WOLVERINES

Michigan voted Big Ten favorite in baseball

The Detroit News
Brett Adcock

Michigan was voted the preseason favorite in the Big Ten by conference coaches on Wednesday.

Vote totals were not released and the Big Ten announced only the top six teams in the voting. Michigan was followed by Maryland, Indiana, Iowa, Illinois and Michigan State.

Michigan was 39-25 last season and won the Big Ten tournament. The Wolverines made the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2008. They were eliminated by Louisville in the regionals.

Each Big Ten coach also submitted three nominations for the preseason Players to Watch list. Michigan’s selections were:

* Carmen Benedetti, a unanimous first-team All-Big Ten selection from Grosse Pointe South. Benedetti hit .325 with 25 doubles and five home runs last season.

* Left-hander Brett Adcock, who went 10-4 with a 3.10 ERA in 19 appearances (17 starts) in 2015.

* Left-hander Evan Hill, who was injured during the first two months of the season but eventually made 11 appearances and struck out 37 in 38 innings.

The Wolverines are coached by Erik Bakich, who has a 98-81 record in three seasons at UM.

Mild winter puts No. 15 Michigan baseball ahead of game