2024 College Baseball Thread

Discussion in 'The Mainboard' started by Beagle, Dec 20, 2019.

  1. JGator1

    JGator1 I'm the Michael Jordan of the industry
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    Florida is a baseball school!!! Family used to go up to Gainesville for regionals back when they were 6 teams, gonna try real hard to get my dad (recovering from some health issues) up to a game this year.

     
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  2. DUCKMOUTH

    DUCKMOUTH People don’t you know, don’t you know
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  3. Daddy Rabbit

    Daddy Rabbit obviously silly and not productive
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  4. bertwing

    bertwing check out the nametag grandma
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  5. devine

    devine hi, i am user devine
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  6. steamengine

    steamengine I don’t want to press one for English!
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    Hopefully the Tennessee banter drops off this year
     
  7. bertwing

    bertwing check out the nametag grandma
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  8. blind dog

    blind dog wps
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    that's cool but date should be January 11, 2023
     
  9. DUCKMOUTH

    DUCKMOUTH People don’t you know, don’t you know
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    Southern Mississippi Golden EaglesNew Orleans SaintsGrateful DeadPoker

    Wish Waldrep wouldn’t have gone to UF, but seeing us at 8 is nice. Anything less than a super will be a disappointment this year for USM. Hopefully we can make a run. Excited for the season


    21830E45-A349-4362-B486-CB189B69EC8C.jpeg
     
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  10. devine

    devine hi, i am user devine
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    Please god can the season start already
     
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  11. Saul Shabazz

    Saul Shabazz We Breachin
    TMB OG

     
  12. swiz

    swiz >>>--;;;------------->
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  13. devine

    devine hi, i am user devine
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    Did Oklahoma lose their entire team or something
     
  14. bertwing

    bertwing check out the nametag grandma
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    Just noticed he hasn’t been active since the end of November
     
    swiz likes this.
  15. FadeMe

    FadeMe Well-Known Member
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    [​IMG]

    Sorry fellas. Had to take a hiatus for a while because of the new business I started. It’s college baseball season though. So I had to come back to my real fam!

    Hit me with all the D1Baseball requests, and I’ll get them posted.
     
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  16. southlick

    southlick "Better Than You"
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    Pretty please

     
  17. bertwing

    bertwing check out the nametag grandma
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    Getting that escort business set up should be very profitable in Auburn this year!
     
  18. FadeMe

    FadeMe Well-Known Member
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    Top 25 Breakdown: No. 11 East Carolina
    SEASON PREVIEW Aaron Fitt - January 19, 2023

    2022 Record: 42-18 (20-4 in American Athletic Conference).
    Coach (Record at school): Cliff Godwin (304-151-1 in 8 seasons).
    Ballpark: Clark-Leclair Stadium (Capacity: 5,000).
    Postseason History: 32 regionals (active streak: 4), 0 CWS trips.
    More: Fall Report on East Carolina.
    Schedule, Stats, Team News: Follow the Pirates all season long at our East Carolina Team Page.

    East Carolina’s Projected Lineup
    Position Name Class B-T AVG/OBP/SLG 2B HR RBI BB/K SB/ATT
    C Ryan McCrystal SO L-R .148/.294/.259 0 1 5 6/9 0/0
    1B Josh Moylan JR L-R .221/.355/.416 11 6 27 35/51 2/3
    2B Jacob Starling JR R-R .243/.383/.403 5 6 31 25/39 2/3
    3B Alec Makarewicz JR S-R .270/.346/.464 15 11 45 28/70 2/3
    SS Nathan Chrismon FR R-R High school
    LF Lane Hoover SR L-L .341/.423/.416 15 0 33 35/20 12/19
    CF Jacob Jenkins-Cowart SO L-R .330/.367/.549 10 13 65 16/56 6/7
    RF Carter Cunningham JR L-R .227/.317/.386 3 3 16 13/22 4/7
    DH Justin Wilcoxen JR R-R .276/.327/.398 6 2 9 7/28 0/0
    Position Name Class Position W-L ERA SV IP K-BB OBA
    SP1 Carter Spivey SR RHP 8-0 2.83 5 76.1 76/19 .245
    SP2 Josh Grosz JR RHP 4-5 5.65 0 57.1 61/19 .272
    SP3 Trey Yesavage SO RHP 1-0 4.50 2 26 45/19 .268
    SP4 Zach Root FR LHP High school
    Closer Tyler Bradt JR RHP 3-5 6.79 2 54.1 61/35 .272
    Grading The Pirates
    Just as scouts grade prospects using the 20-80 scouting scale, we use a 20-80 scale to evaluate teams in our top 25. A score of 50 in each category is average, relative to a typical NCAA tournament team; 55 is slightly above-average; 60 is above-average (plus); 70 is well above-average (plus-plus); 80 is top of the scale, historically strong. Accordingly, 45 is fringe-average or slightly below-average; 40 is below-average; 30 is well below-average; and 20 is the extreme in that direction.

    Hitting: 50
    Power: 50
    Speed: 50
    Defense: 55
    Starting Pitching: 60
    Bullpen: 60
    Experience/Intangibles: 60

    Team Breakdown
    Strengths: Last year, ECU was forced to take a patchwork approach to constructing its pitching staff because it did not get much length out of its starters. But in 2023, the Pirates appear much stronger in the rotation, and the deep and experienced pitching staff is the clear strength of the roster. Carter Spivey’s expected move into the Friday starter role gives ECU a bell cow to anchor the rotation, and the emergence of Josh Grosz this fall plus the continued development of uber-talented sophomore Trey Yesavage makes ECU very formidable on weekends. The lineup should also be plenty capable, albeit less explosive than it was a year ago.

    Question Marks: The Pirates will miss two-way star Zach Agnos for his defense at shortstop, his clutch bat, and his toughness at the back of the bullpen. His departure leaves a significant question mark at short, where ECU is likely to lean upon an untested true freshman in Nathan Chrismon, and at the closer spot, where the Pirates are counting upon VMI transfer Tyler Bradt to take a big step forward after a mediocre 2022 campaign (followed by a strong fall). The offensive numbers of many returning pieces in the lineup are not impressive, so ECU really needs big bounceback years from the likes of Josh Moylan and Alec Makarewicz, plus breakout seasons from Carter Cunningham, Jacob Starling, Ryan McCrystal and Justin Wilcoxen. We really like the talent of all those pieces, and we are buying the breakouts — hence ECU’s lofty ranking. But it is fair to say the offense is a question mark, based on last year’s production.

    Star Power: Spivey won the American Athletic Conference pitcher of the year award as a super-stopper in the bullpen, and the Pirates started him and extended him in the postseason, with good results. The development of a nasty cutter to go along with his lively sinker and quality slider makes him a more complete pitcher. In the lineup, look for Jacob Jenkins-Cowart to build upon last year’s Freshman All-America campaign and become the centerpiece of the lineup, providing power, speed, and the ability to hit for average. He’s a very exciting talent coming off a strong debut season.

    Glue Guys: Lane Hoover is the ultimate glue guy, an undersized baseball rat whose toughness and energy are contagious. He’s also the catalyst that makes the lineup go, with superb plate discipline and bat-handling skills. Veteran righty Garrett Saylor is the glue guy on the mound, a moment-of-truth go-to guy thanks to his ability to miss bats with his big-breaking slider.

    Picks to Click: McCrystal and Wilcoxen both took big steps forward offensively and defensively in the fall, and ECU feels great about that duo as a catching/DH platoon. ECU coach Cliff Godwin tabbed McCrystal as ECU’s prime pick to click in the lineup after his strong fall, during which he showed “tremendous flexibility and turned himself into a really good catcher.” Grosz has really made a jump since ditching his sinker for a riding 92-96 mph four-seamer with good induced vertical break, and his slider and changeup have both become much more consistent, making him an obvious breakout pick in the rotation.

    Top Newcomers: Bradt, the VMI transfer, showed some of the best stuff on the staff this fall, running his fastball up to 96, tightening his breaking ball and improving his changeup, making him the favorite for the back-end role. Freshman lefty Zach Root, a potential midweek starter, has some funk in his delivery that adds deception, and he showed good stuff with an 89-92 fastball, feel to spin the breaking ball and a good low-80s changeup with fade and sink. Chrismon and fellow freshman Connor Rasmussen will battle for the crucial shortstop job, and toolsy freshman Dixon Williams is an intriguing X-factor.

    Outlook: ECU came just a handful of outs away from its first-ever trip to Omaha last year, and that elusive CWS appearance is so close that the ECU fateful can taste it. Every year we write that this could be the year ECU sheds the “best program that hasn’t been to Omaha” label — and well, this could be the year. The Pirates have the standout pitching to host another regional and make another run at the promised land.

    From the Fall Report:

    CLEMSON, S.C. — East Carolina has been the class of the American Athletic Conference ever since Cliff Godwin arrived in Greenville, repeatedly hosting regionals and knocking on the door to Omaha. Last year, the Pirates advanced to super regionals for the fourth time in Godwin’s seven completed seasons as head coach, but this was the first time they got a chance to host a super, after a torrid stretch run earned them a national seed. And while ECU’s super regional loss to Texas was gut-wrenching, the weekend still served as a wonderful showcase for the program’s incredible gameday atmosphere and culture. The Pirates got closer than ever to the promised land of Omaha — and they did it with a patchwork pitching staff and a veteran-laden position player group.

    Despite the very notable departures of center fielder Bryson Worrell, shortstop/closer Zach Agnos and lefthander C.J. Mayhue, ECU remains very well stocked with experienced, winning ballplayers. And an exciting group of emerging young players looks ready to buttress that older core, giving East Carolina a legitimate chance to be even better than it was a year ago.

    “After the fall, I would say our pitching is the strength of our team,” Godwin said. “Not that we’ll be bad defensively or bad offensively, but just excited about our depth — especially coming off last year where, I call it “Houdini”-ing our pitching staff. So just excited to have some depth and some different options.” …
     
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  19. FadeMe

    FadeMe Well-Known Member
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    I almost didn’t post this in protest of Bama being ranked and Auburn not. D1 is on my shit list right now.


    Top 25 Breakdown: No. 20 Alabama
    SEASON PREVIEW Aaron Fitt - January 20, 2023

    2022 Record: 31-27 (12-17 in SEC).
    Coach (Record at school): Brad Bohannon (136-109 in 5 seasons).
    Ballpark: Sewell-Thomas Stadium (Capacity: 8,500).
    Postseason History: 22 regionals (last in 2021), 5 CWS trips (last in 1999).
    More: Fall Report on Alabama.
    Schedule, Stats, Team News: Follow the Crimson Tide all season long at our Alabama Team Page.

