FSU Ranked Ninth in Collegiate Baseball Preseason Poll

Fresh off a 39th straight 40-win season, Florida State will begin the 2017 baseball campaign ranked in the top 10.

Collegiate Baseball released its preseason top 40 on Tuesday and the Seminoles found themselves ranked ninth. FSU was one of eight ACC teams ranked in the top 40, but only rival and No. 8 Miami was higher.

TCU topped the Collegiate Baseball Poll, followed by LSU, Florida, South Carolina and Oregon State.

Collegiate Baseball also released its preseason All-American team and two Seminoles made the first team.

Shortstop Taylor Walls was one of them after becoming just the third FSU shortstop to be named a first-team All-American when he got the distinction from Baseball America in 2016. As the table-setter at the top of the lineup, Walls hit .355 last season with six home runs and 46 RBI while stealing 14 bases.

The other Seminole to make the list is first baseman Dylan Busby, who really came on strong late last season. Busby finished the year hitting .323 with a team-high 14 home runs to go along with 55 RBI. Busby also led the club with five triples.

FSU will begin the 2017 season on Feb. 17 against Virginia Commonwealth at Dick Howser Stadium.

Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson