ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Highlighted by a pair of returning all-league selections and a former defensive player of the year, three members of the Navy baseball team were named to the Preseason All-Patriot League Team, the league office announced Wednesday.
 
Senior starting pitcher Matthew Shirah, senior shortstop Eduardo Diaz and junior reliever Landon Kruer were among the 16 players to earn a spot on the preseason all-league team, while the Midshipmen were picked to finish third in the league's preseason poll.
 
Shirah is coming off a breakout junior season that saw the right-hander post a 3.83 earned-run average, a 5-4 record in 12 starts and earn Second-Team All-Patriot League honors. Tallying a 1.24 WHIP that was third best in the league, Shirah also ranked fourth in the Patriot League with 58 strikeouts and fifth with a .242 batting average against, while also recording a pair of career-high eight-strikeout outings. Additionally, the Blue Ridge, Ga., native picked up Academic All-Patriot League and CSC Academic All-District honors for his work in the classroom alongside his on-field performance.
 
Just a season removed from being named the 2022 Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year, Diaz has started 120 straight games at shortstop for the Mids and registered his best offensive season yet in 2023. Earning a spot on the league's all-tournament team, Diaz wrapped up his junior year with a .274 batting average and a team-high .403 on-base percentage, while also tallying the second-most fielding assists in the league at 137 and averaging a .985 fielding percentage. The Miami, Fla., native was even more impressive in league play, batting .329 and reaching base at a .449 clip in 25 Patriot League games.
 
Entering 2024 just two saves away from setting the program career record, Kruer continued to establish himself as one of the top bullpen arms in the Patriot League in 2023 while garnering a spot on the All-Patriot League Second Team. Leading the Mids with 19 appearances, posting a 4.26 ERA and 22 strikeouts over 25.1 innings, Kruer paced the league for the second-straight year and ranked 31st in the nation with nine saves, the second most in program single-season history. A product of Sellersburg, Ind., Kruer was a Freshman All-American in 2022 and tallied a league-high seven saves with a 1.89 ERA.
 
Army was picked to win the league once again, receiving 10 first-place votes and 50 total points in the preseason poll, while Bucknell was slated to finish second with two first-place votes and 28 points. The Mids came in third at 32 points, Lehigh tallied 27 points to land fourth, Lafayette was picked fifth with 23 points and Holy Cross rounded out the poll at 10 points in sixth.
 
Navy and new head coach Chuck Ristano open the 2024 season on Feb. 16 at Elon. The Mids' home opener is set for Feb. 21 against Georgetown at Terwilliger Brothers Field at Max Bishop Stadium.