    Alabama’s Projected Lineup
    Position Name Class B-T AVG/OBP/SLG 2B HR RBI BB/K SB/ATT
    C Mac Guscette (Stats from Florida) JR R-R .238/.296/.419 4 5 15 8/10 1/1
    1B Drew Williamson RS SR L-R .301/.384/.495 13 9 45 28/55 1/5
    2B Bryce Eblin JR L-R .242/.314/.331 8 2 22 13/30 2/3
    3B Ed Johnson (Stats from Tennessee Tech) RS SR R-R .367/.420/.591 14 14 56 19/31 6/9
    SS Jim Jarvis SR L-R .266/.367/.365 4 4 20 30/35 7/10
    LF Tommy Seidl RS SR R-R .302/.385/.401 10 3 25 19/41 12/13
    CF Caden Rose JR R-R .326/.435/.440 11 1 16 25/42 2/3
    RF Andrew Pinckney RS JR R-R .303/.383/.500 14 7 29 17/51 7/10
    DH Dominic Tamez SR R-R .289/.341/.393 7 5 33 18/36 1/1
    Position Name Class Position W-L ERA SV IP K-BB OBA
    SP1 Grayson Hitt JR LHP 3-3 5.93 0 54.2 68-30 .277
    SP2 Garrett McMillan SR RHP 4-4 4.15 0 78 83-26 .241
    SP3 Ben Hess SO RHP 2-1 5.22 0 29.1 50-19 .192
    SP4 Jacob McNairy RS SR RHP 6-1 4.64 66 65-36 .280
    Closer Riley Quick FR RHP High school
    Grading The Crimson Tide
    Just as scouts grade prospects using the 20-80 scouting scale, we use a 20-80 scale to evaluate teams in our top 25. A score of 50 in each category is average, relative to a typical NCAA tournament team; 55 is slightly above-average; 60 is above-average (plus); 70 is well above-average (plus-plus); 80 is top of the scale, historically strong. Accordingly, 45 is fringe-average or slightly below-average; 40 is below-average; 30 is well below-average; and 20 is the extreme in that direction.

    Hitting: 55
    Power: 45
    Speed: 50
    Defense: 65
    Starting Pitching: 60
    Bullpen: 55
    Experience/Intangibles: 60

    Team Breakdown
    Strengths: Alabama has one of the most experienced rosters in the SEC, with seven everyday regulars returning and a trio of seasoned transfers joining the mix from other D-I programs. The Crimson Tide also returns three starters in the rotation, and that unit figures to be one of this club’s biggest strengths. The other major strength is the defense, which is superb up the middle as well as at the corners. And the bullpen, while somewhat less proven than the rotation, is much better stocked with high-end SEC-caliber power arms than it has been in recent years.

    Question Marks: Having experience in the lineup is very nice, but Alabama needs a number of its returnees to take steps forward offensively. As a unit, Alabama was not particularly disciplined at the plate last year, striking out far more often than it walked, so the quality of at-bats is a point of emphasis. And is there enough offensive firepower for ‘Bama to hang with the big boys in the SEC? There is not much power production back from a year ago, which means Tennessee Tech transfers Ed Johnson and Ryan Guardino will have to step into that power vacuum, and Andrew Pinckney will have to deliver on his potential.

    Star Power: Pinckney is clearly Alabama’s most talented position player and top returning player, and he took another big leap forward in the fall, showing off big emerging power to go along with his speed. He’s always been a toolsy athlete, but he was something of a late bloomer, and he looks primed for a huge season as a fourth-year junior.

    Glue Guys: Shortstop Jim Jarvis is clearly the engine that makes Alabama go, with the best plate discipline on the team, a doggedness in the batter’s box that makes him a true pest, good bat-handling skills, and superb defense at a critical defensive position. Veterans Garrett McMillan and Jacob McNairy are both rock-solid innings-eaters who serve as the glue that holds the pitching staff together. Both have solid stuff, with fastballs that touch 94, but their repertoires aren’t as sexy as those of Grayson Hitt and Ben Hess. However, McMillan and McNairy have stronger track records, and their presence on the mound gives Alabama a lot of peace of mind.

    Picks to Click: Hitt was one of the fall’s buzziest breakout prospects in scouting circles, for good reason. He’s been inconsistent so far in his career, but this fall he showed better command of a much more explosive fastball that bumped 97, along with a newly developed cutter and a quality curveball. Whether he pitches on Friday nights or on Saturday behind McMillan, Hitt has big-time star potential, and Alabama is banking on him to put it all together as a junior. Hess offers serious power stuff from the right side, with a high-spin mid-90s fastball, a distinct curveball and slider that are both good pitches, and a plus changeup. Heading into this season fully healthy unlike a year ago, Hess looks primed to make the leap as a sophomore.

    Top Newcomers: Johnson had a big year at Tennessee Tech last spring and provides Alabama with much-needed pop as well as a knack for churning out quality at-bats. Fellow TTU transfer Guardino led the team in home runs this fall and could push to win a regular job in left field or at DH. And Riley Quick gives Alabama a marquee freshman talent on the mound once again (following in the footsteps of Hess, Hitt and Connor Prielipp). Big and strong with a turbo sinker that reaches the mid-90s, a very good changeup and a decent slider, Quick has a real chance to emerge as the closer in year one. Tuick-armed D-I transfers Zane Probst (Seton Hall) and Aidan Moza (UAB) will also serve as key pieces of the bullpen.

    Outlook: Alabama has caught some tough breaks in recent years, racing out to a 16-1 start in 2020 only to see the season canceled, then losing Prielipp (a special talent) for the entire next season. But it feels like Bama has been building toward 2023, and this team is built to win now. Alabama’s pitching-and-defense recipe stands out in the SEC, which is loaded with big bats and small ballparks. The Tide looks ready to weather the storm and perhaps make a run at hosting a regional in coach Brad Bohannon’s sixth season at the helm.

    From the Fall Report:

    TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Life in the SEC West is notoriously brutal. Six of the seven teams in the division have been to the College World Series within the last five completed seasons. Last year alone, the West produced half of the CWS field.

    Alabama, the lone team in the West that has not been to Omaha recently (its last appearance came in 1999), has gradually improved its talent level year over year under the leadership of coach Brad Bohannon, and the Crimson Tide broke through to regionals in 2021, then fell a bit short in 2022 with a 12-17 SEC record and a No. 45 RPI. Still, there were signs that Alabama was not far off from being a postseason-caliber club.

    “I feel like we’ve gotten better every year that we’ve been here, and we’re certainly better than we were last year,” Bohannon said. “We played those 14 games against the four SEC West teams that were in Omaha, we went 8-6 against those four teams. That’s 20 percent of your season, you have a winning record against CWS teams in your division, and we swept Ole Miss at Ole Miss. So as frustrating as it was, our message was, ‘Last year our best was good enough, we just didn’t play our best often enough.’ So we’re just trying to hammer playing our best baseball more consistently.”

    The sledding won’t get any easier in the SEC West this year, with LSU, reigning national champion Ole Miss, Arkansas and Texas A&M all looking like top-10-caliber teams, Auburn not far behind them, and Mississippi State appearing much improved after last year’s ugly campaign. But this Alabama team looks built to contend with all of them, thanks to a lineup that has more experience than most of the league and more talented front-line pitching than ever before in the Bohannon era.
     
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  20. FadeMe

    FadeMe Well-Known Member
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    Trickin’ ain’t easy!
     
  21. FadeMe

    FadeMe Well-Known Member
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    Top 25 Breakdown: No. 8 Arkansas
    SEASON PREVIEW Aaron Fitt - January 18, 2023

    2022 Record: 43-19 (18-12 in SEC).
    Coach (Record at school): Dave Van Horn (796-423 in 20 seasons).
    Ballpark: Baum-Walker Stadium (Capacity: 10,737).
    Postseason History: 33 regionals (active streak: 5), 11 CWS trips (active streak: 1).
    More: Fall Report on Arkansas
    Schedule, Stats, Team News: Follow the Razorbacks all season long at our Arkansas Team Page.

    Arkansas’ Projected Lineup
    Position Name Class B-T AVG/OBP/SLG 2B HR RBI BB/K SB/ATT
    C Hudson Polk (Stats from Oklahoma) JR R-R .313/.522/.563 2 0 5 7/8 1/1
    1B Brady Slavens RS SR L-R .255/.332/.523 10 16 58 30/66 2/3
    2B Peyton Stovall SO L-R .295/.373/.798 8 6 31 19/39 1/1
    3B Caleb Cali RS JR R-R JC transfer
    SS John Bolton (Stats from Austin Peay) RS SR R-R .287/.399/.783 18 1 22 27/37 11/14
    LF Jared Wegner (Stats from Creighton) RS SR R-R .343/.459/.635 14 11 53 30/42 11/12
    CF Tavian Josenberger (Stats from Kansas) JR S-R .276/.357/.386 13 2 23 25/33 11/15
    RF Jace Bohrofen JR L-R .228/.333/.435 8 3 17 10/22 0/2
    DH Jayson Jones FR R-R High school
    Position Name Class Position W-L ERA SV IP K-BB OBA
    SP1 Jaxon Wiggins JR RHP 6-3 6.55 0 66 82/43 .253
    SP2 Hagen Smith SO LHP 7-2 4.66 2 77.1 90/46 .232
    SP3 Cody Adcock JR RHP JC transfer
    SP4 Will McEntire RS JR RHP 2-2 2.59 1 48.2 49/23 .198
    Closer Brady Tygart SO RHP 3-4 3.82 8 37.2 51/21 .212
    Grading The Razorbacks
    Just as scouts grade prospects using the 20-80 scouting scale, we use a 20-80 scale to evaluate teams in our top 25. A score of 50 in each category is average, relative to a typical NCAA tournament team; 55 is slightly above-average; 60 is above-average (plus); 70 is well above-average (plus-plus); 80 is top of the scale, historically strong. Accordingly, 45 is fringe-average or slightly below-average; 40 is below-average; 30 is well below-average; and 20 is the extreme in that direction.

    Hitting: 55
    Power: 60
    Speed: 45
    Defense: 50
    Starting Pitching: 60
    Bullpen: 65
    Experience/Intangibles: 55

    Team Breakdown
    Strengths: Arkansas stands out most for the depth and variety of its pitching staff, which is loaded with power arms from the right side as well as the left. That depth should really shine in the bullpen, which has a chance to be among the nation’s best, led by shutdown closer Brady Tygart and emerging juco transfer lefty Hunter Hollan. The Hogs also did a nice job retooling the lineup through the transfer portal as well as the juco market and the high school ranks, and this offense should remain plenty powerful despite the turnover.

    Question Marks: The greatest challenge facing Arkansas is replacing its four up-the-middle stalwarts defensively (catcher Michael Turner, shortstop Jalen Battles, second baseman Robert Moore and center fielder Braydon Webb). That was an elite defensive unit that played a huge part in leading the Hogs to Omaha last year. Three transfers will likely assume the jobs at catcher (Hudson Polk), shortstop (John Bolton or Harold Coll) and center field (Tavian Josenberger, who played mostly second base at Kansas but has a nice center field skill set). Peyton Stovall will slide from first base to second. It has a chance to be a solid defensive unit, but it will surely be a downgrade from last year’s premium group.

    Star Power: Hagen Smith earned freshman All-America honors last year and came up huge in the postseason, and he looks primed to make the leap to superstardom as a sophomore. He attacks from a tough three-quarters angle that makes his lively fastball really play up, and he has plenty of feel for his slider and changeup. Tygart has some of the filthiest stuff you’ll find at the back of any bullpen in college baseball, with perhaps the nation’s best breaking ball and a fastball that reaches the mid-90s. Stovall was one of college baseball’s top recruits a year ago and found his stride in the second half after a sluggish start; he has a premium hit tool from the left side and emerging power that should make him a big star in year two.

