Baseball Notebook: Cardinals Return to Campus, Begin Preseason Push
January 06, 2016 | Baseball
Louisville players receive more high praise in MLB Draft prospect rankings; excitement builds for annual Leadoff Dinner
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Today's Louisville Cardinals baseball notebook features the team's return to campus for the spring semester, more lofty praise in preseason MLB Draft rankings, the building excitement for the annual Leadoff Dinner presented by Republic Bank and head coach Dan McDonnell's halftime interview.
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CARDINALS RETURN TO CAMPUS, COMMENCE PRESEASON WORK
Louisville players officially reported back to campus this week and as spring semester classes started Wednesday, the Cardinals kicked off their preseason work before the sun had risen. With opening day on the 2016 season 44 days away, Louisville's team started its Wednesday by reporting to the Trager Center, Louisville's indoor practice facility, at 6 a.m., for a timed shuttled run. Preseason activities continued for the Cardinals with an afternoon sports performance training session. The Cardinals, ranked No. 2 in the Collegiate Baseball newspaper preseason poll released last month, will continue their conditioning program as well as skill development instruction until Jan. 29, when preseason practice for the 2016 season officially begins.
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FIVE LOUISVILLE PLAYERS IN BASEBALL AMERICA COLLEGE TOP 100 DRAFT LIST
Last month, Louisville players received high marks in multiple MLB Draft prospect rankings and that trend continued Tuesday with five Cardinals listed among Baseball America's College Top 100 Draft Prospects list. Leading the way was junior outfielder Corey Ray, ranked No. 3 overall by Baseball America, and senior pitcher Kyle Funkhouser at No. 6. That duo was followed by junior pitcher Zack Burdi at No. 37, junior infielder Nick Solak at No. 80 and sophomore infielder Blake Tiberi at No. 87. The five Louisville players are among 22 players from ACC schools on the top 100.
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EXCITEMENT GROWS FOR 2016 LEADOFF DINNER PRESENTED BY REPUBLIC BANK
As the excitement for the 2016 season builds, the anticipation for the 14th annual Louisville Baseball Leadoff Dinner presented by Republic also continues to grow. This year's event, set for Jan. 29 at 7:30 p.m., ET at the Louisville Marriott Downtown, is headlined by six-time Major League Baseball All-Star outfielder Jose Bautista of the Toronto Blue Jays. Tickets for this year's event are going fast and can be purchased online here. More information on the annual dinner is available here.
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MCDONNELL ENTERTAINS FANS AS HALFTIME GUEST AT MEN'S BASKETBAL GAME
As the Louisville men's basketball team opened its ACC schedule with a home win against Wake Forest on Sunday night, Cardinals baseball head coach Dan McDonnell served as the halftime guest answering questions for the crowd of 21,302. McDonnell talked about Louisville's preseason No. 2 ranking, the upcoming Leadoff Dinner and the home field advantage at Jim Patterson Stadium. Click here to watch the full interview.
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FOLLOWING THE CARDINALS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans can follow Louisville baseball on Twitter (@UofLBaseball) at http://twitter.com/uoflbaseball and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ulbaseball.
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CARDINALS RETURN TO CAMPUS, COMMENCE PRESEASON WORK
Louisville players officially reported back to campus this week and as spring semester classes started Wednesday, the Cardinals kicked off their preseason work before the sun had risen. With opening day on the 2016 season 44 days away, Louisville's team started its Wednesday by reporting to the Trager Center, Louisville's indoor practice facility, at 6 a.m., for a timed shuttled run. Preseason activities continued for the Cardinals with an afternoon sports performance training session. The Cardinals, ranked No. 2 in the Collegiate Baseball newspaper preseason poll released last month, will continue their conditioning program as well as skill development instruction until Jan. 29, when preseason practice for the 2016 season officially begins.
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FIVE LOUISVILLE PLAYERS IN BASEBALL AMERICA COLLEGE TOP 100 DRAFT LIST
Last month, Louisville players received high marks in multiple MLB Draft prospect rankings and that trend continued Tuesday with five Cardinals listed among Baseball America's College Top 100 Draft Prospects list. Leading the way was junior outfielder Corey Ray, ranked No. 3 overall by Baseball America, and senior pitcher Kyle Funkhouser at No. 6. That duo was followed by junior pitcher Zack Burdi at No. 37, junior infielder Nick Solak at No. 80 and sophomore infielder Blake Tiberi at No. 87. The five Louisville players are among 22 players from ACC schools on the top 100.
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EXCITEMENT GROWS FOR 2016 LEADOFF DINNER PRESENTED BY REPUBLIC BANK
As the excitement for the 2016 season builds, the anticipation for the 14th annual Louisville Baseball Leadoff Dinner presented by Republic also continues to grow. This year's event, set for Jan. 29 at 7:30 p.m., ET at the Louisville Marriott Downtown, is headlined by six-time Major League Baseball All-Star outfielder Jose Bautista of the Toronto Blue Jays. Tickets for this year's event are going fast and can be purchased online here. More information on the annual dinner is available here.
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MCDONNELL ENTERTAINS FANS AS HALFTIME GUEST AT MEN'S BASKETBAL GAME
As the Louisville men's basketball team opened its ACC schedule with a home win against Wake Forest on Sunday night, Cardinals baseball head coach Dan McDonnell served as the halftime guest answering questions for the crowd of 21,302. McDonnell talked about Louisville's preseason No. 2 ranking, the upcoming Leadoff Dinner and the home field advantage at Jim Patterson Stadium. Click here to watch the full interview.
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FOLLOWING THE CARDINALS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans can follow Louisville baseball on Twitter (@UofLBaseball) at http://twitter.com/uoflbaseball and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ulbaseball.
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Players Mentioned
RHP
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RHP
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OF/INF
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3B/1B
/ BaseballBSB: Dan McDonnell Postgame vs. Xavier (2/17/26)
Wednesday, February 18
BSB: Tague Davis Postgame vs. Xavier (2/17/26)
Wednesday, February 18
BSB: Alex Alicea Postgame vs. Xavier (2/17/26)
Wednesday, February 18
BSB: Dan McDonnell Postgame vs. Michigan State (2-15-26)
Sunday, February 15
