ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Southern Illinois baseball has been picked to finish second in the Missouri Valley Conference Preseason Poll, the League office announced Monday afternoon. Shortstop Jaxon Holder and left-hander Alec Nigut were selected as Preseason All-MVC players.
Illinois State (72), Evansville (49), Indiana State (49), UIC (46), Belmont (39), Bradley (39) and Valparaiso (19) rounded out the poll.
Nigut is the MVC’s leader in ERA (0.99) and opponent batting average (.165) while sporting a spotless 4-0 record in 2025. Holder has tallied 15 RBIs in 15 games as one of the best pound-for-pound run producers in The Valley.
The Salukis once again replaced over 20 players from the 2024 season, and the two Preseason All-MVC honorees are flanked by lineup mainstays Jordan Bach (CF), John Lemm (C), Gabe Petrucelli (2B) and Matt Schark (3B). The roster features all upperclassmen with one only one true sophomore.
2025 MVC PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
Luke Mistone (1B), Murray State
Judah Morris (1B), Illinois State
Nick Rodriguez (2B), Missouri State
Kyle Gibson (3B), Illinois State
Jaxon Holder (SS), Southern Illinois
Will Vierling (C), Murray State
Caden Bogenpohl (OF), Missouri State
Daniel Pacella (OF), Illinois State
Bobby Atkinson (OF), Bradley
Kenton Deverman (SP), Evansville
Alec Nigut (SP), Southern Illinois
Reece Lawler (RP), UIC
Dylan Zentko (RP), Murray State