    Glue Guy: Will McEntire doesn’t have the sexy stuff that the other starting candidates on this staff can boast, but he’s a winner. He came out of nowhere to give Arkansas a huge boost in the rotation down the stretch last year, and his ability to command a fastball that tickles the low 90s as well as a good cutter and curveball should make him a reliable innings-eater this spring, whether he works as a midweek starter or returns to the weekend.

    Picks to Click: Jaxon Wiggins has one of the biggest arms in the country, with a fastball that sits in the high 90s and bumps triple digits, along with the makings of a wipeout slider and swing-and-miss curveball. If he can harness his command and maintain his poise in tight spots, he has superstar potential — and the Hogs need him to put it all together in year three. Offensively, keep an eye on Jace Bohrofen, who has tantalized with his lefthanded bat and athleticism in his career but has yet to consistently produce.

    Top Newcomers: Juco transfer Caleb Cali, a bounceback from Florida State, showed the ability to hit for average as well as power this fall, and the Hogs think he could step right into the heart of the order, along with Creighton transfer Jared Wegner (a proven run producer with pop and hittability). Josenberger is an athletic switch-hitter who runs well and could assume the leadoff job. Freshman Jayson Jones offers serious juice from the right side and has a good shot to win the DH job. Hollan made a velo jump into the mid-90s this fall and has feel to land multiple quality offspeed pitches for strikes.

    Outlook: The Hogs lost serious star power from last year’s Omaha team, but they reloaded extremely well once again in the offseason, and there’s no reason to believe they’ll fall back to the pack in the SEC. This has the look of a top-tier SEC contender with Omaha upside, as usual.

    From the Fall Report:

    FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Heading into last season, Arkansas appeared certain to hit, with a deep and powerful lineup loaded with experience, but the pitching staff was filled with talent but lacking in proven commodities. As it turned out, the Hogs were excellent on offense (ranking 13th in the nation in scoring) and also on the mound (ranking 22nd nationally in ERA), and the talented roster gelled at the perfect time en route to the College World Series.

    Fast forward to this fall, and Arkansas faces questions in the lineup after losing everyday players Chris Lanzilli, Michael Turner, Cayden Wallace, Jalen Battles, Braydon Webb and Robert Moore — but the pitching staff now looks like a sure thing, stuffed with both marquee talent and experience. Arkansas should be a serious national contender once again on the strength of that pitching staff, but it needs a host of newcomers to make a big splash in the lineup in order to make another run at Omaha.

    Arkansas struck gold through the transfer portal last year when it landed Turner and Lanzilli, who finished as the team’s top two hitters. The Hogs appear to have done very well in the portal again this year, bolstering the lineup with outfielders Jared Wegner (Creighton) and Tavian Josenberger (Kansas), catcher Hudson Polk (Oklahoma), and shortstop John Bolton (Austin Peay). But the Hogs have not forgotten their roots, and they continue to recruit the high school and juco ranks at a very high level as well. A number of those freshmen and JC transfers will also compete for major roles right away, along with the four-year transfers.
     
  22. DUCKMOUTH

    DUCKMOUTH People don’t you know, don’t you know
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    I mean since you being so generous. Southern Miss please
     
  23. sc_chant

    sc_chant Be A Dog
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    I'm ready to get skull fucked in April
     
  24. DUCKMOUTH

    DUCKMOUTH People don’t you know, don’t you know
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    We’ll see. Talent is there to make some noise.., but long season.
     
  25. FadeMe

    FadeMe Well-Known Member
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    Top 25 Breakdown: No. 18 Southern Miss
    SEASON PREVIEW Aaron Fitt - January 20, 2023

    2022 Record: 43-16 (23-7 in C-USA).
    Coach (Record at school): Scott Berry (482-256-1 in 13 seasons).
    Ballpark: Pete Taylor Park (Capacity: 4,300).
    Postseason History: 18 regionals (active streak: 6), 1 CWS trip (2009).
    More: Fall Report on Southern Miss.
    Schedule, Stats, Team News: Follow the Golden Eagles all season long at our Southern Miss Team Page.

    Southern Miss Projected Lineup
    Position Name Class B-T AVG/OBP/SLG 2B HR RBI BB/K SB/ATT
    C Blake Johnson RS SR R-R .269/.381/.419 5 3 23 10/18 1/3
    1B Chris Sargent RS SR R-R .268/.312/.543 9 21 58 11/54 2/2
    2B Gabe Lacy (Stats from Tennessee Tech) RS SR R-R .329/.401/.540 14 12 63 16/27 3/3
    3B Danny Lynch RS SR L-R .286/.375/.408 15 5 30 26/35 0/1
    SS Dustin Dickerson RS JR R-R .320/.397/.409 24 0 32 31/34 6/11
    LF Reece Ewing RS SR L-R .260/.430/.480 10 10 34 49/57 2/4
    CF Matthew Etzel JR L-R JC transfer
    RF Carson Paetow RS SO L-L .271/.383/.546 15 16 48 36/68 4/7
    DH Slade Wilks JR L-R .288/.394/.511 17 10 37 34/68 4/5
    Position Name Class Position W-L ERA SV IP K-BB OBA
    SP1 Tanner Hall JR RHP 9-3 2.81 0 109 146-14 .233
    SP2 Matt Adams RS JR RHP 2-2 6.56 0 23.1 32-6 .340
    SP3 Niko Mazza SO RHP 0-0 5.06 0 5.1 6-3 .231
    SP4 Billy Oldham (Hit only at NC State) RS JR RHP Did not pitch
    Closer JB Middleton FR RHP High school
    Grading The Golden Eagles
    Just as scouts grade prospects using the 20-80 scouting scale, we use a 20-80 scale to evaluate teams in our top 25. A score of 50 in each category is average, relative to a typical NCAA tournament team; 55 is slightly above-average; 60 is above-average (plus); 70 is well above-average (plus-plus); 80 is top of the scale, historically strong. Accordingly, 45 is fringe-average or slightly below-average; 40 is below-average; 30 is well below-average; and 20 is the extreme in that direction.

    Hitting: 60
    Power: 60
    Speed: 50
    Defense: 65
    Starting Pitching: 55
    Bullpen: 50
    Experience/Intangibles: 60

    Team Breakdown
    Strengths: Southern Miss returns seven everyday mainstays from last year’s super regional lineup, and many of them are names you probably know, because they’ve been in college baseball since the Obama administration. At least, that’s how it feels. Catcher Blake Johnson, slugging first baseman Christopher Sargent, rock-solid third baseman Danny Lynch and left fielder Reece Ewing are all fifth-year seniors back for another go-round in Hattiesburg, and the Golden Eagles figure to insert another fifth-year senior into the lineup at second base, where Tennessee Tech transfer Gabe Lacy is the likely starter. Dustin Dickerson is a fourth-year player at short, and every other player in the lineup is at least a junior. This is an old team, and being old is generally a good thing in college baseball — especially when it’s a seasoned group that has proven it knows how to win, as this group has. Defense should be a major strength, and the depth, balance and power of the offense should also be strengths. And of course USM has one of the best Friday night aces in the country, but we’ll get to that in a moment.

    Question Marks: Seven of the eight pitchers who threw the most innings for Southern Miss last year are gone, leaving ace Tanner Hall as the lone proven innings-eater back in the fold. This is a talented but very inexperienced pitching staff overall, particularly in comparison to last season’s exceptional pitching staff. Southern Miss could also use a little improvement in its collective offensive approach, as the Eagles have a lot of returning hitters who posted huge strikeout numbers and low walk totals last year. Last year USM could lean on its pitching staff, but this year it really needs the lineup to carry the load, which means the lineup needs to take a step forward from a year ago — when it was good, but also flawed.

    Star Power: The Golden Eagles have a very rare thing: a returning first-team All-American atop the rotation. Hall’s 146-14 K-BB mark last year was just silly, evidence of his freakish pitchability. Not only does he pound the zone, but he misses bats, and he does it with deception and movement more than velocity. But he’s certainly firm enough at 88-93 with sink, and he features one of the nation’s best changeups along with a quality slider. Hall will give Southern Miss the advantage every Friday night. The lineup is more balanced and rock-solid than star-studded, but physical right fielder Carson Paetow probably qualifies here, thanks to an exciting power/speed/arm strength tool set. After hitting 16 homers a year ago, Paetow could have a monster year if his plate discipline continues to develop.

    Glue Guys: You can take your pick of all the upperclassmen, but we’ll go with the two up-the-middle generals: Johnson behind the plate and Dickerson at shortstop. Johnson stands out for his strong arm, quality receiving skills, ability to handle the bat and his leadership. Dickerson is a very reliable defender with range and arm strength, and he’s a line-drive machine at the plate, helping him rack up 24 doubles; his line drive rate was 26.6 percent last year, highest on the team. Dickerson was also 91-94 off the mound with a good short slider in my look this fall, and the Eagles anticipate him seeing considerable action at the back of the bullpen after spending his career to this point working almost exclusively as a position player.

    Picks to Click: The pitching staff is chock full of breakout candidates, and USM really needs several of them to make the leap after pitching sparingly last year. Most notably are likely weekend starters Matt Adams and Niko Mazza, both of whom showed very good stuff this fall. Mazza was 92-96 with riding life and the makings of three swing-and-miss secondary pitches in my visit to Hattiesburg, but the next step for him is to become more consistent with his command, particularly with his offspeed stuff. Adams isn’t quite as electric but looks a little more polished at this stage, with good feel for a quality four-pitch mix that includes a riding 90-93 fastball.

    Top Newcomers: This is an easy one: center fielder Matthew Etzel ranks No. 1 on our list of college baseball’s top 50 juco transfersheading into the spring. He checks all the boxes: physical, athletic, hits for average as well as power, advanced control of the strike zone, and can really track it down in center field. He has the loudest tools and might very well be the best overall player in a Southern Miss lineup loaded with very good players. Also keep a close eye on freshman righthander JB Middleton, who showed overpowering back-of-the-bullpen stuff in the fall, pumping 94-96 heat with a wicked slider.

    Outlook: The Golden Eagles hosted a super regional last year for the first time at Pete Taylor Park, and only a matchup against red-hot eventual national champion Ole Miss stopped them from reaching Omaha for the first time since 2009. This year’s club won’t be able to match last year’s pitching, but the experienced lineup and the elite ace atop the rotation still give the Eagles CWS upside.

    From the Fall Report:

    HATTIESBURG, Miss. — After Mississippi State won the College World Series in 2021 and Ole Miss won it all in 2022, it’s not hard to imagine what the familiar refrain in Hattiesburg has been this fall: It’s our turn.

    “If I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard that,” said Southern Miss coach Scott Berry with a chuckle. “But you know what, if that’s the progression that it takes, I’m all-in, I’m good. Even Mike Bianco said after they won it, ‘Hey, had to keep it in the state, next year it’s your turn.’ I hope it is. I’ve said it before, man, baseball in the state of Mississippi is second to none. I mean, it is the top state for college baseball in the country. You look at the attendance of the big three in this state compared with the top three in any other state.”

