EDISON, NJ (Feb. 14, 2024) – Fairfield University has been chosen as the preseason favorites according to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Baseball Preseason Coaches’ Poll, as voted on by the league's 11 head coaches. Marist College sophomore standout, Bayram Hot was named as the Preseason Player of the Year.
Fairfield received 107 points and collected a league-high five first-place votes to lead all other MAAC teams. Last season, the Stags posted 34 wins in the regular season, setting a new school record and the team went 16-5 in MAAC play, leading to the program’s third-straight MAAC Regular Season crown --- their sixth overall. They also became the first program in MAAC history to win three-straight outright conference regular season titles. Fairfield would finish the season 38-18 overall, falling in the MAAC Championship final series. The Stags have won one MAAC Championship to date, winning the entire postseason tournament in 2016.
Quinnipiac University finished in second-place, tallying 96 points with a pair of first-place votes, followed by Canisius University, who totaled 91 points and also snagged two first-place votes. Checking in at fourth-place was defending MAAC Champion, Rider University, with 90 points and one first-place vote, followed by Manhattan College in fifth-place with 73 points and the final first-place vote.
Marist short stop, Hot, earned Preseason Player of the Year honors and a spot on the Preseason All-MAAC Team. The reigning MAAC Rookie of the Year appeared in 50 games, making 48 starts for the Red Foxes during his first year in Poughkeepsie. Hot is the league’s top returner at the plate from a season ago after hitting a .382 batting average, which ranked second in MAAC during 2023. He also recorded 37 runs batted in, 14 doubles, two home runs, and a .446 on base percentage. In addition to winning the conference’s top rookie honor in 2023, Hot was named to the All-MAAC Second Team and MAAC All-Rookie Team.
The remainder of the Preseason All-MAAC Team and full Preseason Coaches’ Poll can be found below.
| 2024 Baseball Preseason Coaches’ Poll |
| 1 |
Fairfield |
107 (5) |
| 2 |
Quinnipiac |
96 (2) |
| 3 |
Canisius |
91 (2) |
| 4 |
Rider |
90 (1) |
| 5 |
Manhattan |
73 (1) |
| 6 |
Niagara |
72 |
| 7 |
Mount St. Mary’s |
71 |
| 8 |
Marist |
46 |
| 9 |
Iona |
33 |
| 10 |
Siena |
28 |
| 11 |
Saint Peter’s |
19 |
| Preseason Player of the Year |
| Bayram Hot – Marist |
| Preseason All-MAAC Team |
| Player |
Position |
Year |
Institution |
| Keegan O'Connor |
Catcher |
Sr. |
Quinnipiac |
| Matt Bergevin |
First Base |
Sr. |
Fairfield |
| JT Landwehr |
Second Base |
So. |
Mount St. Mary's |
| Bayram Hot |
Short Stop |
So. |
Marist |
| Sebastian Mueller |
Third Base |
Sr. |
Quinnipiac |
| Jackson Strong |
Outfield |
Jr. |
Canisius |
| Matt Bucciero |
Outfield |
So. |
Fairfield |
| Nick Groves |
Outfield |
So. |
Niagara |
| Colin McVeigh |
Pitcher |
Sr. |
Fairfield |
| Zach Cameron |
Pitcher |
Gr. |
Niagara |
| Marcus Cashman |
Pitcher |
Gr. |
Niagara |
| Brian Young |
Pitcher |
Jr. |
Rider |
| Scott Seeker |
Designated Hitter |
Sr. |
Mount St. Mary’s |
| Frank Marinelli |
Utility |
Sr. |
Manhattan |
The 2024 MAAC Baseball Championship returns to Clover Stadium in Pomona, NY for the third straight season. The six-team double elimination championship, will take place from May 22-25. For all information regarding the 2024 MAAC Baseball Championship, please visit
maacsports.com/baseball.
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 11 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 43rd year of competition during the 2023-24 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius University, Fairfield University, Iona University, Manhattan College, Marist College, Mount St. Mary’s University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College. Merrimack College and Sacred Heart University will join the MAAC as full members in the 2024-25 academic year, expanding the conference to 13 institutions.
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