Down The Drive - Cincinnati Bearcats Baseball 2018 Preview A Cincinnati Bearcats blog for the moderately intelligenthttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48741/downthedrive-fave.png2018-02-16T13:24:06-05:00http://www.downthedrive.com/rss/stream/167429492018-02-16T13:24:06-05:002018-02-16T13:24:06-05:00Cincinnati Bearcats Baseball: Five Storylines to Watch
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<figcaption>Nick Brown/GoBearcats.com</figcaption>
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<p>Baseball is back. What should you be paying attention to? </p> <p id="qQub2h">We’ve reached the opening weekend for college baseball. It may not seem like baseball season weather-wise, but the calendar doesn’t care about all that. With the Cincinnati Bearcats set to visit the San Diego Toreros this weekend (unless the weather continues to no cooperate), let’s take a look at the most important threads that will run through this season.</p>
<h3 id="bIkmDs">Scott Googins’ first season</h3>
<p id="UpvpTu">For the last four years, Ty Neal was the head coach of this program but now we are in a new era. In a spring filled with surprises, Neal stepped down last year and was then replaced by Googins, who spent the previous 12 seasons coaching at Xavier. A coaching legend for the Musketeers, Googins has more wins than any coach at the X (341) and also led the program to four NCAA Tournament berths. </p>
<aside id="HQ91z2"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"How is Cincinnati Bearcats Baseball Positioned Now?","url":"https://www.downthedrive.com/2017/6/13/15792206/how-is-cincinnati-bearcats-baseball-positioned-now-ty-neal-scott-googins-aj-bumpass"}]}'></div></aside><p id="E08Cx5">Obviously, Googins can’t hope to fix the Bearcats in one year, but it will be telling to see how we handles a program that was seemingly on the rise. UC went 28-30 overall last season and flirted with a .500 finish in American Athletic Conference play. While the league success rate was a step back from 2016 when they went 13-10-1, the Bearcats had two more overall wins than that campaign and also finished with double-digit league wins for just the second time since 2012. Googins will be in charge of making sure this isn’t a plateau, but it may take a while before he can start lifting UC up.</p>
<h3 id="aEaAg9">Finding Power</h3>
<p id="9XNRlJ">Ryan Noda is gone and so are his team-high nine home runs. R.J. Thompson and his team-high slugging percentage (.493) are also no longer around. That means the UC lineup has lost a great deal of its punch. A.J. Bumpass will be the anchor of the group following a season when he hit seven homers and slashed .287/.384/.491, but he can’t do it alone. It will be imperative that Treg Haberkorn bounces back and a few other players on the roster find at least power to the gaps. Otherwise the already low-scoring Bearcats will get that much worse.</p>
<h3 id="Di0YT9">A.J. Bumpass’ encore</h3>
<p id="ZWpHr9">Speaking of Bumpass, with Thompson gone, he is easily the most promising player on this team. While Connor McVey (.280/.382/.383) is a strong contact hitter who can steal bases very well, Bumpass has the star power. He can hit for power and average, gets on base well and also plays the field effectively. However, in 2016 he slashed .172/.258/.310, so his 2017 performance was a major breakout. I’m a believer in his skill set, but if he regresses, that will be a big problem for the Bearcats.</p>
<aside id="VOS4UH"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Cincinnati Bearcats Baseball Preview: Outfield","url":"https://www.downthedrive.com/2018/2/13/17007578/cincinnati-bearcats-baseball-preview-outfield"}]}'></div></aside><h3 id="jnmlio">J.T. Perez and filling out the starting rotation</h3>
<p id="PrjcQo">Even if he didn’t go out with a bang, Andrew Zellner was the ace of the staff the last two seasons. Losing his ability to start on Fridays, eat innings and at times completely shut down opponents (more so in 2016 than 2017) is a tough pill to swallow. That is unless J.T. Perez finds himself again. The southpaw pitched to a 6-5 record with a 2.97 ERA in 2016 when he threw 91 innings. He can still be a workhorse, having thrown a team-high 77 innings last year, but those innings need to be accompanied by fewer opposing hits and runs. </p>
<aside id="yqAW9E"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Cincinnati Bearcats Baseball Preview: Starting Rotation","url":"https://www.downthedrive.com/2018/2/14/17012014/cincinnati-bearcats-baseball-preview-starting-rotation"}]}'></div></aside><p id="y93s7c">After Perez there is some uncertainty about the rest of the rotation. There are plenty of options, but no clear favorites. If UC wants to surprise some folks this year, then A.J. Olasz (5.35 ERa), David Orndorff (3.41 ERA) and some of the younger arms really need to prove that they are more than just extra depth.</p>
<h3 id="L3xUYJ">How will Wichita State change the AAC landscape?</h3>
<p id="ntFGOk">Just like the Shockers have altered the look and prestige of the AAC in basketball, they add a new and what could be competitive program on the diamond. They may have only gone 28-30 last season, but there is a lot of talent on the roster. Greyson Jenista (.320/.413/509) and Alec Bohm (.305/.385/.519) provide lots of pop in an lineup that has more than a few strong hitters. </p>
<p id="C9Dhm6">Cincinnati is already fighting an uphill battle against perennial favorites like Houston, USF, UCF and UConn, but adding another team to the fold will make the level of difficulty that much higher. </p>
