TicketsCINCINNATI – Two members of the Cincinnati Baseball program were named Preseason All-Big 12 by the league on Thursday.
Junior catcher Jack Natili and junior pitcher Nathan Taylor were both recognized by the conference.
This is the second time Taylor has earned preseason all-conference honors from the Big 12, after receiving them last year as well.
Taylor has been named honorable mention All-Big 12 each of the last two seasons. He started 15 games on the mound last year and recorded 91 strikeouts, which are tied for fifth-most in a season in school history. Taylor became the first UC pitcher with at least 90 K’s in a season since 1999, and had eight starts with at least seven strikeouts. He earned the start in Cincinnati’s NCAA Tournament win vs. Wake Forest, punching out seven in six innings of work.
Natili has also been named a Preseason All-American by Perfect Game and was put on the Buster Posey Award preseason watch list as well. He received second team All-Big 12 honors last year, his first season as a Bearcat, after hitting 338 with nine home runs, 53 RBI, 14 doubles, 36 runs scored, and 13 HBP. He drove in 30 runs during Big 12 play, which ranked second on the team. Natili’s .451 on-base percentage ranked sixth in the Big 12 and first among all catchers in the conference. He went on a tear in the month of May, hitting .464 with four homers, 20 RBI, and six doubles while helping Cincinnati reach its first NCAA Tournament since 2019.
Cincinnati opens its season with an eight-game road trip beginning Feb. 13-15 at Jacksonville State. Following a midweek contest at No. 9 Auburn on Feb. 17, the Bearcats will visit UAB for four games (Feb. 19-22).
UC’s home opener is set for Tuesday, Feb. 24 vs. Bowling Green at 4:00 p.m.
Season and single-game tickets to Cincinnati Baseball games can be purchased by following this link.
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