Mitchell, Nelson and Obermueller Earn B1G Preseason Honors

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Three University of Iowa baseball players — junior Cade Obermueller, junior Gable Mitchell and fifth-year Andy Nelson — have been named to the Big Ten Preseason Players to Watch list, the conference announced Wednesday.

Obermueller was selected by the Texas Rangers in the 19th Round of the 2024 Major League Baseball Draft but elected to return to Iowa for his junior year. Obermueller was the 585th pick overall and the 34th player drafted under head coach Rick Heller. The left-handed pitcher started 13 games on the mound last season as a sophomore, finishing with a 4-3 record and a 3.92 ERA. The Iowa City, Iowa, native held opponents to a .187 batting average while striking out 73 hitters, the second most on the team. Obermueller was named the preseason Big Ten Pitcher of the Year by Perfect Game on Jan. 16.

Mitchell started in all 54 games last season as a sophomore. The switch-hitting shortstop batted .293 with 58 hits in 198 at-bats and helped turn 26 double plays. 

Nelson appeared in 46 games for the Hawkeyes, including 43 starts in his sophomore season. He batted .325 with 55 hits, 44 RBIs and led the team with nine home runs, earning him third-team All-Big Ten honors.

Iowa’s season opener is Friday, February 14, against South Florida in Tampa, Florida.