https://www.downthedrive.com/2018/2/16/17020656/cincinnati-bearcats-baseball-five-storylines-to-watchPhil Neuffer2018-02-14T13:05:07-05:002018-02-14T13:05:07-05:00Cincinnati Bearcats Baseball Preview: Starting Rotation
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<p>We are living in a post-Andrew Zellner age of Bearcats baseball. </p> <p id="EDVHeS">When the Cincinnati Bearcats were getting ready for the 2017 regular season, they were bullish on their pitching staff, or at least their top two starters. Andrew Zellner was coming off a first-team All-American Athletic Conference campaign and J.T. Perez had just thrown a career-high 91 innings while posting a 2.97 ERA.</p>
<p id="iFde8d">As we inch ever closer to opening day, the Bearcats’ rotation looks much different. Zellner is gone and Perez didn’t have a great 2017. That will make for a major challenge for Scott Googins. Here’s how the starting staff will look and how the rest of the league will counter.</p>
<h3 id="87yJz9">Cincinnati’s Options</h3>
<p id="JH7sRh">Perez is the pitcher on the roster with the most starting experience and probably the best stuff. The lefthander has struck out 130 batters in 191 <sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>3</sub> innings over the last three seasons while posting an ERA of 3.88. However, he regressed a bunch last season, going 2-7 with a 4.42 ERA in 77 <sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>3</sub> innings. His struggles even pushed him out of the starting rotation, as he pitched mainly in relief during the final half of the season. Googins needs a Friday starter to rely on, however, and Perez is the closest the Bearcats have to one.</p>
<p id="CAWuxu">Another left-hander may become the No. 2 starter, although A.J. Olasz still needs to prove that he can put together consistently effective outings. While he made the third-most starts on the team last season, his 5.35 ERA was higher than most. </p>
<p id="K43LyC">David Orndorff was UC’s best pitcher in 2017, posting a 3.41 ERA in 21 games, including eight starts. He can hang a few Ks on the board (40 strikeouts in 63 <sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>3</sub> innings) and is a good swing-man option to fill in as a starter and in the bullpen.</p>
<p id="BqbqtJ">Depth for the starters is pretty solid, although most guys still have a lot to prove. A.J. Kullman (5.37 ERA), Nathan Kroger (4.38 ERA) and Reese Robinson (3.86 ERA) all got a shot at starting last year. I can’t imagine they will be denied more chances. </p>
<h3 id="lECehV">How the Opposition Stacks Up</h3>
<p id="snSnQw"><strong>UConn</strong></p>
<p id="tNzbWf">Our pals at The UConn Blog have <a href="https://www.theuconnblog.com/2018/2/14/17001478/uconn-baseball-preview-2018-starting-rotation-tim-cate-mason-feole">a nice rundown</a> of the Huskies’ staff, but with strikeout assassin Tim Cate (102) in the mix, suffice to say this team will be built around its pitching. Cate is also a preseason all-AAC pitcher and a major prospect for the MLB Draft. </p>
<p id="TUPLdE"><strong>Houston</strong></p>
<p id="bnGtdD">The Cougars have themselves an ace as well, with Trey Cumbie back to build on a brilliant 2017 campaign. He went 10-2 with 82 strikeouts in 101 <sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>3</sub> innings pitched and an AAC-best 2.04 ERA while being named the conference pitcher of the year. Somehow that still inflated his career ERA after he posted a 1.29 mark in 2016, albeit in nearly half as many innings. Cumbie will be counted on to anchor a rotation that will have some new faces. </p>
<p id="m2RPej"><strong>UCF</strong></p>
<p id="ZPCzlM">Joe Sheridan will be the Friday starter for the Knights. He earned a 10-4 record last season on the back of a 3.25 ERA across 72 innings pitched. He also struck out 64 batters. Chris Williams will play the role of No. 2 starter after he made 12 starts last season and pitched to a 2.65 ERA in 78 innings, including time in the bullpen. The Knights are hoping that one of them can be a workhorse like Robby Howell, who pitched a league-high 103 innings last season, but is now taking a crack at Minor League Baseball. </p>
<p id="YuerP8"><strong>USF</strong></p>
<p id="Wx25k2">While UConn, Houston and UCF all have some fine pitchers to lean on, the Bulls have the best rotation. It starts with Shane McClanahan, who struck out an incredible 104 batters in only 76 innings. Peter Strzelecki didn’t have as many Ks, but he did earn a 2.42 ERA in 67 innings. </p>
<p id="b1DzPx"><strong>Memphis</strong></p>
<p id="Wwh6TM">The Tigers were not a very good pitching team last season, with a team ERA of 5.12. Right-handers Jonathan Bowlan (4-5, 3.75 ERA) Connor Alexander (6-4, 5.08 ERA) are the top returning starters from last year, with Bowlan a guy that could develop into a front-end guy (78 strikeouts in 84 innings). </p>
<p id="vSxUAD"><strong>East Carolina</strong></p>
<p id="s168bV">Entering his sophomore season, Jake Agnos is a budding ace. He had a 3.22 ERA and 64 strikeouts in 64 <sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>3</sub> innings last year. Trey Benton (4.18 ERA, 74 strikeouts in 71 innings) is another arm to watch, while the rest of the rotation has to prove itself. </p>
<p id="KxfD7m"><strong>Tulane</strong></p>
<p id="VoZGF5">Chase Solesky should be the best starter on this steam now that J.P. France is gone. His 3.84 ERA last season tired with France for the second-best mark on the team. He only made eight starts, but that tied for the fourth-most on the team. Corey Merrill (5.06 ERA) will be an easier starter to replace than France.</p>