    Interest in Southern Miss baseball has officially reached a fever pitch after the Golden Eagles went 47-19 and hosted a regional and a super regional. The Golden Eagles have had a fiercely loyal fan base for decades, but demand for tickets has spiked more than ever in recent years — the program sold 1,800 season tickets in 2021, increased it to 2,800 in 2022, and expects to sell more than 4,000 in 2023. The atmosphere for those home postseason games against LSU and Ole Miss was a testament to the passion of the Southern Miss faithful.

    “It was electric, this whole place was on fire,” Berry said. “Freakin’ people were cutting the fence out there in the Roost to get in, which they did. And of course we host the hottest team in college baseball and it just kept on rolling. But it was a great ending, and one that’s got a lot of momentum going into this season.”
     
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  26. Prospector

    Prospector I am not a new member
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  27. Ty Cobb

    Ty Cobb Well-Known Member
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    LSU please. Thanks!
     
  28. FadeMe

    FadeMe Well-Known Member
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    Top 25 Breakdown: No. 1 LSU
    SEASON PREVIEW Kendall Rogers - January 17, 2023

    2022 Record: 40-22 (17-13 SEC)
    Coach (Record at school):
    Jay Johnson (40-22 in one season)
    Ballpark (Capacity): Alex Box Stadium (10,300)
    Postseason History: 26 regionals (active streak: 10), 18 CWS trips (last in 2017).
    More: Fall Report on LSU
    Schedule, Stats, Team News: Follow the Tigers all season long at our LSU Team Page.
    LSU’s Projected Lineup
    Position Name Class B-T AVG/OBP/SLG 2B HR RBI BB/K SB/ATT
    C Brady Neal FR–Tallahassee, Fla. (IMG Academy) L-R
    1B Tre Morgan JR L-L .324/.414/.462 18 5 54 25/26 0/1
    2B Ben Nippolt JR–Stats from VCU L-R .308/.430/.307 9 2 31 31-19 1/4
    3B Tommy White SO-Stats from NC State R-R .362/.425/.757 12 27 74 23-50 1/1
    SS Jordan Thompson JR R-R .286/.395/.432 14 6 36 35-44 1/3
    LF Josh Pearson SO L-R .299/.432/.524 9 8 35 22-41 0/0
    CF Dylan Crews JR R-R .349/.463/.691 11 22 72 42-56 2/5
    RF Paxton Kling FR–Roaring Springs, Pa. (Central) R-R
    DH Jared Jones FR–Marietta, Ga. (Walton) R-R
    Position Name Class Position W-L ERA SV IP K-BB OBA
    SP1 Paul Skenes JR-Transfer (Stats from Air Force) RHP 10-3 2.73 0 85.2 96-30 .224
    SP2 Ty Floyd JR RHP 5-4 3.77 0 59.2 70-23 .199
    SP3 Grant Taylor SO RHP 4-1 5.81 0 31 39-21 .254
    SP4 Thatcher Hurd SO-Transfer (Stats from UCLA) RHP 2-0 1.06 0 34 48-10 .138
    Closer Christian Little JR-Transfer (Stats from Vanderbilt) RHP 1-2 3.72 3 38.2 46-17 .203
    Grading The Tigers
    Just as scouts grade prospects using the 20-80 scouting scale, we use a 20-80 scale to evaluate teams in our top 25. A score of 50 in each category is average, relative to a typical NCAA tournament team; 55 is slightly above-average; 60 is above-average (plus); 70 is well above-average (plus-plus); 80 is top of the scale, historically strong. Accordingly, 45 is fringe-average or slightly below-average; 40 is below-average; 30 is well below-average; and 20 is the extreme in that direction.

    Hitting: 70
    Power: 65
    Speed: 50
    Defense: 55
    Starting Pitching: 70
    Bullpen: 65
    Experience/Intangibles: 65

    Team Breakdown
    Strengths: After falling just short of an NCAA Super Regional last season, there was no one more motivated in the offseason than LSU head coach Jay Johnson. Johnson went out and solidified some of LSU’s holes that plagued it at times last season, namely the pitching staff. What was a weakness — the starting rotation — is now a strength with Air Force transfer righthanded pitcher Paul Skenes leading the way. Skenes hit triple digits in the fall and continues to make huge strides with his slider and changeup. He anchors the weekend rotation, while the Tigers have a trio of fantastic options in Thatcher Hurd, Ty Floyd and Grant Taylor, who for my money, was the best LSU pitcher in the fall outside of Skenes … The offense and potential power production also is a huge strength for this team. Tommy White brings over a treasure trove of home runs from NC State last season, while Dylan Crews is the best overall hitter and power producer in college baseball. On top of that, Tre Morgan is a consistent force in the lineup and is finally 100 percent healthy and both Paxton Kling and Jared Jones are two freshmen expected to make massive contributions at the plate.

    Question Marks: If you’re really nit-picky, there are two things I’ve got my eye on with LSU this spring. For starters, how will the Tigers handle the pressure and expectations this season? It’s one thing to go out and dominate during fall baseball, but when everyone is gunning for you during the season? That’s not easy to accomplish sometimes, especially with the variety of personalities and talent present in the clubhouse. With that said, I did like this team’s vibe a lot when I saw them against the Cajuns this past fall … The other item to watch is the defense up the middle with Jordan Thompson and Ben Nippolt, and Brady Neal behind the plate. Neal looked terrific back there during the fall, but will that continue when the lights come on this spring? As for Thompson and Nippolt, both have improved, but both also have struggled at times defensively in the past. With that said, Johnson told me in the fall that Thompson had made “massive” strides in that part of his game. That’s a game-changer if so.

    Star Power: This is the only team in America that can put three guys on the Star Power watch list — Tommy White, Dylan Crews and Paul Skenes. White has proven over time to be way more than just a big-time power hitter. He showed a patient approach at the plate, sprayed the ball all over the field, and of course, hit for power. Crews is an incredible hitter. He has a calm and professional presence in the box, and it almost always seems like you must make the perfect pitch to get him out … Then, there’s Skenes, who was up to 102 mph with his fastball in the fall, showed a changeup in the low-90s, and flashed an improved slider in the upper-70s. Stars galore in Red Stick.

    Glue Guy: Tre Morgan. For all the talk about the super stars on this team, Morgan is the glue guy for me. Finally healthy entering this spring, Morgan is a hit machine and an outstanding defender over at first base. He consistently bails out infielders with his exceptional digs out of the dirt. Morgan finished last season with an average well over .300 and has an experienced presence on the diamond. He very much helps keeps all the gears moving in efficient fashion.

    Pick to Click: Grant Taylor. It was actually a tough call for this category between Taylor and returning fellow righthanded pitcher Ty Floyd. Taylor was amazing this past fall, sitting 94-97 mph with his fastball the day I saw the Tigers with spin rates on that heater up to 2500. He also showed a nasty cutter at 90-93 mph with strong spin rates, while the sharp breaking ball was 79-81 mph. Taylor showed flashes of brilliance near the end of last season, and, boy, is he ready to take the bull by the horns this spring.

    Top Newcomer: Paxton Kling. Instead of just rehashing what I’ve already written about some of the newcomers who transferred in, how about the nation’s No. 1 ranked freshman class? Keep an eye on ultra-athletic freshman slugger Paxton Kling. Kling, the highest-rated prep prospect to show up on campus this past fall, was impressive when I saw the Tigers in the fall. He has a mature and advanced offensive approach, and certainly has versatility as part of his game. It’s not fair to compare anyone to Dylan Crews, but Kling has that ‘day one superstar’ type of potential. We’ll see if he makes a smooth transition when the lights turn on this spring.

    Outlook: I know it sounds funny to say, but LSU coach Jay Johnson could have his toughest coaching job with the most talented team he has ever coached. The Tigers have a lot of moving parts with this team, and a lot of personalities and egos to satisfy to some extent. The team camaraderie with this groups seems to be excellent, but that will be tested as the Tigers begin the season and then trek through what promises to be a rigorous SEC schedule. With that said, the lineup is absolutely loaded with Crews, White, Morgan and more, while the pitching staff has a plethora of premier options. We didn’t even talk about UCLA transfer Thatcher Hurd – a star on his own right — righthander Ty Floyd (a great breakout candidate) and Vanderbilt righthander Christian Little, who was up to 95-96 mph with his fastball in a recent bullpen session. All the pieces are in place for LSU to bring national title No. 7 to Baton Rouge. Now, they have to go get it with the rest of the country aiming for it.

    From the Fall Report

    LSU head coach Jay Johnson has a good problem on his hands. He has a plethora of talent with only so many key roles to go around.

    The Tigers were already welcoming back guys like Dylan Crews, Tre Morgan, Grant Taylor, and Ty Floyd from last year’s team. But after finishing just shy of the Super Regional round last June, Johnson made it abundantly clear that he was ready and prepared to engage the transfer portal like no other, while also solidifying his defenses when it comes to a stellar recruiting class and the MLB draft.

    To say the Tigers made a dent in the transfer portal might be the understatement of the year. Not only did they nab sensational freshman slugger Tommy White from NC State, but they also added terrific UCLA freshman starting pitcher Thatcher Hurd and rising young Vanderbilt arm Christian Little. As icing on the cake to end the summer, LSU added the nation’s premier two-way player in Air Force’s Paul Skenes, who by the way, was up to 99 mph with his fastball this fall.

    The great news is that LSU will have sky-high expectations for a good reason. It’s absolutely loaded both on the mound and at the plate, and in Baton Rouge, a trip to the College World Series and a national title is always expected. The challenge will be finding out who has which roles and making sure players set aside egos for the betterment of the program.

    If all the pieces come together? Watch out …

    “We like our team a lot. We’re much more complete than we were last year,” LSU coach Jay Johnson said. “We had one of the better offenses in the country last season, and I think we’re even better this year. We’re much improved defensively as a team, and pitching-wise, we’re better and we have a lot more options. We have a much better ability to strike people out, and we have a good group of guys who can provide length. We can finish teams off with this group.

    [​IMG]
    Tommy White, LSU (LSU photo)
    “There’s a lot to be decided right now in terms of the lineup we will roll out there on opening day, but it’s given our guys a good sense of team. You really need that going into a season, and it feels like everything is coming together in that regard.”

    The most interesting position battles on this team will be the starting rotation and the shortstop position. Hurd, Taylor, Floyd, and Skenes are all fighting for three spots in the weekend rotation, while veteran Jordan Thompson returns at shortstop, while freshman Gavin Guidry looks to make an early impact as well.

    Let’s dive into the Tigers’ fall workouts.

    LSU’s Pitching Staff Rich With Options
    We mentioned earlier that LSU has plenty of elite options for the weekend rotation.

    To give you an idea of how good this LSU pitching staff will be under newly minted pitching coach Wes Johnson, righthanded pitcher Blake Money entered last season as the staff ace. Money will continue to have an important role for this team, but other premier arms are ahead of him at this point.

    Those arms, all in the mix for a starting job, include Skenes, Hurd, Floyd, and talented freshman righthander Chase Shores.
     
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  29. FadeMe

    FadeMe Well-Known Member
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    When I get a chance, I’ll post some of the articles from the SEC Extra section for the various teams.
     
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  30. Hatfield

    Hatfield Charlie don’t surf
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    Cocks plz (-Elton John, 1977)
     
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  31. TC

    TC Peter, 53, from Toxteth
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    Second Cocks.

