Arizona State opens the 2014 season, and 40th and final season at Packard Stadium, with a three-game home set against Baylor Friday through Sunday. Game times are 2:30 p.m. Friday, 1 p.m. Saturday and 12:30 p.m. Sunday.
The Sun Devils return 22 letter winners from a 37-22-1 team in 2013, including eight pitchers. The top returnees include All-Pac-12 pitchers Ryan Kellogg and Ryan Burr, All-Pac-12 outfielder Trever Allen, catcher R.J. Ybarra and infielder Dalton DiNatale. Burr (4-2, 2.20 ERA, 12 saves) is moving from closer to the starting rotation and will take the mound for Friday's opener. Kellogg (11-1, 3.15) will start on Saturday, and sophomore Brett Lilek (2-1, 4.05) on Sunday.
Ybarra (.313) and DiNatale (.302) are the top returning hitters, while Allen had a team-high nine home runs and 49 RBI.
To celebrate the final season in Packard Stadium, each weekend series during the "Tip You Cap To Packard" season is dedicated to honoring a different decade or aspect of Packard Stadium and ASU's baseball legacy. This weekend is dedicated to the "2000s at Packard Stadium." Former head coach Pat Murphy and all of Sun Devil Baseball from 2000-09 will be recognized during Saturday's game, and more than 20 former letterwinners and baseball staffers will participate, including major leaguers Willie Bloomquist, Kole Calhoun,Eric Sogard, Tuffy Gosewich, Travis Buck, Brooks Conrad, Jake Elmore and Chris Duffy.
Subsequent dedications are as follows:
March 7-9: 1990s at Packard Stadium
March 14-16: 1980s at Packard Stadium
April 4-6: 1970s and opening of Packard Stadium
April 11-13: Foundation of Sun Devil Baseball (Pre-1974)
May 16-18: 40 years of Packard Stadium
