We will look back upon the 2015 season, I predict, and really show appreciation for what John Cohen has built. He went out and recruited specific players to help this team win.
Returning infield starters: we return the starting catcher (Gavin Collins) who is all conference material, we return the starting first baseman (Wes Rea) who was the starter the past 3 years, we return the starting short stop (Seth Heck) who made only 4 errors last year and we return the starting third baseman (Matthew Britton) who found a home at third and excelled defensively for most of the 2014 season. That is 4 of the 5 infielders we have returning starters. Cohen recruited a JC player to fill the spot at second base after Bret Pirtle graduated. The JC player (John Holland) started a few games his freshman season at Florida State (College World Series participant that year), then transferred to a junior college and played two years. Holland's last year he was Player of the Year for his conference! What a pickup!
Infield backups: we return a former JC player (Cody Walker) and recruited another JC player (Josh Lovelady) to compete for the backup catchers role (believe me, the catcher needs a backup), we recruited another JC player for first base (Trent Waddell) along with a very talented freshman (Cole Gordon) to bolster that position, at second base we have another JC transfer (Matt Spruill) and ultra talented freshman (Ryan Gridley), short stop Holland can slide over or Gridley can play it, then third base we have yet another JC transfer (Luke Reynolds) who bats left and has wowed with his glove diving for balls.
We have 4 of 5 starters that returned, the 5th is a talented JC player. The backups are also mostly JC players who bring the experience factor.
The outfield is wired differently. We have 3 returnees that have started some over the past two years (Jake Vickerson, Jacob Robson and Cody Brown) then in order to get his huge bat in the lineup ultra talented (Reid Humphreys) was moved to LF from the infield. Two other very talented prospects redshirted last year (Brent Rooker and Joey Swinarski). Then we recruited a super fast recruit JC transfer (Michael Smith) that has had such an impact, he must start somewhere. These three positions is the mix and match portion of the lineup. But as of this writing, I would have to go with Humphreys in LF, Robson in CF and Smith in RF.
The OF does not have any first year college players. That experience is so important.
Pitching
The two starting pitchers that are leading the way right now are Lucas Laster and Preston Brown. Both started several games last year. Both have shown the ability to shut the other team down. We have over 15 pitchers on the staff. If we get these two starters to average 6 innings per start we will have a great year. The trickle down effect is the bullpen will be rested and the inexperienced guys will have time to develop. The biggest recruit to the pitching staff is freshman sensation (Jesse McCord) who has impressed our hitters to the point that they give him all kinds of nicknames. He is an impact pitcher. I could go into great detail about the pitchers but I will do that later.
To recap: the defense will be outstanding, the infield and outfield have tons of experience, the hitting is there. I think most people will be surprised at how good we will be.
My lineup as of today:
1 Michael Smith RF
2 John Holland 2B
3 Gavin Collins C
4 Reid Humphreys LF
5 Wes Rea 1B
6 Seth Heck SS
7 Luke Reynolds DH
8 Matthew Britton 3B
9 Jacob Robson CF
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