    -John Bobbitt
     
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  32. FadeMe

    FadeMe Well-Known Member
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    Top 25 Breakdown: No. 23 South Carolina
    SEASON PREVIEW Aaron Fitt - January 22, 2023

    2022 Record: 27-28 (13-17 in SEC).
    Coach (Record at school): Mark Kingston (138-109 in 5 seasons).
    Ballpark: Founders Park (Capacity: 8,242).
    Postseason History: 33 regionals (last in 2021), 11 CWS trips (last in 2012).
    More: Fall Report on South Carolina.
    Schedule, Stats, Team News: Follow the Gamecocks all season long at our South Carolina Team Page.
    South Carolina’s Projected Lineup
    Position Name Class B-T AVG/OBP/SLG 2B HR RBI BB/K SB/ATT
    C Talmadge LeCroy SO R-R .253/.381/.305 5 0 9 19/24 1/2
    1B Gavin Casas (Stats from Vanderbilt) JR L-R .294/.381/.412 3 1 14 7/19 0/0
    2B Will McGillis (Stats from Southern Miss) RS SR R-R .264/.394/.541 12 16 51 32/57 6/9
    3B Michael Braswell SO R-R .284/.365/.378 9 2 25 27/54 3/5
    SS Braylen Wimmer SR R-R .312/.361/.466 13 7 34 15/54 13/14
    LF Caleb Denny (Stats from Oral Roberts) JR L-R .331/.389/.565 19 11 57 22/57 9/12
    CF Evan Stone SO R-R .184/.317/.207 2 0 4 10/30 2/3
    RF Dylan Brewer (Stats from Clemson) SR L-L .206/.295/.335 8 4 24 16/43 7/8
    DH Jacob Compton (Stats from Memphis) JR L-L .291/.365/.540 18 11 56 19/43 0/2
    Position Name Class Position W-L ERA SV IP K-BB OBA
    SP1 Will Sanders JR RHP 6-3 3.36 0 83 91-39 .249
    SP2 Noah Hall SR RHP 3-5 4.65 0 69.2 78-31 .253
    SP3 Jack Mahoney JR RHP Did not pitch — injured
    SP4 Eli Jerzembeck FR RHP High
    Closer Cade Austin RS SO RHP 5-1 2.84 2 50.2 55-19 .248
    Grading The Gamecocks
    Just as scouts grade prospects using the 20-80 scouting scale, we use a 20-80 scale to evaluate teams in our top 25. A score of 50 in each category is average, relative to a typical NCAA tournament team; 55 is slightly above-average; 60 is above-average (plus); 70 is well above-average (plus-plus); 80 is top of the scale, historically strong. Accordingly, 45 is fringe-average or slightly below-average; 40 is below-average; 30 is well below-average; and 20 is the extreme in that direction.

    Hitting: 50
    Power: 60
    Speed: 55
    Defense: 45
    Starting Pitching: 65
    Bullpen: 60
    Experience/Intangibles: 50

    Team Breakdown
    Strengths: This Gamecock squad is built around high-end pitching. Will Sanders gives South Carolina a bona fide All-America-caliber ace to anchor the rotation, while Noah Hall, Jack Mahoney, Eli Jerzembeck and Matthew Becker give the Gamecocks four more talented power arms who can vie for starting roles. That stable of five starting candidates should yield a weekend trio that is among the nation’s best. The bullpen has solid depth and an emerging star at the back end in Cade Austin. The Gamecocks hit the transfer portal hard to beef up the lineup with physical, mature veteran hitters, and the result should be a much more powerful and competitive offense than last year’s.

    Question Marks: South Carolina ranked last in the SEC in scoring and 11th in fielding percentage last year, so it’s clear that the Gamecocks needed to improve their position player group dramatically. It appears they did so, and there’s reason to believe D-I transfers Will McGillis, Jacob Compton, Caleb Denny and Gavin Casas will make this lineup far more potent — but all of those newcomers must prove themselves against SEC pitching. Another key will be how the 6-foot-4 Braylen Wimmer handles shortstop after playing second base and center field previously in his South Carolina career.

    Star Power: Sanders has a chance to make a run at the Golden Spikes Award if he pitches up to his potential, and he could also surge into the top 10 picks of the draft. Once a lanky and projectable 6-foot-6 freshman, Sanders has added about 15 pounds of good weight since the end of last year, and his superb front-line stuff should be even better with the added strength. The Gamecocks think he’ll sit at 95-97 this spring along with a swing-and-miss breaking ball and changeup. Wimmer is the closest thing South Carolina has to an established star in the lineup; he’s a plus-plus runner with good whip in his righthanded swing and the ability to hit for average as well as power. If he can show a little more plate discipline and make a smooth transition to shortstop, he could also climb into the All-America conversation by season’s end.

    Glue Guys: By the end of the fall, sophomore Talmadge LeCroy emerged as the front-runner in a crowded catcher competition that also includes Cole Messina and Clemson transfer Jonathan Frence. LeCroy impressed the coaches with his ability to grind out at-bats and put the ball in play, and he’s started driving the ball with more authority as well. And he’s a solid receiver with above-average arm strength behind the plate. Austin is the backbone of the bullpen, a strike-thrower with good command of a riding 91-94 fastball, a putaway changeup and an improved slider.

    Picks to Click: Mahoney is a live athlete who showed up at South Carolina as a two-way player but did not pitch last spring while working his way back from Tommy John surgery. His stuff was electric this fall, as he showcased a 94-97 fastball with a good hard slider and a developing changeup. He’s got a chance to be a big star. In the lineup, keep an eye on Evan Stone, a speed merchant with elite defensive ability in center field thanks to superb range and an above-average arm. He played sparingly as a freshman but turned the corner with a strong summer in the Northwoods League and then followed it up with a good fall. He’s a righthanded slasher whose speed helps give this lineup an added dimension.

    Top Newcomers: Eli Jerzembeck is going to be a superstar — it’s just a matter of when. And it could very well happen this year. The blue-chip righthander has perhaps the most electrifying stuff of any freshman in the nation, with a 93-96 fastball with elite spin rates, a firm but very good changeup, and two distinct breaking balls that both have elite characteristics. His slider can spin in the 3100 rpm range, which is the top of the scale, and his big-breaking low-80s hammer curve has serious bite. Aside from Jerzembeck, you can take your pick of all the transfers in the projected lineup. Casas, Denny and Compton give South Carolina three lefthanded run producers who will provide a significant power upgrade in the heart of the order, and McGillis adds pop from the right side, lengthening the lineup.

    Outlook: South Carolina coach Mark Kingston was determined not to waste the big arms that will lead the 2023 team and then head on to pro ball, so he followed the Texas A&M model and loaded up on steady veteran bats in the transfer portal. It feels like a winning formula, and clearly the Gamecocks need a big season after struggling through an injury ravaged, losing campaign in 2022. There is significant pressure on this group of players (and coaches) to produce for the anxious fan base, and their ability to handle the heat when they encounter adversity will be critical. But if all goes well, this team has Omaha upside thanks to its potentially elite pitching.

    From the Fall Report:

    COLUMBIA, S.C. — After losing a host of key arms to injury and battling to a 13-17 SEC record last spring, South Carolina’s pathway forward was clear. The Gamecocks knew their pitching staff would have a chance to be elite in 2023 as several talented power arms return from injury to bolster an exciting group of returning pitchers; the key would be to ensure the lineup was mature and physical enough to support the staff. So head coach Mark Kingston and his staff followed Texas A&M’s blueprint from a year earlier, loading up through the transfer portal on seasoned veteran hitters with a knack for grinding out at-bats.

    “I think every team is different, and every cycle of recruiting and team building is different. Sometimes you’re on a two-year cycle, sometimes you’re on a one-year cycle. It just depends on how guys have developed, who you’ve brought in, who you’ve lost to the draft,” Kingston said. “This just happened to be a year where we felt like we needed to bring in some older guys to match up with the quality of pitching we knew we would have. And we just didn’t want to waste this pitching staff without a fairly veteran offense.

    A&M for me showed you what you want a team to look like, just tough at-bat after tough at-bat. And that’s what we really would love to see with our team this year to complement our pitching staff. I think we’re gonna get that. A big part of that is, are our guys old enough, are they experienced enough? Do they have enough at-bats under their belts? Are they strong enough? All those things, and I think we have all those.”
     
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  33. Pokes

    Pokes Younger, hipper, cooler
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  34. TC

    TC Peter, 53, from Toxteth
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    I like what he said about our pitching
     
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  35. DUCKMOUTH

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    FadeMe in here doing the work of the lord. Thanks for the post!
     
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  36. FadeMe

    FadeMe Well-Known Member
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    Top 25 Breakdown: No. 9 Oklahoma State
    SEASON PREVIEW Aaron Fitt - January 18, 2023

    2022 Record: 42-22 (15-9 in Big 12).
    Coach (Record at school): Josh Holliday (362–197–2 in 10 seasons).
    Ballpark: O’Brate Stadium (Capacity: 8,000).
    Postseason History: 47 regionals (active streak: 9), 20 CWS trips (last in 2016).
    More: Fall Report on Oklahoma State
    Schedule, Stats, Team News: Follow the Cowboys all season long at our Oklahoma State Team Page.
    Oklahoma State’s Projected Lineup
    Position Name Class B-T AVG/OBP/SLG 2B HR RBI BB/K SB/ATT
    C Chase Adkison JR R-R .240/.316/.370 7 4 25 15/26 1/2
    1B David Mendham SR L-R .276/.385/.498 16 11 45 37/46 0/1
    2B Roc Riggio SO L-R .295/.413/.519 14 11 47 34/58 2/5
    3B Tyler Wulfert JR R-R JC transfer
    SS Marcus Brown JR L-R .316/.378/.441 15 4 31 21/38 5/5
    LF Nolan Schubart FR L-R High school
    CF Zach Ehrhard SO R-R .332/.429/.409 8 3 31 33/48 18/23
    RF Nolan McLean JR R-R .228/.333/.435 8 3 17 10/22 0/2
    DH Beau Sylvester FR R-R High school
    Position Name Class Position W-L ERA SV IP K-BB OBA
    SP1 Juaron Watts-Brown (Stats from Long Beach State) SO RHP 4-4 3.68 0 73.1 111-29 .194
    SP2 Janzen Keise (Stats from BYU) SO RHP 3-2 4.27 0 46.1 58-25 .263
    SP3 Brennan Phillips FR LHP High school
    SP4 Brian Hendry JR RHP DNP — injured
    Closer Nolan McLean JR RHP 2-1 4.97 5 25.1 39-13 .206
    Grading The Cowboys
    Just as scouts grade prospects using the 20-80 scouting scale, we use a 20-80 scale to evaluate teams in our top 25. A score of 50 in each category is average, relative to a typical NCAA tournament team; 55 is slightly above-average; 60 is above-average (plus); 70 is well above-average (plus-plus); 80 is top of the scale, historically strong. Accordingly, 45 is fringe-average or slightly below-average; 40 is below-average; 30 is well below-average; and 20 is the extreme in that direction.