<p id="EjHqTy"><strong>Wichita State</strong></p>
<p id="Hu1iW3">Southpaw Cody Tyler made the most starts of any returning Shocker (11) but had a 6.24 ERA in 49 total innings. Tommy Barnhouse (6.04 ERA) didn’t do all that much better in 17 games (eight starts) and the rest of the roster is short on starting experience. </p>
https://www.downthedrive.com/2018/2/14/17012014/cincinnati-bearcats-baseball-preview-starting-rotationPhil Neuffer2018-02-13T14:31:00-05:002018-02-13T14:31:00-05:00Cincinnati Bearcats Baseball Preview: Outfield
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<figcaption>Nick Brown/GoBearcats.com</figcaption>
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<p>No more R.J. Thompson for the Bearcats, which means its time for A.J. Bumpass to own the stage. </p> <p id="fpZr70">While every pitcher hopes that they never allow hard contact or balls hit past the dirt of the infield, there is a reason the outfield exists. After examining the posts in the infield for the upcoming baseball season, its time we branch out further and spend some time in the grass.</p>
<h3 id="tjQhvE">Cincinnati’s Options</h3>
<p id="j2ERQX">Cincinnati was lucky to employ a very strong outfield last season. There was power, average, speed and fielding acumen to burn, especially with from R.J. Thompson and A.J. Bumpass. The outfield view will be a bit different this season as Thompson and his .350/.426/.493 triple slash are gone. </p>
<p id="JAQX3O">Luckily, Bumpass really came into his own last season, providing a lot of pop in the order while playing fairly well in the field. He ranked second on the team in batting average (.287) and slugging percentage (.491) while leading the way in RBI (40) and extra-base hits (26). He also improved his eye and drew 33 walks, which tied him with Ryan Noda for the team lead. Bumpass is the star of this team and it will be exciting to watch him improve even further. </p>
<p id="Itx54T">What would be depressing is if Bumpass falls into the same trap that Treg Haberkorn got himself caught in last season. After hitting .264/.367/.396 in 2016, Haberkorn really struggled at the plate in 2017. His triple slash (.157/.254/.324) plummeted, even as he set a career-high with four home runs. He also only stole four bases and suddenly couldn’t draw a walk. Getting him back to normal will be critical to any success this team has. </p>
<p id="EoOvph">Redshirt sophomore Jordan Ramey (.077/.143/.077) and junior Vince Augustine (.168/.197/.263) have both had pretty lackluster careers to this point, but one of them will take on a starting role. Augustine likely has the inside track. </p>
<h3 id="v3MYhU">How the Opposition Stacks Up</h3>
<p id="XB7WlX"><strong>UConn</strong></p>
<p id="ajKH0W">Troy Stefanski is a player to watch here, as he had a strong summer in the Futures Collegiate Baseball League, notching 19 extra-base hits and a .293 average in 49 games. John Toppa was a junior last year and also did well this past summer, playing at an All-Star level in the Cape Cod Baseball League. He batted .267/.303/.330 last season. Then there’s Isaac Feldstein, who hit seven home runs and drove in 43 while slugging .457 in his first season in Storrs. </p>
<p id="ksMQWN"><strong>Houston</strong></p>
<p id="lzsFQ4">It seems like the Cougars have a solid handle on their outfield. Grayson Padgett is the best of the bunch as he has hit .308/.396/.408 across his first two seasons. He is also a perfect 8-for-8 on stolen base attempts. Wendell Champion II (.258/.415/.452) and Landon Etzel (.258/.378/.355) should see starting time as well.</p>
<p id="FJHW5a"><strong>UCF</strong></p>
<p id="5BJhpp">There will be three new starters for the Knights, and Ray Alejo, who is listed as an infielder could get a look. Meanwhile, Brody Wofford and Chandler Robertson are transfer reinforcements while senior Max Wood is the lone player with actual experience, having played in 23 games last season with pretty dismal results (.130/.222/.130).</p>
<p id="n05ctl"><strong>USF </strong></p>
<p id="JIJJqi">With Duke Stunkel, the Bulls have a great foundation in the outfield. Stunkel hit .344 last season en route to second-team all-conference honors. There is depth beyond Stunkel, with Garrett Zech (.260/.368/.359) and Chris Chatfield (.226/.332/.433) the best of the rest, especially Chatfield, who has hit 15 home runs over the last two seasons. </p>
<p id="mrjAxI"><strong>Memphis</strong></p>
<p id="SKRARz">Tyler Webb will be one of Memphis’ better players after he batted .305 with 23 extra-base hits (six home runs) in 2017. The rest of the group needs to be better, with Carlos Williams (.228/.361/.316) and Nick Vaage (.167/.224/.259) competing with some newcomers. </p>
<p id="ltlHxT"><strong>East Carolina</strong></p>
<p id="bPXjEU">Dwanya Williams-Sutton is one of the best all-around players in the American Athletic Conference. He batted an incredible .360/.455/.551 in 2016 and although he didn’t match that in 2017, he still put together a strong season, slugging above .500, getting on base at a .403 clip and hitting seven home runs. Dusty Baker plays predominately in center field and he has a so-so hit tool (.268/.366/.289) but very little power. Andrew Hendrickson can play pretty much anywhere in the outfield and hit .234 in 50 games (16 starts) last year.</p>
<p id="AIcqES"><strong>Tulane</strong></p>
<p id="JlkH5Z">Grant Witherspoon is pegged as a preseason all-AAC outfielder and for good reason. He slashed .299/.373/.420 in 2017 and showed an ability to hit for power (16 extra-base hits) and run the bases well (10 steals). Tyler Heinrichs and Kobi Owen both have experience as well but not nearly as much success in the batter’s box. </p>
