ESPN/USA Today has released their preseason top 25 poll for college baseball, and the University of Louisville ranks No. 20 on the list. UofL has already been picked as the preseason Big East favorites and ranked in the Baseball America top 25. The Cardinals will try to defend their 2009 Big East title this year after a 47-18 season.

The University of Kentucky and Western Kentucky University finished in the others receiving votes category. UK ranked 47th with 4 votes and WKU ranked 52nd with one vote.

UofL closer and member of the BluGrass Baseball All-State team Gabriel Shaw was also named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association stopper of the year watch list. Shaw is one of 47 relievers honored on the initial watch list.

(Hat tip on both stories to The College Baseball Blog.)