    Hitting: 55
    Power: 60
    Speed: 55
    Defense: 60
    Starting Pitching: 55
    Bullpen: 60
    Experience/Intangibles: 55

    Team Breakdown
    Strengths: Oklahoma State returns most of the key pieces from an offense that ranked in the nation’s top 40 last year in scoring, batting, slugging and on-base percentage. Marcus Brown and Roc Riggio form one of the nation’s premier middle-infield duos, teaming with dynamic center fielder Zach Ehrhard and two quality catchers to form a stellar up-the-middle group. The pitching staff got a dramatic makeover in the offseason, reloading through the transfer portal and the JC market, giving the Pokes plenty of firepower on the mound.

    Question Marks: After losing their top seven innings eaters from last spring, the Cowboys do have some uncertainty on the mound, and it could take some time for all the newcomers to settle into the proper roles. The talent is there, but the track record is a little light.

    Star Power: Brown, Riggio and Ehrhard are all quick-twitch athletes who can hit for average, rack up doubles, and defend their positions ably. Brown and Riggio are obvious All-America candidates, along with two-way talent Nolan McLean and new ace Juaron Watts-Brown. McLean has top-of-the-scale raw power and could have a monster year if he can cut down his swing-and-miss rate, and he also has true shutdown power stuff at the back of the bullpen. Watts-Brown had a strong freshman year at Long Beach State and brings a nasty four-pitch arsenal to the top of the OSU rotation.

    Glue Guy: David Mendham was something of an unsung hero for Oklahoma State last year, providing a number of big hits in clutch moments. He can get overshadowed in a lineup loaded with big-name stars, but he provides quality veteran at-bats and power potential from the left side. The coaches regard catchers Adkison and Ian Daugherty as “the heartbeat of our team in a lot of ways”, with good leadership and defensive skills. Adkison also can grind out at-bats, while Daugherty provides more offensive upside at the position.

    Pick to Click: Lefthander Ryan Ure is an obvious breakout candidate heading into his sophomore year, with a chance to win a starting job or help solidify the bullpen. Ure is an imposing presence on the mound at 6-8, 230 pounds, with funk and deception in his three-quarters delivery that makes his 90-94 mph fastball hard to pick up. He also has feel for a solid changeup and slider, and if he can develop one of them into a wipeout swing-and-miss offering, he could really take off.

    Top Newcomers: There are plenty to choose from here, as Oklahoma State brought in a top-five transfer class as well as a top-20 freshman class. Watts-Brown is the obvious pick, but BYU transfer Janzen Keisel also brings big-time power stuff to the rotation, with a mid-to-high-90s fastball and a very good slider when it’s on. The key for him is to show improved command. Freshmen Nolan Schubart and Beau Sylvester both bring serious offensive upside and should step right into everyday roles, with Schubart bringing light-tower power from the left side, and Sylvester standing out for his feel to hit and pop from the right side. Juco transfer Tyler Wulfert will also make a big impact — he’s a hard-contact machine who controls the strike zone well, but his defensive development at third base will be key.

    Outlook: Oklahoma State has one of the more exciting rosters in college baseball, with huge tools all around the diamond and on the mound. After hosting a regional and falling in a heavyweight slugfest against Arkansas last June, the Cowboys look primed to make a deep postseason run if their pitching gels as hoped.

    From the Fall Report:

    STILLWATER, Okla. — Coming off a strong season that ended in the finals of a home regional, the major challenge for Oklahoma State was clear: rebuilding a pitching staff that lost its top seven innings eaters from 2022, including its entire starting rotation and its top two bullpen arms. Among the returnees, veteran righty Ryan Bogusz logged the most innings last year with 37.1, and he’s currently recovering from minor elbow surgery that will likely keep him sidelined until March.

    So the Cowboys brought in a large group of pitchers through the four-year transfer, juco transfer and high school avenues, and the results of their recruiting efforts were on display in a Monday night scrimmage against the Texas Rangers instructional league squad. After watching the Pokes roll out 10 quality arms in that 10-inning affair, I walked away feeling bullish on their new-look pitching staff.

    The biggest coup for OSU was landing Long Beach State transfer Juaron Watts-Brown, who went 4-4, 3.68 with a sparkling 111-29 K-BB mark in 73.1 innings as a redshirt freshman last spring, then continued to shine in the Cape Cod League, fanning 45 agains 15 walks in 34 innings for Falmouth. We saw the athletic 6-foot-2 righthander attack at 92-93 with a good low-80s slider and an inconsistent but promising changeup in the Cape, but his stuff was even more electric on Monday night. Brown pounded the zone at 93-95 mph with slightly above-average spin (2300-2400s) from an over-the-top slot, but his best pitch was an 84-87 mph slider with sharp, late tilt and tight spin close to 2800 rpm. He struck out all three batters he faced, all using that devastating slider. He didn’t even break out his changeup and his low-80s power curveball — he didn’t need them.
     
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  37. ashy larry

    ashy larry from ashy to classy
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    Talmadge LeCroy is a strong name
     
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  38. Tobias

    Tobias dan “the man qb1” jones fan account
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    unc pls

    everyone stop bothering the man this is the last one
     
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  39. Saul Shabazz

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    Noles.....whenever things calm down obv
     
  40. FadeMe

    FadeMe Well-Known Member
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    Top 25 Breakdown: No. 12 North Carolina
    SEASON PREVIEW Aaron Fitt - January 19, 2023

    2022 Record: 42-22 (15-15 in ACC).
    Coach (Record at school): Scott Forbes (70-49 in 2 seasons).
    Ballpark: Bryson Field at Boshamer Stadium (Capacity: 4,100).
    Postseason History: 34 regionals (active streak: 5), 11 CWS trips (last in 2018).
    More: Fall Report on North Carolina.
    Schedule, Stats, Team News: Follow the Tar Heels all season long at our North Carolina Team Page.
    North Carolina’s Projected Lineup
    Position Name Class B-T AVG/OBP/SLG 2B HR RBI BB/K SB/ATT
    C Tomas Frick JR R-R .260/.348/.372 15 3 33 18/38 0/0
    1B Alberto Osuna SR R-R .265/.360/.551 7 20 57 27/86 1/1
    2B Colby Wilkerson JR R-R .222/.355/.270 1 0 4 8/12 0/0
    3B Mac Horvath JR R-R .268/.390/.557 15 18 53 46/57 19/22
    SS Jackson Van De Brake JR R-R JC transfer
    LF Max Riemer SR L-R .185/.353/.222 1 0 3 4/7 0/0
    CF Vance Honeycutt SO R-R .296/.409/.672 10 25 57 41/90 29/34
    RF Joe Jaconski SO L-R .174/.269/.174 0 0 0 2/6 0/0
    DH Hunter Stokely JR L-R .285/.387/.376 9 2 25 21/48 2/2
    Position Name Class Position W-L ERA SV IP K-BB OBA
    SP1 Max Carlson JR RHP 4-3 3.71 0 77.2 88-38 .239
    SP2 Connor Bovair JR RHP 5-4 5.50 1 54 49-32 .252
    SP3 Dalton Pence R-FR LHP DNP — injured
    SP4 Jake Knapp JR RHP JC transfer
    Closer Matthew Matthijs FR RHP High school
    Grading The Tar Heels
    Just as scouts grade prospects using the 20-80 scouting scale, we use a 20-80 scale to evaluate teams in our top 25. A score of 50 in each category is average, relative to a typical NCAA tournament team; 55 is slightly above-average; 60 is above-average (plus); 70 is well above-average (plus-plus); 80 is top of the scale, historically strong. Accordingly, 45 is fringe-average or slightly below-average; 40 is below-average; 30 is well below-average; and 20 is the extreme in that direction.

    Hitting: 50
    Power: 60
    Speed: 60
    Defense: 65
    Starting Pitching: 55
    Bullpen: 60
    Experience/Intangibles: 60

    Team Breakdown
    Strengths: North Carolina stands out most for its combination of speed and power in the lineup, and the depth of its pitching staff. Few teams will be better defensively up the middle than UNC, with human highlight reel Vance Honeycutt patrolling center, the slick-fielding Colby Wilkerson/Jackson Van De Brake duo in the middle infield, and stalwart Tomas Frick behind the plate. Honeycutt and Mac Horvath are both marquee power/speed dual threats, and Alberto Osuna also brings huge power. And UNC’s pitching staff is dramatically deeper than it was a year ago.

    Question Marks: Aside from rock-solid ace Max Carlson, the Tar Heels lack proven high-end ACC weekend starters, and they must replace the overpowering Davis Palermo at the back of the bullpen, but there is no shortage of quality options in the bullpen. The lineup’s collective hit tool could take a step backward after losing switch-hitters Danny Serretti and Mikey Madej plus hit machine Angel Zarate, and the returnees must cut down their strikeout rates from a year ago. Serretti was also the glue of the infield, and his departure created a little question mark at short, but UNC feels good about Van De Brake at the position, as well as freshman Austin Hawke and even Wilkerson if necessary.

    Star Power: Honeycutt is the epitome of a superstar in college baseball, an electrifying athlete with top-of-the-charts defensive ability in center, big-time power (25 HR last year) and speed that really plays on the basepaths (29 SB). He is one of the leading contenders for the Golden Spikes Award, and he’s just a sophomore. Horvath’s power/speed combination isn’t too far behind Honeycutt’s, and he could really put together a monster year if he can boost his average a bit. Carlson is a rock atop the rotation, one of the top candidates for ACC pitcher of the year honors.

    Glue Guys: Frick is the field general behind the plate, a reliable defender with invaluable leadership skills. He got his body into better shape and boosted his athleticism since last year, and some offseason swing changes could also yield bigger offensive numbers in year three. Wilkerson stabilized UNC’s infield defense after sliding into the everyday job at second base last spring, and he figures to remain a fixture thanks to his reliability in the dirt and his proficiency at turning the double play. On the mound, fifth-year seniors Will Sandy and Nik Pry also bring excellent leadership and loads of experience. Pry has a resilient arm and should serve as the backbone of the bullpen. Sandy’s stuff made a surprising jump this fall, giving him a chance to return to a starting job this spring after seeing his role reduced in recent years.

    Picks to Click: In the fall, coach Scott Forbes said left fielder Max Riemer “has breakout written all over him.” He’s a physical lefthanded hitter with a knack for churning out competitive at-bats, and he’s waited patiently for his chance to assume an everyday role. Look for him to make the most of the opportunity, much like Madej did when he got the left field job last year; Riemer’s career trajectory feels similar to Madej’s. On the mound, look for a big year from Dalton Pence, who has gotten stronger and stronger since returning from the injury that sidelined him last spring, running his fastball up to 94 mph with a swing-and-miss slider and an improved breaking ball in the fall. He looks ticketed for a weekend rotation job.

    Top Newcomers: Juco transfer Jake Knapp and freshman Kyle Percival will push Pence and fireballer Connor Bovair for a weekend rotation job. The physical, durable Knapp pounded the zone at 91-93 with a solid slider in the fall, while the 6-foot-5 Percival has good feel for pitching at a young age and oozes projection. If his stuff ticks up this spring from the high-80s we saw in the fall, he could make a big splash quickly. Vanderbilt transfer Nelson Berkwich should also be a major difference maker, sliding seamlessly into the lefty specialist role vacated by Shawn Rapp. Look for him to rack up loads of appearances. And UNC thinks true freshman Matthew Matthijs has back-end stuff and makeup, with a power arm and a funky over-the-top delivery that adds deception.