<p id="aK6WcK"><strong>Wichita State</strong></p>
<p id="bP6ADU">Greyson Jenista’s name came up in <a href="https://www.downthedrive.com/2018/2/7/16986372/cincinnati-bearcats-baseball-preview-first-base">the first base preview</a>, but he can also play in the outfield. In fact, the Shockers have a few guys who can pick it in the infield and the outfield. As far as pure outfielders go, Travis Young and Dayton Dugas are two of the primary contributors, although both were hit by major regression in 2017. Dugas hit .206 after a .304 2016 campaign. Part of the problem is his proclivity for striking out, with 107 in 302 career at-bats. Young also experienced a nearly 100 point drop in batting average, while he struck out 19 more times than he did in 2016. </p>
https://www.downthedrive.com/2018/2/13/17007578/cincinnati-bearcats-baseball-preview-outfieldPhil Neuffer2018-02-12T13:58:15-05:002018-02-12T13:58:15-05:00Cincinnati Bearcats Baseball Preview: Shortstop
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<img alt="NCAA BASEBALL: MAY 31 NCAA D2 College World Series Game 8 - Nova Southeastern v Lander" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/SsbwrGcG6YrEQW-I36sfgtx_Xgc=/0x0:4392x2928/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58666697/619469696.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photograph by Andy Mead/YCJ/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Manny Rodriguez and Eric Santiago give the Bearcats a couple of players to lean on. </p> <p id="XFzGjf">College baseball season starts this week. On Friday, the Cincinnati Bearcats will take the field for the first time this season, with Scott Googins making his debut as head coach. As we prepare for that big day (and celebrate UC basketball being ranked No. 5 in the country), it’s time for another installment in our position-by-position previews. Today we delve into arguably the most defensively intensive position in the game: shorstop.</p>
<h3 id="vYeMhe">Cincinnati’s Options</h3>
<p id="baG1ar">Joining Connor McVey and Kyle Mottice (or Jace Mercer) as the clear starters in the infield is Manny Rodriguez, a senior from Brooklyn, New York who is coming off his best offensive season. Rodriguez has been a regular in the infield for the Bearcats the last three years, already having played 145 games (144 starts) and last year he finally started to be more than just a solid fielder. </p>
<p id="sX0NGO">His triple slash line (.242/.297/.331) obviously wasn’t all-conference worthy, but each mark in that reading was a career-high for Rodriguez, who actually played in only 38 games after getting into at least 51 in the previous two. He still managed to accrue eight extra-base hits in 124 at-bats and score 14 runs, which was only one fewer than he had in 2016. </p>
<p id="cpbOOB">As far as fielding goes, Rodriguez has had his fair share of bumps in the road, but last season he only had nine errors, after being guilty of 30 in his first two seasons combined. </p>
<p id="75EHQ0">Depth at shortstop, and the infield in general, is something UC is blessed to have. Eric Santiago has the skills to play at short and spell Rodriguez, which should help keep both players fresh. </p>
<h3 id="Jsj1Tu">How the Opposition Stacks Up</h3>
<p id="5XQFis"><strong>UConn</strong></p>
<p id="7gflLe">One of UConn’s best players is Anthony Prato, a 5’10” shortstop from Staten Island. He played in the Cape Cod Baseball League over the summer following a strong 2017 campaign. He slashed .304/.376/.388 with 14 extra-base hits and also stole 15 bases. </p>
<p id="lNZXfs"><strong>Houston</strong></p>
<p id="t8koOy">Cooper Coldiron (what an awesome name) missed time last year but was a starter during the last 15 contests. In that time he slashed .245/.355/.283, showing very little power but a strong eye. He could use a little work as a fielder (.929 fielding percentage).</p>
<p id="yFscEp"><strong>UCF</strong></p>
<p id="6tamHe">The Knights are on the lookout for a replacement for Brennan Bozeman, who hit .277 during his two seasons with the team. Perhaps Jackson Webb, who hit .357 with Gulf Coast State College, Ole Miss transfer Ray Alejo or freshman Adams Torres will get the call.</p>
<p id="uINstM"><strong>USF</strong></p>
<p id="qi2yVf">With limited depth in the infield, it may be difficult for the Bulls to immediately replace the top-of-the-order presence that Kevin Merrell brought to the table. Merrell posted a ridiculous slash line of .384/.464/.569 last season.</p>
<p id="C6vmvn"><strong>Memphis</strong></p>
<p id="7CUXIE">Alec Trela was thrown right into the deep end as a freshman and he held his own. He batted .263 and also launched eight home runs while driving in 34. By producing 29 extra-base hits and a .461 slugging percentage, he clearly illustrated the power in his bat, but he can work the count as well, with a .342 on-base percentage to boot. However with 13 errors he has some work to do in the field.</p>
<p id="059cwc"><strong>East Carolina</strong></p>
<p id="F1ugwB">On ECU’s athletic’s website, Turner Brown is described as an “all-conference candidate.” That is an accurate description as the 5’9” junior has slashed .272/.373/.355 in his two seasons at short. He is a fairly effective fielder as well, but the fact that he had more walks (28) than strikeouts (20) in 2017 speaks to his patience as a hitter. That is his most valuable asset. </p>
<p id="UvOFf1"><strong>Tulane</strong></p>
