SAINT PETER, Minn. - "It's really good to have options."
 
Brad Baker, now in his 11th season as the Gustavus head baseball coach, said with a laugh when talking about the 2025 roster. A 73-man roster, led by six fifth-year players and nine seniors, will take to the Gustie Baseball Field on Tuesday afternoon for the season opener against UW-Superior. Due to no snow and above average temperatures this week, the Gusties moved up the non-conference twin bill from its originally scheduled date in April. The February 25 season-opening date sets a new record for earliest game in Gustavus history, bettering last year's February 26 season-opener, which marked the first February game in program history.
 
"We tell them every year that this is their team," said Baker. "We as coaches can impact them to a certain extent, but at the end of the day, it is their team, especially the upperclassmen. The older guys that have been around here for a while, they know what we expect and it has been cool to see them mature. It will be really cool once we start playing games."
 
The Gusties return a majority of their starters from last season, led by fifth-year first baseman Chris Knowles, who slashed at a team-high .456/.522/.779 last year. Knowles also led the team with 10 home runs, 51 RBI, and nine stolen bases (on 12 attempts). Knowles enters the season with the 10th best career batting average in program history (.359) and is 82 putouts away from the all-time record of 792 (Jack Hanson, 2019-23).
 
Drake Siens is another returner who will supply power in the Gustie lineup after missing the second half of the 2024 season due to injury. Despite missing the last 17 games, Siens, a fifth-year, has also made a significant impact in the Gustie record books, ranking fourth in career home runs (21), fifth in RBIs (111), seventh in triples (9), 10th in doubles (35), 14th in runs (100), 15th in batting average (.346), and 18th in hits (135).
 
On the mound, fifth-year pitcher Mitch Casperson brings the most experience with 137 career strikeouts, which ranks seventh in program history and 41 away from setting the record. Casperson, who was the 2023 MIAC Pitcher of the Year, has 27 career starts under his belt, the ninth most in program history.
 
Fifth-year lefty Adam Biewen, who has earned All-Conference the past two seasons, led the team with nine starts last year, along with senior Luke Siegle, who was All-MIAC in 2023. Siegle has struck out 130 batters in his career and, like Casperson, has made 27 career starts.
 
"We started the season with our expectations," said Baker. "Every one of the upperclassmen are different. You think about how they swing and throw, the whole gamut. But we want to have a consistent message for hitting and pitching, and just how we go about things."
 
Other returners who made an impact last year include Danny Gavin, Brady Schmitz, and Brayden Kohls, who all hit over .300 with at least 30 games played. On the mound, Benny Mcdonald, Jackson Thielen, and Nick Hentges all pitched over 20 innings, largely in relief roles.
 
"With this roster, we have more than we've ever had," said Baker. "From a pitching perspective we have the same guys and then some. From a hitting perspective, we have 12 to 15 guys that we want to see in game situations. Last year we had some young kids surprise us and kind of come out of nowhere. They are important in the lineup and now we are seeing who's next. That's the fun part."
 
Baker has also been impressed with the preparation for this season, which has been led by Associate Head Coach Andrew Woitas.
 
"This year in particular, Andrew has been really good," said Baker. "From a preparation standpoint, we are way ahead of any season before in terms of positioning, plays, and situations. He's really good and this preseason has been really fun."
 
After opening the 2025 campaign tomorrow, the Gusties make their annual trip to Tucson, Ariz. over spring break, which features eight games March 3-9. The MIAC opener is scheduled for March 29 at Carleton.