    Outlook: North Carolina caught fire down the stretch to surge from the wrong side of the bubble into regional hosting position, then proceeded to win its regional and host a super against Arkansas. It felt like that group of Tar Heels arrived a bit ahead of schedule, but now they look primed to contend for the ACC title and make a run at their first CWS trip since 2018.

    From the Fall Report:

    CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — North Carolina’s dramatic stretch-run turnaround was one of the great stories of the 2022 season. As late as May 24, UNC looked dead in the water at 23-17 overall and 8-13 in the ACC. Then the Tar Heels proceeded to win 16 of their final 18 regular-season games to land a home regional, which they won. Even though the Tar Heels were shut down by Arkansas in the Chapel Hill Super Regional, it’s fair to say that Year two of the Scott Forbes era was a resounding success.

    And unlike last year, UNC won’t be sneaking up on anybody in 2023, with an experienced roster that returns six everyday players and plenty of star power.

    “It’s exciting,” said Forbes, who enters his third season as head coach following a long stint as Mike Fox’s righthand man. “You know as well as I do, there’s also some power of having that little bit of chip. Last year, nobody expected us to do anything, we weren’t even in a lot of top 50s. This group will have to learn how to handle that, but it is a group that is well-led. The exciting part for me is our best leaders are also our hardest workers, and that gives us a good chance, at least. If we stay healthy and things like that, I think the team is exciting, especially from a depth standpoint. The backbone of our program has always been, we’ve been able to roll those horses out there on the mound. If you’re gonna try to get into that 50-win range, you can’t do it if you don’t have enough arms.

    “So I really feel great about our leadership on our team and our depth on the mound — that was something that needed to be addressed. Yes, we did make a great run last year, but we still weren’t where we needed to be depth-wise on the mound.”
     
  41. Vinegar Strokes

    Vinegar Strokes Fire Izzo
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    Michigan State please.
     
  42. FadeMe

    FadeMe Well-Known Member
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    This is what they have written in the ACC Preview.

    FLORIDA STATE
    Head Coach: Link Jarrett
    2022 Record: 34-25 (15-15 in ACC)
    Strengths: There is no questioning the premium talent at the top of this pitching staff. Wyatt Crowell, Carson Montgomery and Jackson Baumeister all have Day One draft potential, and if they can harness their ability, the Seminoles have a shot to field one of the nation’s best weekend rotations. Florida State also upgraded the athleticism of its lineup significantly since last spring, which should make this a more functional, dynamic offense. The improved athleticism, combined with new coach Link Jarrett’s emphasis on sound fundamentals, should also lead to a better defense.

    Question Marks: Of course, Florida State has a long way to go on defense after fielding just .966 last year (12th in the ACC), and it has a whole lot of room for improvement on offense too. Last year’s club ranked last in the ACC in scoring, slugging and home runs; 13th in OBP; and 12th in batting and walks. Those are jarring numbers considering FSU’s proud history as a power-hitting program that annually ranks among the national leaders in walks. Jarrett teaches offense as well as any coach in the country, and it’s reasonable to expect he will instill a much more disciplined plate approach in short order, but ultimately it’s up to the players to implement his wisdom. Even Florida State’s talent-studded rotation is a question mark, as Crowell needs to prove he can shoulder a starter’s workload after spending his career in the bullpen so far, while Montgomery and Baumeister need to be much more consistent.

    Star Power: Crowell, a wiry 6-foot lefthander, has some of the most electric stuff in the nation, with a track record to match. He racked up 77 strikeouts in 48 innings over 28 relief appearances last year, posting a 2.12 ERA. He followed up that stellar spring by working four appearances for Team USA, allowing no earned runs while showing 93-95 mph heat along with a vicious slider at 83-85 and a solid fading changeup in the mid-80s. He’s proven that he can pound the zone and miss bats out of the ‘pen, and now he’s expected to take over as the Friday night ace. Montgomery, another Team USA veteran, has always tantalized with his four-pitch arsenal, physicality, athleticism and delivery; he just has to put it all together. Jarrett thinks the key is for him to drive his 93-96 heater down to the bottom of the zone and throw his slider and cutter in the correct shape and lane. Offensively, FSU’s most proven commodity is sophomore outfielder Jaime Ferrer. Thick, strong and surprisingly athletic at 6-foot-1, 222 pounds, Ferrer is simply a hitting machine with a quick, compact stroke from the right side, and he looks ready to build upon a standout freshman year, when he hit .320/.436/.539 with nine homers and 19 doubles.

    [​IMG]
    Florida State lefty Wyatt Crowell sparkled for Team USA (Aaron Fitt)
    Glue Guys: A major key for FSU is to improve its up-the-middle defense, which means the Seminoles are counting on veterans Jordan Carrion and Nander De Sedas (back in Tallahassee for his fifth year after spending last season at Missouri) to be the glue in the middle infield. Carrion worked hard in the fall to use his feet better to “shrink the field” and make it easier to make more accurate throws. He and De Sedas will be counted upon to provide leadership on and off the field, and to help turn the lineup over from the bottom third.

    Picks to Click: Jarrett said in the fall that Baumeister “has a chance to really take off. I think he’s figuring it out.” The Seminoles expect his fastball velocity to creep up into the 94-96 range when he’s firing on all cylinders this spring, and he shows the makings of a true wipeout curveball as well as a slider that can also miss bats. Like Montgomery, he’s best when he pitches at the bottom of the zone. Offensively, look for big sophomore year jumps from big-bodied thumpers James Tibbs (who should build upon a very strong freshman year) and Cade Bush (who offers intriguing righthanded pop in the DH spot).

    Top Newcomers: Cam Smith is our pick for ACC Freshman of the Year after dazzling this fall in all phases of the game. He’s a loose, live athlete with lightning-fast hands that give him serious raw power, but he also has a mature approach at the plate. And he’s an agile defender at the hot corner with a strong arm. West Virginia transfer McGwire Holbrook gives FSU an offensive upgrade behind the plate and could also fit in at DH when veteran Colton Vincent is manning the catcher spot. Juco transfer Jordan Williams and freshmen DeAmez Ross and Jordan Taylor will all jostle for time in the outfield, which looks far more athletic and dynamic than it was a year ago thanks to their arrivals. Righty Ben Barrett and lefty Jamie Arnold look like the biggest early contributors in FSU’s quality group of freshman arms.

    Outlook: A new era is underway in Tallahassee, and considering the shocking instant impact Jarrett made at Notre Dame with less pure talent on the roster and far less winning history in the program, it’s easy to envision him getting Florida State back on track in a hurry. And the Seminoles were in a regional last year, after all, so it’s not like this is a total rebuild. The high-end arms in the rotation give this FSU team a high ceiling if they can put it all together — and if they can get the support they need from the offense and defense. There’s plenty of reason for cautious optimism in 2023.

    From the Fall Report:

    TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Any time you move into a grand old house, there’s bound to be work to do: freshening up the siding or the interior paint, repairing the deck, updating the appliances. So when 2021 D1Baseball Coach of the Year Link Jarrett left Notre Dame to take over as head coach at his alma mater, Florida State, he immediately got to work freshening up “very historic” Dick Howser Stadium, home of the “best fans in the world,” as he said.

    The right-field bullpen area needed to be completely refreshed. A large auxiliary space has been outfitted for the Seminoles to use for arm care, warmup, mobility work and even throwing, which helps reduce pregrame traffic on the outfield grass. There’s a new playing surface and a new turf apron around home plate. A new six-camera system was installed to give players access to updated, modern imagery.

    In a way, Florida State’s entire program was like a grand old house, too: it had remarkable bones, but it was ready for a refresh. The Seminoles have remained relevant, going to Omaha in Mike Martin’s final season in 2019 and then extending their incredible streak to 44 straight regionals in two completed seasons under Mike Martin Jr. But it’s been a little while since they’ve been truly elite. In Jarrett, who led Notre Dame to Omaha last year for the first time since 2000, FSU has found the ideal person to restore and enhance the culture of this proud, mighty program.
     
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  43. NP13

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    i forgot Link went to FSU
     
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  44. FadeMe

    FadeMe Well-Known Member
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    From the BIG Ten preview.

    MICHIGAN STATE
    [​IMG]
    Head Coach: Jake Boss Jr.
    2022 Record: 24-30 (8-16)
    Strengths: With multi-year starters at all four spots, the Spartans are strong in the infield. The top draft prospect on the team and an all-conference performer, shortstop Mitch Jebb (.356/.448/.511) headlines the group. Jebb’s double play partner for two years running, Trent Farquhar (.271/.392/.420) is a tough out at the top of the lineup. At 6-foot-7, Brock Vrandenburg (.809 OPS) is a big target at first base with more raw power than his five career home runs would indicate. Third baseman Dillon Kark (.597 OPS) struggled offensively last season but swung the bat better in the fall.

    Question Marks: Like several other teams in the conference, there’s uncertainty on the mound, albeit the Spartans look to have more depth on the than they did last season. A weekend starter two-years running, Nick Powers is a pitchability lefty who’s works consistently around the plate. Ryan Szcepaniak (4-3, 6.17) is a physical righthander who logged some weekend starts last season, earning a spot on the Big Ten All-Freshman Team. Two-sport standout Adam Berghorst will focus on exclusively on baseball this season after missing last spring with an injury sustained on the gridiron. SIU-Edwardsville transfer Noah Matheny is also competing for a spot after showing solid feel for his three-pitch mix over the fall.

    Star Power: Jebb burst onto the scene as a skinny quick twitch athlete who showed glimpses of next level talent as a freshman, then he elevated his game to the next level as a sophomore. He added some muscle to his frame last year, while retaining his elite straight-line speed and showed remarkable plate discipline last season, drawing 38 walks compared to just 16 strikeouts. Jebb’s star continued to shine on the big stage of the Cape Cod League last summer, hitting .356 and swiping 26 bases.

    [​IMG]
    Michigan State’s Mitch Jebb (Aaron Fitt)
    Glue Guys: Farquhar is a hard-nosed player who Boss described as like having another coach on the field. Left fielder Casey Mayes led the Big Ten in doubles last season (7). An oft-used bullpen arm and leader on the pitching staff, Wyatt Rush attacks hitters with an upper-80s fastball and 78-79 mph breaker.

    Pick to Click: Jack Frank led the team in doubles (16), home runs (9) and slugging (.527) last season, and there’s more meat on the bone.

    Top Newcomer: Freshman Jake Dresselhouse was impressive in the fall, winning the MVP honors in Sparty’s inaugural Green and White Series and earning the starting center field gig. A product of an Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (Mich.) team that went 44-0 in route winning their third straight state championship, Dresselhouse could play a key role in returning Michigan State to Big Ten prominence.

    Outlook: On paper, the Spartans should improve upon their 12th place finish in the conference last season and will look to qualify for a spot in the Big Ten Tournament for the first time since 2018.

    From the Fall Report:

    Michigan State had a winning record in the non-conference portion of the schedule last season, but struggled against Big Ten opponents, finishing 8-16 and 12th place in the league. This looks to be an improved Spartans team heading into 2023. They return nearly everyone on offense, including an upper tier draft prospect, and they’re healthier and deeper on the mound than they were a year ago.