<p id="QzxRbo">The Green Wave employed a brand new starter at short last season in Sal Gozzo. The freshman only had six extra-base hits (all doubles) while he batted .211/.291/.252. The hope is the bat will develop.</p>
<p id="TkWvWQ"><strong>Wichita State</strong></p>
<p id="MXzjqt">As Trey Vickers gets ready for his senior season, he must also be prepared for a new conference. The odds indicate that he will adjust well. He boasts a career slash line of .289/.358/.356 following a career-high 13 extra-base hits in 2017. </p>
https://www.downthedrive.com/2018/2/12/17004544/cincinnati-bearcats-baseball-preview-shortstopPhil Neuffer2018-02-09T13:08:02-05:002018-02-09T13:08:02-05:00Cincinnati Bearcats Baseball Preview: Second Base
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<p>It will be interesting to see if Scott Googins returns Kyle Mottice to the starting post, or if Jace Mercer did enough to win the job. </p> <p id="E7uqHK">When you are scoring a baseball game using traditional terminology, second base is considered the No. 4 position. That’s where you get 6-4-3 double play, with four the second basemen who relays the ball from the shortstop (six) to the first baseman (three). This rudimentary baseball lesson was brought to you by a need for a lede for part four of our positional preview series as we get set for Cincinnati Bearcats baseball. Today, you guessed it, we’re examining the second base environment in the American Athletic Conference.</p>
<h3 id="d3X40Z">Cincinnati’s Options</h3>
<p id="c9OnJp">Most of the infield is pretty well set in stone for the Bearcats. We talked about Connor McVey and his hold on third base yesterday and now we turn to Kyle Mottice, who is the starting second baseman. At least, he should be unless he has another dreadful season like he did in 2017. Coming off a breakout sophomore campaign when he hit .278, stole 13 bases and scored 28 runs, Mottice was ice cold at the plate in 37 games as a junior. He slashed a miserable .191/.284/.265 while scoring 16 times total and stealing six bags. His 26 hits in 136 at-bats was far below the 57 he produced across 205 the previous year. </p>
<p id="6xZpDR">Despite the deteriorating returns at the plate, Mottice improved as a fielder, setting a career-high in fielding percentage (.983) while committing only three errors. </p>
<p id="W2d1GE">Mottice’s hold on the starting spot loosened down the stretch in 2017 as Jace Mercer pushed for playing time and became the regular second baseman. Mercer was much better with the bat (.273/.345/.358), showing solid plate discipline and good pop, as 11 of his 48 hits went for extra bases. Mercer can play multiple spots in the infield, but second seems like the spot he’d get most of his playing time. In addition, Eric Santiago can fill in as well. </p>
<p id="XTXKBa">It is possible that Mercer will jump Mottice on the depth chart, but for now I’d lean toward the senior. </p>
<h3 id="sbdMCb">How the Opposition Stacks Up</h3>
<p id="Ll1yy1"><strong>UConn</strong></p>
<p id="9azGix">The Huskies got used to playing Aaron Hill (<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hillaa01.shtml">no, not that one</a>) at second, but he finished his senior season in 2017 hitting .174 with 21 runs scored. Jack Lambrecht is a redshirt sophomore who played 16 games last year, including 12 starts at second base. His triple slash (.222/.327/.311) wasn’t incredibly alluring, but he did walk at a decent pace. </p>
<p id="w4fAdK"><strong>Houston</strong></p>
<p id="JYDSBk">As Connor Hollis has gotten more playing time, his success rate in terms of hitting have gone down. He batted .321 in 106 at-bats as a freshman, then only played in two games as a sophomore, before hitting .294 in 180 at-bats in 2016. In 2017, he hit .266 across 203 at-bats. However, don’t get the idea that Hollis isn’t a strong second baseman. Far from it. He is extremely skilled at getting on base, with an OBP of .387 last season when he had nearly as many walks (30) as strikeouts (31). He also set career-highs in total bases (75), RBI (30) and extra-base hits (14). </p>
<p id="mSrJxW"><strong>UCF</strong></p>
<p id="guXWme">Matthew Mika may not hit for much power, but he has a great deal of speed (25 stolen bases in 2017). He added 28 RBI, 12 doubles and a .278 average to the mix. A junior from Lake Worth, Florida, Mika did hit two home runs in 2016 and the fact that he improved his gap power shows that he is getting better as a hitter. 2018 could be a real breakout year for a player already considered to be one of the best at his position in the AAC.</p>
<p id="OJeYaN"><strong>USF</strong></p>
<p id="9Hzium">Coco Montes played second base during two of the Bulls’ three games in the NCAA Tournament last season and started in 61 games overall. He has some pop (four home runs, .394 slugging), a good eye for making contact (.293 batting average) and a talent for getting on base (.358 OBP). He also laced 13 doubles and scored 37 runs. His fielding is also pretty solid, as he committed only five errors. </p>
<p id="HR47pH"><strong>Memphis</strong></p>
<p id="ww1zzr">Brandon Grudzielanek’s uncle Mark was an MLB veteran and now Brandon is chasing the same professional dreams after playing rookie ball in the Toronto Blue Jays’ system. That means the Tigers have to get one of their infielders, including some newcomers, to pick up the slack at second. </p>
<p id="o7bw0Q"><strong>East Carolina</strong></p>
<p id="n642Kz">After Charlie Yorgen had a breakout senior season, earning all-league honors while slashing .339/.438/.438, the Pirates need to find another player to hold down the position. If they can even get half of the production they got from Yorgen, they’ll be doing fine.</p>
