Richmond, Va.- Junior Justin Mitrovich and senior Kenny Mallory Jr. were selected to preseason All-CAA team released by the conference Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 5. Outfielder Charlie Granatell and utility Ryan Sprock were also selected to the All-CAA honorable mention.
 
Elon was selected sixth in the CAA baseball preseason poll after being picked fifth last season.
 
Following the selection of Mitrovich for the second consecutive year, Elon has now had a starting pitcher selected to the preseason All-CAA team for eight straight seasons. Mitrovich is the first pitcher since Kyle Brnovich (2018,2019) to be selected to back-to-back All-CAA preseason teams.   
 
UNCW was chosen as the top team earning eight first place votes. The Seahawks were followed by Charleston and Northeastern, who both received first place votes. Campbell was selected fourth in the poll followed by Delaware and then Elon. Stony Brook is projected seventh, followed by William & Mary and Hofstra. The poll rounded out with North Carolina A&T, Monmouth and Towson completing the list.
 
Justin Mitrovich was selected as a preseason All-CAA selection following his second season stint as a weekend rotation staple for the Phoenix. His 96 strikeouts were the second most in the CAA and the most by an Elon pitcher since George Kirby and Kyle Brnovich both eclipsed the 100-mark in a season in 2019. Mitrovich enters the season as Elon's Friday night starter for the second straight year and needs just 58 strikeouts to enter the Phoenix career strikeout Top 10 list.
 
Senior Kenny Mallory Jr. enters 2025 following his breakout campaign in 2024. An All-CAA Second Team player a year ago in the outfield, Mallory continues to show his versatility being selected as one of the six infielders chosen. His .354 batting average and .462 on-base percentage led the Phoenix a season ago and his 70 hits were tied with Charlie Granatell for a team high. Prior to this season, Mallory was selected as a Top 50 first baseman by D1Baseball, coming in at number 35 on their preseason list.
 
Fellow senior Charlie Granatell was selected as an honorable mention for the outfield on the preseason all-conference team. Granatell saw career highs last season in the three triple slash categories, as well as hits, doubles, home runs and RBIs. He was a CAA Honorable Mention player in 2024 and a one-time CAA player of the week last season following his opening weekend success against Navy. Granatell is on the cusp of lighting up the Elon record book, approaching the Top 10 in numerous categories.
 
Ryan Sprock has been chosen as an honorable mention selection in the CAA preseason release for the second straight season. Sprock earned a CAA Honorable Mention award for the second straight season following his performance in 2024. Sprock finished the season slashing .300/.405/.489 and was tied for the team lead with eight home runs and led the club with 42 RBIs. Sprock also made 15 appearances on the mound and struck out 33 batters.  
 
The Phoenix will open their season next Friday against the #1/1 Texas A&M Aggies in College Station, TX next weekend. Elon's home slate will open less than two weeks from today against Presbyterian on February 18. Tickets sales are available one hour prior to first pitch at Latham Park or for more information, visit ElonTickets.com or call the Elon Ticket Office at 336-278-6750.
 
 
 
 
2025 CAA BASEBALL PRESEASON PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
 
1. UNCW (8 first-place votes)  
2. Charleston (3 first-place votes) 
3. Northeastern (1 first-place vote)
4. Campbell  
5. Delaware  
6. Elon          
7. Stony Brook                                                                                         
8. William & Mary                                                                                
9. Hofstra                                                                                                   
10. North Carolina A&T                                                                   
11. Monmouth                                                                                        
12. Towson                                                                                                 
 
2024 PRESEASON ALL-CAA BASEBALL TEAM
 
C- Gregory Bozzo, Northeastern
IF- Jack Goodman, Northeastern
IF- Brett Lesher, Delaware
IF- Kenny Mallory, Jr., Elon 
IF- Dylan Palmer, Hofstra 
IF- Jordan Peyton, Towson
IF- Tanner Thach, UNCW
OF- Aaron Graeber, Delaware
OF- Alex Lane, Northeastern
OF- Cam Maldonado, Northeastern
OF- Avery Neaves, Charleston
OF- Ben Parker, William & Mary
UT- Erik Paulsen, Stony Brook
SP- Jake Brink, Charleston
SP- Justin Mitrovich, Elon
SP- Eddie Smink, Stony Brook
SP- Zane Taylor, UNCW
RP- Davis Aiken, Charleston
RP- Jack Beauchesne, Northeastern
RP- Carter Lovasz, William & Mary
 
PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Tanner Thach, UNCW
 
Honorable Mention: Dylan Johnson, C, Charleston; Andrew Schuldt, C, Campbell; Casey Bishop, IF, Towson; Kevin Jones, IF, UNCW; Taye Robinson, IF, Towson; Alec DeMartino, OF, UNCW; Charlie Granatell, OF, Elon; Dalen Thompson, OF, Campbell; Ryan Sprock, UT, Elon; Alec Couture, SP, Monmouth, Aidan Hunter, SP, Charleston; Zack Potts, SP, William & Mary; Connor Kane, RP, UNCW; Alex Lyon, RP, Charleston