    “I thought we had a really good fall,” said head coach Jake Boss. “There’s a lot back on the offensive side. A lot of guys have had significant at-bats here for a couple of years now, so we feel good about that. We had a couple of freshmen that really did a nice job for us position player wise and we’re much deeper on the mound than we were a year ago. We’re also healthy for the most part finally. Those were the biggest things that I thought really hurt us last year, the lack of depth because of injury, especially on the mound…”
     
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  45. swiz

    swiz >>>--;;;------------->
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  46. JGator1

    JGator1 I'm the Michael Jordan of the industry
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    UF…..baseball is all we have
     
  47. FadeMe

    FadeMe Well-Known Member
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    2023 Top Freshman Classes: 6-10
    RECRUITING D1 Baseball Staff - January 14, 2023

    Over the last week, we counted down the top 25 transfer classes in Division I this year. Now it’s time to round out our rankings of the top newcomer groups in the country by counting down the top 25 freshman classes. As with our transfer rankings, this list will take instant impact into consideration, but we’re also placing more stock on future projection with the freshmen, who often blossom after a year or two of college experience.

    We continue the countdown today with the classes that we rank No. 6-10: TCU, Florida State, Ole Miss, Georgia and Auburn.
    6. TCU
    [​IMG]
    Recruiting Coordinator: John Dilaura

    THE HEADLINERS: The Horned Frogs have several young players they’ll rely heavily on this spring, and it starts on the mound with the addition of talented freshmen Chase Hoover, Ben Abeldt, Louis Rodriguez and Braden Sloan. Abeldt, Hoover and Rodriguez in particular really caught the coaching staff’s attention during fall workouts. Abelt is a talented lefthander with a fastball up to 94 mph, along with an interesting approach to hitters … Hoover is a 6-foot-1, 190-pounder, who reminds Kirk Saarloos a little of former TCU standout lefty Tyler Alexander, and Rodriguez really caught the coaching staff’s attention with a strong fall. Rodriguez is a 6-foot-1, 205-pounder, who allowed one run in 19 innings in the fall and has a 90-91 mph fastball to go with terrific command … There’s also Sloan, who is a 6-foot-4, 215-pounder, who is a talented lefty who reminds Saarloos of former Frogs hurler Russell Smith in terms of his overall approach and potential … On the position front, keep an eye on shortstop Anthony Silva. The San Antonio product really caught everyone’s attention during fall workouts with excellent instincts and defensive skills. The hit tool is coming for Silva, too.

    CONTRIBUTORS: The Frogs will not have to rely on many freshmen from an offensive or defensive standpoint outside of Silva, but keep an eye on a pair of backstops that caught the coaching staff’s attention in Gabe Mirandaand Karson Bowen. Bowen was very Zach Humphreys-like in his overall skill set and approach.

    – Kendall Rogers

    7. Florida State
    [​IMG]
    Recruiting Coordinator: Rich Wallace/Mike Metcalf (former)

    THE HEADLINER: The crown jewel of FSU’s freshman class is third baseman Cam Smith (No. 33) a loose, live athlete with a big league frame at 6-3, 221 pounds, and lightning in his hands. A high school shortstop, Smith has also impressed with his defense at the hot corner, where his agility and arm strength are obvious assets. He has first-round tools and the makeup to match, and he appeared very advanced for his age in the fall.

    CONTRIBUTORS: FSU dramatically upgraded its speed and athleticism with this class, led by a pair of talented center fielders in Jordan Taylor (No. 106) and DeAmez Ross. The righthanded-hitting Taylor is a toolsy, projectable talent who “flat-out flies”, as coach Link Jarrett said, and is capable of playing all three outfield spots. Ross was less heralded in high school but seemed to distinguish himself the most among the newcomers in the outfield this fall; he’s an electric, live-bodied whose lefthanded bat speed and mature at-bats caught opened eyes in Tallahassee. Jarrett also lauded him for his instincts on the basepaths and in the outfield. Jarrett also liked what he saw from another freshman outfielder, Lance Trippel, who is more of a corner guy who also catches. He stands out for his ability to drive the ball to all fields from the right side and grind out at-bats. Middle infielder Titan Kamaka, a quick-twitch athlete with smooth defensive actions, very good range, a strong arm and a nice line-drive stroke, also impressed this fall and could make a run at regular playing time. On the mound, righthanders Ben Barrett (No. 120), Ryan Denison and Davion Hicksonshould all factor into the mix early on. Barrett is a two-way talent who also plays first base, but Florida State needs him more on the mound so that figures to be where he’ll focus his time for now, at least. He has a long, loose arm action to a high three-quarters slot, and he was up to 92-93 with good sink on his fastball and a firm, tight slider at his best this fall. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound Denison might have stood out most among the freshman arms this fall, impressing the coaches with his advanced feel to mix three pitches. As he matures and his fastball ticks above the 88-91 it sat this fall, he could really take off. Hickson has the biggest raw stuff of this bunch, with a heater that bumped 94-96 at times this fall and a good slider when he was on, but there were other days he sat more 90-92 with less feel for his slider. He’s an exciting building block for the future who could earn important innings as a freshman if he can become more consistent. Lefthander Brett Barfield (No. 111) also has some pedigree and adds depth from the left side.

    — Aaron Fitt

    8. Ole Miss
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    Recruiting Coordinator: Carl Lafferty

    THE HEADLINER: A strong case can be made that Ole Miss landed the biggest prize in the high school class of 2022 when RHP Grayson Saunier (No. 31 on the PBR 500) showed up on campus this fall. With an ideal pitcher’s frame at 6-foot-4, 200 pounds and the ability to drive the fastball downhill from a high slot, Saunier looks the part, and Rebels coach Mike Bianco said he had the most impressive fall showing of any blue-chip freshman that has arrived in Oxford over the last two decades. Saunier sat 94-96 for most of the fall and showed advanced feel for three quality offspeed pitches, highlighted by his big, sharp slider. He’s a premium athlete who holds runners and fields his position well. He checks all the boxes to be a top-of-the-rotation ace and a top-of-the-draft prospect by the time he leaves Ole Miss, and he seems like a strong bet for the rotation as a true freshman.

    CONTRIBUTORS: RHP JT Quinn is another viable starting candidate early in his career with a sky-high ceiling in his own right. A loose, lanky 6-foot-6 righthander with a short takeaway to a high slot, Quinn sat 92-96 in our fall look and ran his heater up to 98 at times in the fall, along with the makings of a sharp 11-to-5 curveball at 77-78 and a promising 84-85 slider. Six-foot-5, 255-pound behemoth Sam Tookoian sits at 90-93 and is working on a slider after leaning more on a curveball in high school. If he can land a breaking ball for strikes more consistently, he could even make a run at a midweek starter job, and his future looks very bright. High three-quarters righty Cole Ketchum showed the makings of a solid three-pitch mix, with a riding 90-92 fastball, solid sinking changeup at 81-82, and an inconsistent but promising 75-78 breaking ball. Freshman Jordan Vera gives the Rebels a fourth quality arm to build around in the years to come. A couple of physical position players are also part of the foundation in this class. Six-foot-4, 225-pound freshman Mason Morris has a hitterish look in the righthanded batter’s box and obvious power potential, and Bianco thinks he’s a future star. A first baseman by trade who can also pitch, Morris should fight for at-bats at DH early on. Will Furniss is another candidate for at-bats at DH, as the strapping 6-foot-4, 245-pounder brings big power from the left side. Middle infielder Tim Simay looks like a nice building block for the down the road, a quick-twitch athlete with a plus arm that plays at shortstop

    — Aaron Fitt

    9. Georgia
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    Recruiting Coordinator:Scott Daeley

    THE HEADLINERS: Much of the future success of this Bulldogs’ class is dependent on its development while on campus. There are plenty of high ceilings with SEC star potential. At the top, RHP/IF Leighton Finley looks the part of a real two-way impact prospect. At 6-foot-5, 215-pounds, the right-hander fills out a uniform while still presenting plenty of projection. There is an ease to his long-limbed athleticism on both sides of the ball, and it might ultimately allow him to blossom into a weekend starter while also placing into the middle of the order. OF Justin Thomas is another budding star. At 6-foot, 180-pounds, the uber-athletic righthanded hitter is able to create quickness in a short window before delivering loud outputs at the plate. A former MVP of the prestigious PBR Future Games, Thomas will challenge early on for a starting role, and has seen significant jumps in each year leading up to his arrival on campus. Similar to Finley, RHP/OF Matthew Hoskins is an athletic two-way player, but it might be his arm talent that impacts the program the most. Equipped with elite back spinning capabilities on a carrying fastball that is quickly trending into the upper 90s, he is likely to hunt whiffs in the back end of the bullpen from day one.

    CONTRIBUTORS: As is always the case, the strength of a class is predicated on the arms that are developed. LHP Jarvis Evans, RHP Kolten Smith, and RHP Blake Gillespie are candidates to make an impact while in Athens. Evans was a D1 quarterback prospect who decided to concentrate on baseball, and holds significant upside thanks to a quick arm and long, 6-foot-6 frame. He has a chance to make the biggest jump of the bunch thanks to limited time on the diamond. Both Smith and Gillespie have the chance to work into the weekend rotation over time thanks to a four-pitch mix and fastballs that already work 90-94. The Bulldogs have developed plenty of big arms in the past, and continuing that trend could have this class rising even higher when all is said and done.

    — Shooter Hunt

    10. Auburn
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    Recruiting Coordinator: Karl Nonemaker

    THE HEADLINERS: The Tigers built this class around two high-end arms who should assume prominent roles early in their careers, plus a blue-chip power-hitting catcher. Physical 6-foot-2, 210-pound LHP Zach Crotchfelt (No. 90) attacks with power stuff from a three-quarters slot, with good arm-side run on a fastball that ranged from 91-95 and sat mostly 92-94 in our fall look. He also showed some feel for an 85-87 changeup with solid fade, and he’s making progress with his 80-81 slider, which was serviceable at times but could use tightening. Hayden Murphy (No. 64) a projectable live-armed righty, worked at 90-93 with a quality low-80s changeup and was able to land his 79-81 mph slider for strikes, though the pitch needs improvement. There’s plenty more in the tank with him, especially as he continues to refine his mechanics and mature physically. And catcher Ike Irish (No. 68) was one of the more heralded hitters to show up on campus this year, with a powerful lefthanded stroke and a knack for turning in competitive at-bats. He also has above-average to plus arm strength as well as the receiving skills to be a quality defender behind the plate.

    CONTRIBUTORS: Tooled-up freshman Chris Stanfield (No. 159) has a power/speed combination that gives him intriguing star power down the road as he continues to mature. How many at-bats he’ll be able to earn in this crowded veteran outfield mix remains to be seen, but he might just be talented enough to force his way into action as a freshman. Another freshman, Gavin Miller (No. 220), put together an impressive fall and looks like the front-runner for the third base job. A standout athlete who played quarterback for his high school football team, Miller has strength in his righthanded swing and feel for the barrel. Drew Nelson, the Gatorade Player of the Year in Alabama last year, should be a quality lefthanded piece in the bullpen with a bright future.

    – Aaron Fitt
     
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