2024 Hope College Baseball Season Preview

The Hope College baseball team is aiming to send out retiring head coach Stu Fritz a champion.

Fritz announced in January that he would retire following the conclusion of the 2024 season. His overall record heading into the 2024 season is 652-468-2 for a .575 winning percentage.

The Flying Dutchmen won nearly two-thirds of their MIAA games (444-246, .643). His 10 MIAA titles are the second-most in league history.

Hope will rely on a mix of experienced upperclassmen and newcomers for sparkling success on the diamond.

Fritz has added three-time MIAA MVP and NCAA Division III All-American Ryan Dorow to the coaching staff as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator.

After graduating from Adrian College, Dorow was drafted by the Texas Rangers. In his seven years playing professionally, he was named Organizational Defensive Player of the Year in 2018 along with a Carolina League All-Star in 2019. He made his Major League debut against the Cleveland Guardians during the 2021 season.

Pitching coach Rick Huisman returns to the coaching staff for the Flying Dutchmen.

Huisman worked with Fritz at Hope from 2003 through 2014. The former San Francisco Giants draft pick enjoyed a 12-year professional baseball career, including a stint in Major League Baseball with the Kansas City Royals.

2024 Roster

The Flying Dutchmen's roster of 36 features three fifth-year seniors, seven seniors, eight juniors, 10 sophomores and eight freshmen.

Hope brings back two All-MIAA selections from last season: first-teamer and senior center fielder Robbie Stuursma (East Grand Rapids, Michigan / East Grand Rapids HS) and fifth-year senior and second baseman Nolan Gardner (Grand Rapids, Michigan / East Grand Rapids).

Stuursma batted .314 in 40 games last season. The centerfielder finished third on the team with 31 RBIs while cracking three home runs.

On the basepaths, Stuursma stole 17-of-21 bases to lead the Flying Dutchmen. Stuursma also earned all-region Gold Glove honors from the American Baseball Coaches Association with a .991 fielding percentage He made only one error while recording 104 putouts and one assist.

Gardner is a career-high .274 hitter with 68 RBIs and 97 runs scored in 109 games.

Senior first baseman Owen Krizan (Grand Haven, Michigan / Grand Haven) is back after recording a career-best 30 RBIs last season.

On the mound, senior right-hander Graham O'Gorman (Champaign, Illinois / Champaign Central) returns to lead the Flying Dutchmen pitching staff after going 7-2 with a 4.74 ERA in 12 starts last season.

The Flying Dutchmen also return starters at third base with junior Al Money (Midland, Michigan / Midland), shortstop with senior Devin Meeuwsen (Rockford, Michigan / Grand Rapids Christian) and left field with sophomore Brenden Collins (Kalamazoo, Michigan / Hackett Catholic).

2024 Coaching Staff

Head coach: Stu Fritz, 31st year
Associate head coach: Chad Ruby
Assistant coach/Recruiting coordinator: Ryan Dorow
Pitching coach: Rick Huisman
Assistant coach: Devin Schaefers

2024 Schedule

The Flying Dutchmen are scheduled to open the season on Saturday, Feb. 24, with a non-league game against Ripon College (Wis.) at 3 p.m.

Hope then will play 16 more games away from home, including the annual spring break trip to Central Florida.

The Flying Dutchmen's home opener is Saturday, March 30, at 1 p.m. with an MIAA doubleheader against Trine University.

MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll

The Hope College baseball team finished fourth in the 2024 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll. The Flying Dutchmen totaled 31 points in the eight-team poll.

Kalamazoo College, last year's MIAA regular-season champion, and Adrian College shared the top spot with 44 points. Adrian received four of seven possible first-place votes, while Kalamazoo collected three. Coaches could not vote for their teams. Third-place Alma College garnered 39 points and one first-place vote.

Hope finished ahead of fifth-place Calvin University (26), sixth-place Trine University (17), seventh-place Albion College (16) and eighth-place The University of Olivet (7).

Coach's Outlook

"I think we've got a really good group that's player-led. Robbie is a key leader on our team in center field. He'll hit in the middle of the lineup. Owen at first base, my other captain who will hit in the middle, has done a nice job. Nolan, I think it's looking for a rebound year a little bit. It's a pretty veteran group with some pretty good young kids," Fritz said. "I think the league will be pretty balanced. I see it as a five-team race, which is exciting. I think our preseason schedule is formidable. I think it's set there for us. We've just got to go perform."

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Players Mentioned

#16 Brenden Collins: OF; 6' 0"; Sophomore

#8 Nolan Gardner: 2B; 6' 0"; Fifth Year; Exercise Science

#6 Owen Krizan: 1B/P; 6' 0"; Senior; Business

#11 Devin Meeuwsen: SS; 6' 3"; Senior; Engineering

#2 Al Money: IF; 5' 9"; Junior; Business/Economics

#23 Graham O'Gorman: P; 6' 2"; Senior; Political Science/Classical Studies

#4 Robbie Stuursma: OF; 6' 0"; Senior; Business

Players Mentioned

#16 Brenden Collins
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: OF

#8 Nolan Gardner
: 6' 0"; Fifth Year; Exercise Science
: 2B

#6 Owen Krizan
: 6' 0"; Senior; Business
: 1B/P

#11 Devin Meeuwsen
: 6' 3"; Senior; Engineering
: SS

#2 Al Money
: 5' 9"; Junior; Business/Economics
: IF

#23 Graham O'Gorman
: 6' 2"; Senior; Political Science/Classical Studies
: P

#4 Robbie Stuursma
: 6' 0"; Senior; Business
: OF