with 11 newcomers.
The Blue Devils went 33-24 this past season to earn the program’s first NCAA Tournament bid since 1961. After beginning the 2016 season 10-13 (1-7 ACC), Duke went 23-9 over its final 32 regular season games, including a 9-7 mark against top 20 RPI teams. With 33 wins, Duke reached the 30-win milestone for the third straight year, marking the program’s first stretch of three-straight 30-win seasons since 1992-98.
Duke brings back all eight starting position players from its 2016 roster and returns both 2016 All-ACC picks in sophomore outfielder Jimmy Herron and junior third baseman Jack Labosky.