ROCK HILL, S.C. - Friday afternoon marks the start of spring practice for the Winthrop baseball team, as the 2020 season is right around the corner. The Eagles will host the Maine Black Bears at the Winthrop Ballpark Friday, February 14th at 4:00pm for the opener of a three game weekend series. Winthrop comes off a 34-win season in 2019 where the Eagles finished the year third in the Big South Conference and made a trip to the Big South Championship game.

Coach Tom Riginos said about the official start of the spring season "We are excited to get team practice started on Friday. We have three and a half weeks to prepare for our opening day against Maine. The players have done an outstanding job preparing for team practice."

Winthrop was picked fourth in the 2020 Big South preseason poll by league coaches, receiving one first place vote. Defending champion Campbell took the top spot (7 first place votes), followed by High Point (1), Radford (1), Winthrop (1), Presbyterian, Gardner-Webb, Charleston Southern, USC Upstate UNC Asheville and Longwood. 

While the Eagles are picked among the league contenders, Riginos is not concerned with the preseason placement. "Preseason polls are great for the fans and it tells you the season is just around the corner. I don't look into the preseason polls too much; the only poll I get concerned with is the one at the end of the season."

Winthrop returns two 2019 All Big South performers in senior pitcher Colten Rendon (First Team) and senior catcher Spencer Yankle (Second Team). Other key returners include starting pitcher Thad Harris (14 GS, 4.90 ERA), center fielder Scout McFalls (48 GS, .312 BA) and shortstop Tyler Baker (56 GS, 3 HR). 

Click here to purchase 2020 baseball tickets, as Winthrop begins the 2020 season February 14th against the University of Maine. 

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