Bradley University Athletics

Braves Receiving Votes in Collegiate Baseball Preseason Poll

Josh Schwam

Complete Preseason Poll

Baseball 1/10/2022 2:28:00 PM

The Bradley baseball team is receiving votes in the preseason national poll by Collegiate Baseball.

The oldest college baseball poll in the country, Bradley is the only school from the state of Illinois and one of three Missouri Valley Conference programs to earn votes in the initial poll – joining No. 32 Dallas Baptist and Indiana State, who was also among the teams receiving votes.

The Braves are coming off a 2021 season where they finished third in the Valley standings with a 12-10 record. BU's 12 league victories are its most since 2007, while Bradley has posted three-straight winning seasons in conference play for the first time since 1967 to 1969.

Bradley is set to be anchored in 2022 by first basemen Connor O'Brien. The junior is the first BU position player to repeat as a first-team all-conference honoree since Daren Epley in 1987 and 1988 after hitting .366 with four home runs and 26 RBI. Senior Matt Hamilton is set to lead the rotation after receiving honorable mention to the All-Valley Team one season ago.

Overall, Bradley has 18 contests this season against teams also listed in the preseason rankings. The Braves are set to open the 2022 campaign on Friday, Feb. 18 against Incarnate Word.

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Players Mentioned

#41 Connor O'Brien: C/IF; 6' 0"; Sophomore; R/R

#19 Matt Hamilton: RHP; 6' 2"; Junior; R/R

Players Mentioned

#41 Connor O'Brien
: 6' 0"; Sophomore; R/R
: C/IF

#19 Matt Hamilton
: 6' 2"; Junior; R/R
: RHP

Braves Receiving Votes in Collegiate Baseball Preseason Poll

Players Mentioned

#41 Connor O'Brien

#19 Matt Hamilton

Players Mentioned

#41 Connor O'Brien

#19 Matt Hamilton