krh44 wrote:I hope we are both surprised. Just a little concerned with our hitting last year. Are the newcomers that are supposed to have an impact Fr. or transfers?
A little of both. I'm probably breaking rules but here are some of the keys from the D1 Baseball article:
Returners
Victor Cole (P)
Cole, whose father of the same name reached the big leagues with the Pirates in 1992, has seen his velocity jump from the 84-88 range last year to the 86-89 range this fall, and he knows how to pitch with a very good changeup and quality curveball.
Carson Herndon (P)
He has come back strong this fall, though he’s still working on fully recovering his command. In his start last week in Liberty’s fall world series, Herndon worked in the 85-89 range, but he is capable of touching 92 with a solid low-80s slider and changeup.
Parker Bean (P)
...could also factor into the rotation or perhaps the back of the bullpen. Toman said Bean sat 92-94 on scout day and has been up to 95, and he believes if the Flames decide to let Bean air it out as a one-inning reliever, he might throw even harder.
Michael Stafford (P)
...an 86-89 lefty with a good changeup.
Caleb Evans (P)
...a 6-foot-7 righty who flashed 92 mph heat and a promising 83-84 slider on scout day.
Dalton Britt (SS)
...a good all-around player who drew some interest inside the top 10 rounds from scouts last year but wound up going undrafted.
Dylan Allen (3B)
...likely to play third base and deliver some offense from the left side.
Sammy Taormina/Andrew Yacyk (1B/DH)
...both bring offensive upside. Yacyk has some of the best upside on the team.
Aaron Stroosma (CF)
...a standout defender in center who hits lefthanded pitching well.
Will Shepherd (RF)
...is expected to hit in the No. 3 hole as the focal point of the offense.
New
Jackson Bertsch - P (transfer)
...has power stuff from the right side, with a fastball that has been up to 94 this fall. Like Bean, he could compete for a starting job or wind up at the back of the bullpen.
Thomas Simpson - P (transfer)
...works at 90-93 from the right side and should also make an impact in the bullpen.
Cody Gamble, Jordan Scott, Shane Quarterly and Evan Mitchell - P (transfers)
all bring good pitchability, providing the staff with real depth
Eric Grabowski - 2B (transfer)
...has been one of Liberty’s best hitters this fall, with a strong, compact swing from the right side.
Jack DeGroat - P (freshman)
...a fastball that reached 93 and a devastating cutter up to 85. He settled into the 89-91 range for the next two innings and finished with five strikeouts over three innings, baffling opposing hitters with his cutter, which has devastating late bite and often looks more like a slider in the low 80s.
Zack Helsel - P (freshman)
...sidearmer with an unusually firm 86-89 fastball with serious movement and a solid slider.
D.J. Artis - LF (freshman)
...the team’s top recruit, is an athletic lefthanded hitter who has proven advanced offensively for a freshman.