EDISON, NJ – The Rider University baseball team was picked to finish second in the 2026 MAAC Baseball Preseason Coaches' Poll, earning one first-place vote, the league office announced Thursday morning.

For the second consecutive season, outfielder Kyle Neri was named to the Preseason All-MAAC Team. Neri is coming off a standout 2025 campaign in which he earned First Team All-MAAC honors and was also selected to the MAAC All-Academic Team.

Neri started all 52 games for the Broncs last season, batting .324 with 69 hits, 45 runs scored, 43 RBIs, and six home runs. He recorded a season-high four hits against Iona on March 30 and drove in a season-best eight RBIs during the year.

Rider totaled 146 points in the poll and was joined in the preseason top five by Quinnipiac (139), Sacred Heart (117) and Mount St. Mary's (110). Fairfield was tabbed the preseason favorite, collecting 168 points and 12 first-place votes.

The Broncs will open the 2026 season on the road, beginning play at UNC Asheville on Feb. 23.