<p id="2A3qah"><strong>Tulane</strong></p>
<p id="4luHvZ">The Green Wave have to solve the replace-a-very-good-second-baseman equation as well. Jake Willsey was a second-team All-AAC performer last season and smashed 19 home runs over his final two seasons. A depth of infield reinforcements may help fill the spot, but it will be tough to match Willsey’s late-career power surge.</p>
<p id="MV1Z2E"><strong>Wichita State</strong></p>
<p id="SVrfsk">Even though he normally hit at the bottom of the lineup, Jordan Byer was a fine hitter for the Shockers last season. He slashed .295/.379/.448 with some surprising pop (20 extra-base hits) and an ability to bring batters in (42 RBI). His fielding was not as top-notch, as he committed 10 errors, but Byer is still a player who will challenge for all-league honors. </p>
https://www.downthedrive.com/2018/2/9/16994728/cincinnati-bearcats-baseball-preview-second-basePhil Neuffer2018-02-08T12:12:03-05:002018-02-08T12:12:03-05:00Cincinnati Bearcats Baseball Preview: Third Base
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<img alt="Toronto Blue Jays v Boston Red Sox" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/SGwNYKlbUHIGmG5ts0W6jcxQmSs=/0x0:3960x2640/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58623635/842636596.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>A number of teams are replacing powerful contributors, but with Connor McVey, the Bearcats are all set. </p> <p id="Ba44Of">In a fitting bit of contrived coincidence, the third part of our position-by-position preview series for Cincinnati Bearcats baseball will focus on third base. Unlike the prospects at first base, the Bearcats are better suited to have success at this position, but how much success is up for debate. Let’s get into it.</p>
<h3 id="rEMpqK">Cincinnati’s Options</h3>
<p id="wzb8ZN">There’s no need to make options plural for this one. Connor McVey’s name might as well be written in Sharpie on every lineup card the rest of the year. The senior has been one of the best players on UC’s roster the last two seasons, mixing speed, contact and on-base skills to be a hitter to fear. While he isn’t going to be sending balls to the moon (eight career home runs, .374 slugging), McVey is adept at making pitchers work and putting balls in play. He batted .280 last season and that was considered a down year. Despite that, he posted a career-high in on-base percentage (.382) and walks (29), while striking out only 30 times. He started in 57 games for the second-straight season and stole 14 bases, although he has shown 20-steal potential before. </p>
<p id="KIyEiS">If McVey is injured or Scott Googins decides to give him a break, its not entirely clear who would fill in at third, but I’d expect Eric Santiago would get a long look since he slashed .234/.308/.305 with eight extra-base hits in 50 games across multiple infield spots (mainly shortstop) a year ago. </p>
<h3 id="vkSwf2">How the Opposition Stacks Up</h3>
<p id="oq2gUE"><strong>UConn</strong></p>
<p id="ECotPp">With Willy Yahn and his superior contact hitting off to chase the MLB dream, the Huskies will be working in some new players at third base. </p>
<p id="YswO9x"><strong>Houston</strong></p>
<p id="qcNOjM">Jake Scheiner was showered with accolades during his run at third base for the Cougars, including being named the American Championship Most Outstanding Player and the American Player of the Year, as well as that whole All-American thing. The 22-year-old infielder is now playing in the Philadelphia Phillies’ system. What this means is the Cougars have a tough task ahead in replacing him.</p>
<p id="tMZCZd"><strong>UCF</strong></p>
<p id="Q2cGzG">I’m beginning to sense a pattern here. Kam Gellinger was a strong hitting third baseman for the Knights over the last four years (.256/.336/.353) especially in 2016 and 2017. There are some young reinforcements coming to town who should make an impact.</p>
<p id="g6WEJJ"><strong>USF</strong></p>
<p id="OeDyW6">David Villar should provide the Bulls with another year of solid middle-of-the-order production after he hit .294/.421/.453 last season. His on-base skills were elite as heck, but he also launched seven home runs and drove in 47 runs so he’s more than just a walk machine. </p>
<p id="TCOCyS"><strong>Memphis</strong></p>
<p id="8hVGXa">Entering his senior season, Kyle O’Keefe may get to play full-time. A junior college transfer student, O’Keefe didn’t hit exceptionally well last season (.162/.205/.221) but he played 34 games around the infield including as an understudy to normal starter Zach Schritenthal. </p>
<p id="qMrs2n"><strong>East Carolina</strong></p>
<p id="w8eWcy">The Pirates had one of the best third basemen in the conference in Eric Tyler, who batted .342 last season. Now that Tyler has moved on the Pirates will roll with a small cohort of infielders to fill in the gaps. With five dedicated infielders on the roster, it will be interesting to see how they go about constructing their infield. Turner Brown is obviously going to play shortstop, so the candidates for third base include Nick Barber, Connor Litton, Brady Lloyd and freshman Collin Watt, although that group doesn’t have much experience at the position. </p>
<p id="r2OQXq"><strong>Tulane</strong></p>
<p id="00rpCe">Just as they no longer have Hunter Williams, the Green Wave had to say goodbye to Hunter Hope and his 13.5 home runs per season over the last two years. With a roster packed with infield depth, Tulane may be keen to try out a few different players.</p>
