ST. LOUIS – No. 16 Missouri Baptist University baseball was selected to win the American Midwest Conference in the Preseason Coaches' Poll announced on Thursday. The Spartans return a large portion of the team that won the AMC Regular Season & Tournament Championships last season while adding several key newcomers heading into the 2025 campaign.
 
MBU earned 90 points to sit atop the poll, including seven first-place votes. Columbia College was the runner-up with 82 overall points and one first-place vote, followed by Central Baptist College at 74 points, William Woods University at 62, and Williams Baptist University at 58 points.
 
The Spartans won the American Midwest Conference Regular Season and Tournament titles last season going 41-12-1 overall and 19-2 in AMC play. The team lost their first game in the NAIA Baseball National Championship Opening Round, rebounded with two wins over Indiana Tech and Taylor University, and were ultimately eliminated in a 14-10 slugfest loss to Indiana University Southeast.
 
NAIA All-America Second Team selection Cole Robinson returns in 2025 and was selected an NAIA Preseason All-American after hitting .423 with 19 home runs and 73 RBI in 2024. Including Robinson, the Spartans return four of their five home run leaders from last season. Blayne Yarger hit .393 with 23 home runs and 71 RBI, Jayden Orozco hit 15 home runs with 53 RBI, and catcher Jakob Kouneski popped 10 home runs with 52 RBI.
 
On the mound, AMC Newcomer Pitcher of the Year Jackson Wells returns after posting an 8-2 record, a 2.48 ERA, and 66 strikeouts over 76.1 innings. Second Team All-AMC selection Teague Robertson also returns after going a perfect 9-0 with 64 punchouts while last year's save leader Skout Rallo will look to continue anchoring the backend of the bullpen after notching five saves and 28 strikeouts in 25 innings.
 
Key additions for the Spartans on the pitching staff include University of Indianapolis transfer Charez Butcher, Fullerton Community College product Joseph Giunta, and Seminole State College transfer Taylon Laxson.
 
The Spartans kick off their season on Thursday, Jan. 30, in Santa Clarita, Calif., against the Master's University. The first pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. (CST), and will be broadcast on the GSAC Sports Network.