Alabama Has Another Tough Haul Ahead: 2023 SEC Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll

Crimson Tide doesn't have a player on the preseason All-SEC Team as LSU is named the team to beat in the league.

Just how tough is the Southeastern Conference in baseball?

The latest example was revealed Thursday, when the league announced its preseason voting by coaches, and All-SEC team. Although the Alabama Crimson Tide is being hailed as a top 25 program nationally, its projected to finish fifth the Western Division. 

The four divisions teams ahead of it are all considered top-10 teams this season. Overall, 11 SEC teams have been ranked in the top-25 of the preseason polls.

LSU, a preseason No. 1 team in the polls released thus far, was tabbed as the team to beat by the coaches. 

The Preseason All-SEC First and Second Teams were also announced. Four different schools received first place votes to win the SEC championship. 

LSU led the way with 11 votes, while Florida, Ole Miss and Texas A&M had one. LSU was predicted to win the SEC Western Division, followed by Texas A&M and Arkansas.

Tennessee was the pick to win the Eastern Division, followed by Florida and Vanderbilt. Two Preseason All-SEC Teams were selected by a vote of the head coaches. 

Ten schools were represented on the All-SEC teams with Texas A&M leading the way with five selections. LSU and Tennessee each had four, while Florida had three. Arkansas, Florida, LSU and Tennessee each claimed two first team accolades. 

The 2023 regular season for SEC teams begins Feb. 17 with conference play set to begin March 16. 

 The 2023 SEC Baseball Tournament will take place May 23-28 at the Hoover Met in Hoover, Ala. 

2023 SEC Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll

Eastern Division

1. Tennessee (12) – 90
2. Florida (2) – 79
3. Vanderbilt – 64
4. South Carolina – 51
5. Georgia – 48
6. Kentucky – 34
7. Missouri – 19 

Western Division

1. LSU (12) – 88 
2. Texas A&M (1) – 69
3. Arkansas – 68
4. Ole Miss (1) – 64
5. Alabama – 34
6. Auburn – 33
7. Mississippi State – 29

SEC Champion: LSU (11), Florida (1), Ole Miss (1), Texas A&M (1)

First Team

C: BT Riopelle, Florida

1B: Jack Moss, Texas A&M

2B: Peyton Stovall, Arkansas

3B: Luke Mann, Missouri

SS: Jacob Gonzalez, Ole Miss

OF: Dylan Crews, LSU

OF: Enrique Bradfield Jr., Vanderbilt

OF: Wyatt Langford, Florida

DH/UTL: Tommy White, LSU

SP: Chase Dollander, Tennessee

SP: Chase Burns, Tennessee

RP: Brady Tygart, Arkansas

Second Team

C: Luke Hancock, Mississippi State

1B: Tre’ Morgan, LSU

2B: Ryan Targac, Texas A&M

3B: Trevor Werner, Texas A&M

SS: Maui Ahuna, Tennessee

OF: Connor Tate, Georgia

OF: Brett Minnich, Texas A&M

OF: Colton Ledbetter, Mississippi State

DH/UTL: Austin Bost, Texas A&M

SP: Carter Holton, Vanderbilt*

SP: Hurston Waldrep, Florida*

SP: Paul Skenes, LSU*

RP: Camden Sewell, Tennessee