<p id="Arvlhy"><strong>Wichita State</strong></p>
<p id="vIFkUH">Wichita State is really going to challenge for the AAC crown in 2018 thanks to a lineup that not only features first baseman/outfielder Greyson Jenista but third baseman Alec Bohm, who was one of two Shockers on the pre-season all-league team. Bohm hit .305 with 11 home runs and 40 RBI last season. </p>
https://www.downthedrive.com/2018/2/8/16990824/cincinnati-bearcats-baseball-preview-third-basePhil Neuffer2018-02-07T13:47:29-05:002018-02-07T13:47:29-05:00Cincinnati Bearcats Baseball Preview: First Base
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<img alt="COLLEGE BASEBALL: MAR 28 Cincinnati at Kentucky" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/yDFU1IZI16tNXxo0FA74Fycgo2g=/0x0:3673x2449/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58610011/660976144.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Mat Gdowski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Without Ryan Noda, the Bearcats will turn to some less proven players. </p> <p id="k65Xaw">It’s time for part two of our series taking a look at the upcoming baseball season for the Cincinnati Bearcats. Today we’ll be spending some time with the guys that man the right corner of the infield AKA first base. </p>
<h3 id="wKxI6C">Cincinnati’s Options</h3>
<p id="vMXq4H">So long Ryan Noda and your glorious home runs. As the primary first baseman for the Bearcats last season, Noda had 23 extra-base hits, including nine dingers, while slashing.236/.388/.478. Losing his bat in the middle of the lineup will make for some tough sledding for a team that didn’t have a ton of pop last year anyway. Cole Murphy played some games at first base last year and the junior may just be the starter in 2018. He has a lot of work to do, since his slash line (.174/.269/.239) was pretty poor, but perhaps a more consistent workload will help him get in a rhythm. </p>
<p id="DK4iJ2">Behind Murphy, Cam Alldred, who will probably pitch more than anything else, has experience at first base. As we’ll discuss in more detail when we cover the middle infield, players like Eric Santiago, Dondrae Bremner and Jace Mercer are all infielders who could get time at this post as well, but will probably be saved for the more defensively intensive roles. </p>
<h3 id="adv7QJ">How the Opposition Stacks Up</h3>
<p id="MuCcee"><strong>UConn</strong></p>
<p id="JfbiIR">Lefty Chris Winkel is poised to be the starter after he closed the season in that role last spring. He only had one home run in 57 games (45 starts) while batting .225 with an OBP of .283. To his credit, he has some wheels, with 11 steals and four triples, which tied for the second-most in the AAC. </p>
<p id="SBX0JS"><strong>Houston</strong></p>
<p id="5diYBB">Switch-hitting Lael Lockhart played in the NCAA Tournament at first base for the Cougars so clearly he will have continued playing time as a sophomore. He had some pretty nice games, including a 4-for-5 effort against Baylor. In all he didn’t have much power (.356 slugging), but he hit .276 and played in 56 games while committing just two errors. </p>
<p id="xjZJGl"><strong>UCF</strong></p>
<p id="ieixb7">No team is set up as well as the Knights at this position. With American Athletic Conference preseason player of the year Rylan Thomas in the mix, the Knights have a guy who can hit for a ton of power (.530 slugging) and average (.303).</p>
<p id="1zmMUB"><strong>USF</strong></p>
<p id="SGVmyX">Joe Genord is a useful player since he can play first and catch, but first base is his standard spot. He has hit 15 home runs in his first two seasons and last year played and started in 58 games. His eye improved in 2017, as he upped his on-base percentage from .325 to .352. </p>
<p id="CSnlCs"><strong>Memphis</strong></p>
<p id="c4aSqZ">Someone has to replace Trent Turner. Perhaps it will be junior college transfer Kyle Ouellette, who hit .404 across 55 games with Walters State Community College.</p>
<p id="92rb2f"><strong>Wichita State</strong></p>
<p id="aAeN8I">Greyson Jenista is the rare first baseman that is comfortable at the top of the lineup, specifically the leadoff spot. He can hit for power (.509 slugging in 2017) and gets on base by hitting for a high average (.320) and working counts for walks (.413 OBP). He is instantly one of the best at his position in the American Athletic Conference.</p>
<p id="s6AbmA"><strong>East Carolina</strong></p>
<p id="e2vaDt">Speaking of the league’s best, Spencer Brickhouse was a freshman All-American for the Pirates last season. Along with an awesome name, he produced a slash line of .310/.385/.413 with 19 extra-base hits as a freshman. </p>
<p id="oLGNyp"><strong>Tulane</strong></p>
<p id="ZO72LW">Hunter Williams was a slugging machine and an excellent first baseman, but the Green Wave have to figure out what to do now. Freshmen Will Mangurian and Michael Slatten can both play at first but I would expect the Green Wave to try out some different players as well. </p>
https://www.downthedrive.com/2018/2/7/16986372/cincinnati-bearcats-baseball-preview-first-basePhil Neuffer2018-02-06T11:01:43-05:002018-02-06T11:01:43-05:00Cincinnati Bearcats Baseball Preview: Catchers
