WINGATE, N.C. – The reigning CCAA regular season and tournament champion Cal State Monterey Bay baseball team enters the 2024 season ranked No. 14 in the preseason National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association top 25 poll, the organization announced Wednesday.

The Otters also checked in at No. 2 in the West Region, receiving two first place votes. CSUMB is coming off a 2023 campaign in which they posted a school-record-tying 39 wins for a 39-18 overall mark.

A lot of talent returns in 2024 as two-time conference player of the year Brady Miguel is joined by All-CCAA selections Chase Lindemann, Nico Hartojo and Ryan Platero. Hartojo was named to the NCBWA Preseason West Region Team on Tuesday, while Miguel and Lindemann were tabbed all-region last season.

Head coach Walt White was named the regional coach of the year for the third time and has led the Otters to 35 or more wins in each of the last four full seasons.

CSUMB will open the 2024 season against Azusa Pacific on Thursday, Feb. 1, for the first of four games against a Cougars squad that checks in at No. 4 in the region and is receiving votes in the national poll.

In a schedule change, the Otters will now host No. 21 Point Loma for a four-game set, beginning on Thursday, Feb. 8.