Two sports publications, D1Baseball and Baseball America, have selected Salukis pitcher Michael Baird as pre-season Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher of the Year.
Baird, a right-hander at Southern Illinois University, held the No. 12 ranking in 2016 with his earned run average of 1.76. According to a press release from SIU, his ERA is the best among pitchers who threw more than 85 innings.
Batting against Baird’s pitching is difficult, according to his stats. In the 15 games he started in 2016, he capped the opposition at no more than three runs. His nine-win record ranks him best in league, and along with keeping batters to a .206 average, he also earned MVC Pitcher of the Week.
Baird is joined by three other returning players this season: Chad Whitmer, Joey Marciano and Ryan Netemeyer.
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