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<img alt="NCAA BASEBALL: JUN 04 Winston-Salem Regional - West Virginia v Maryland" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/-4Ov7AkVE8oHCSHEeCBCsOBg_Z0=/0x0:5101x3401/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58590873/693132034.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Andy Mead/YCJ/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Joey Thomas is one of the better catchers in the American Athletic Conference, but the league doesn’t have a ton of great options. </p> <p id="S5t2im">With the Super Bowl in the books, football season is entirely over. Unless you are an NFL Draft junkie and then I guess it never is. That means basketball is what’s in vogue, but it also means that baseball is on its way. For the Cincinnati Bearcats, the season is coming very soon, as their first game is next Friday against the San Diego Toreros. With that in mind, its time to re-familiarize ourselves with the Bearcats and the rest of the American Athletic Conference. Call it your own personal spring training. We’ll get going with the catchers today.</p>
<h3 id="t7mRFI">Cincinnati’s Options</h3>
<p id="MuQ02j">In the first season under new head coach Scott Googins, the Bearcats have three catchers on the roster. The leader in the clubhouse is easily senior Joey Thomas. The right-handed Thomas is from Mason, Ohio and had a pretty strong season as he stepped in as the starter following the departure of Woody Wallace. Whereas Wallace had some pop and was a leader, Thomas isn’t a dinger-masher, but he works well with the rotation and has a cannon behind the plate. He threw out 27 would-be base stealers last season, which led the AAC. </p>
<p id="KfRjal">On top of his defensive acumen, Thomas wasn’t a complete negative at the plate. He only drove in 19 runs and had 12 extra-base hits, but he slashed .258/.305/.326 in 178 at-bats. He needs to be a bit more patient in the box, as he walked very rarely, but he made enough contact to make up for it a little bit.</p>
<p id="uQkF33">Junior Mason Deanna should serve as Thomas’ backup. Across 18 games last season he slashed .194/.242/.258 with a pair of doubles and four runs scored. A starter seven times, Deanna didn’t commit a single error, but still has a lot to prove, especially since he appears to be the heir apparent to the position.</p>
<p id="MT9bdX">As far as depth goes, the Bearcats have freshman Cael Baker from Columbus, Ohio on the squad. A 6’0”, 254-pound right-handed batter, Baker was recruited by Ty Neal and was an all-Ohio performer in 2016 and 2015. </p>
<h3 id="euda4M">How the Opposition Stacks Up</h3>
<p id="T0hzwz"><strong>UConn</strong></p>
<p id="9v0fYT">In a conference devoid of many standout backstops, Zac Susi is possibly the best. He is a pretty solid hitter who played for the Bourne Braves in the Cape Cod Baseball League last summer. He slashed a career-high .286/.362/.376 last season, showing a real talent for getting on base and getting hits in big spots, with 40 RBI. </p>
<p id="xHXgMv"><strong>Houston</strong></p>
<p id="GQiviH">The only catcher for the Cougars with any real playing time under his belt is Nick Slaughter, who played in 24 games last year, including nine starts. He has some power, slugging .436 a year ago but struck out 10 times compared to a single walk. Junior transfer student Tucker Redden could push for time after hitting .337 at Angelina College in 2017. </p>
<p id="39YxJj"><strong>UCF</strong></p>
<p id="f5Zbmc">The Knights are blessed with a number of options. Senior Logan Heiser is the best one. He has played in 114 career games, with 93 starts. In that time he’s hit .253/.336/.406, but he has never really lived up to his excellent 2015 campaign when he smashed six home runs and batted .295. </p>
<p id="gsny4l"><strong>East Carolina</strong></p>
<p id="YgTlqS">It may be a bit of a gamble, but the Pirates are rolling with only two catchers. Jake Washer is a redshirt sophomore and the elder statesman of the duo, but he only hit .133 in 15 at-bats a year ago. Freshman Seth Caddell will push for time after hitting .356 with 16 home runs in high school.</p>
<p id="W17cnb"><strong>USF</strong></p>
<p id="iLsUqt">A disappointing and injury-shortened 2016 season dampened Levi Borders run with the Bulls but he is back in 2018 to right the ship. He hit .291 and smacked 25 extra-base hits in 2015, including nine home runs. Last year he only played in 16 games and batted .241, although he kept his slugging (.448) and on-base (.357) work up. Tyler Dietrich was a fine backup (.270/.346/.343) but he doesn’t have the power that Borders does. </p>
<p id="dkRT6h"><strong>Memphis</strong></p>
<p id="dboVBn">Jason Santana became the primary catcher for the Tigers last season, starting in 52 games. He didn’t provide a ton with his bat (.227/.299/.276) so improving in that regard will be key. Santana is backed up by youngsters Josh Rooker (freshman) and Clayton Keller (sophomore). </p>
<p id="4XUG6U"><strong>Tulane</strong></p>
<p id="hmix2W">The situation at catcher should be interesting for the Green Wave, which have a group of newcomers competing for the starting job. Junior college transfer Acy Owen is perhaps the best of the bunch, having hit .337 last season with Hinds Community College. Ty Johnson is another transfer student who played at Central Arizona after a stint with Washington State.</p>
<p id="iSC3rm"><strong>Wichita State</strong></p>
<p id="nUFv3W">Both Noah Croft and Gunnar Troutwine can play, but Troutwine has the longer history of success. That was until last year when he played in a career-low 29 games while slashing .224/.333/.263. For a player who has hit .273/.374/.395 for his career, it was a down year for sure. He’ll be trying to get back into a groove with Croft (.248/.358/.357) ready to build on a solid redshirt freshman year. </p>
https://www.downthedrive.com/2018/2/6/16978552/american-athletic-conference-cincinnati-bearcats-baseball-preview-catchersPhil Neuffer