Expectations high for talented newcomers

2/4/2018 12:00:00 PM | Baseball

Large group expected to pay dividends

By: Josh Vardaman, MT Staff Writer

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – With opening day of the 2018 baseball season just two weeks away, Middle Tennessee and Head Coach Jim McGuire find themselves in a unique position.

Perhaps never in McGuire's five-year tenure as head coach, nor his 20 years as an MT assistant, have the Blue Raiders had a more talented incoming class. That also means maybe never before have they had a group of newcomers with more to prove.

"I think we've got a good mix in this recruiting class of junior college transfers and high school players," McGuire said. "There are 14 new guys, which is a lot … but I feel like most of them are there and are ready. They just have to go out there and do it."

The focus for McGuire and his coaching staff with this year's recruiting class was finding speed to put into the lineup and some young bullpen arms. He thinks they've done just that.

"We were trying to get a little better balance in the offense, where it wasn't just us up there banging the ball around all the time," he said. "We got behind so much last year that's all we could do to get back into the game … but this year, I think our speed is much better.

"That being said, the pitching staff has to be able to give us those opportunities to be able to play that way. I like the improvement we've done there, too."

Freshmen
The reason for a lot of the hype surrounding this year's incoming class is a cast of talented freshmen, led by an outfielder who turned down the MLB for the Blue Raiders.

Myles Christian, an Olive Branch, Miss., native, was selected in the 18^th round of the MLB Draft in June by the Seattle Mariners, but decided to forgo starting his big-league career in favor of attending Middle Tennessee.

Christian was the 48^th overall outfield recruit in the nation and second overall recruit from the state of Mississippi, according to perfectgame.com. He figures to step into a semi-starting role in left field, platooning at times with redshirt sophomore Manuel Lopez.

"In left field, with Manny and Myles, we have two really good options," McGuire said. "It's going to be hard to keep one of those two out of the lineup, and it may be a platoon situation, at least to start. They're both very talented guys."

Joining Christian as freshmen who could eventually make a big impact are left-handed pitcher Peyton Wigginton, infielder and pitcher Brycen Thomas, and catcher Jake Hagenow. Pitchers Zach Keenan and John Dowless could also see some innings out of the bullpen.

Wigginton is one of the freshman that could see action right away. He was very effective in his senior season for Page High School in Franklin, Tenn, in 2017, posting a 1.25 ERA. He was also an all-state selection in 2016, and really impressed during the fall's Blue-White World Series.

Thomas, a finalist for the 2017 Mr. Baseball award in Tennessee at Spring Hill High School, was the 19^th overall recruit in the class in Tennessee, according to perfectgame.com. Once he returns from offseason Tommy John surgery, he should help provide depth not only at first base but also on the mound, with a high school career batting average of .440 and ERA of 1.01.

Hagenow should see time behind the plate often. During the Blue-White World Series, he established himself as a formidable option to enter a rotation with sophomore Aaron Antonini.

"It's one of the most talented freshmen groups we've ever brought in, and they're going to get a lot of opportunities to play," McGuire said. "We just can't put too much pressure on them or put the expectations too high. You're talking about key freshmen in key roles that we'll just have to have some patience with."

Transfers
The freshmen aren't the only newcomers hoping to see the field early and often. Several junior college transfers should also push for playing time.

In the lineup, juniors LA Woodard and Brett Stratinsky could be penciled in as starters from opening day.

Woodard, a Nashville native and Overton High School alum, will likely slot in as the starting shortstop, taking the spot vacated by Riley Delgado, a ninth-round pick of the Atlanta Braves in the 2017 MLB Draft.

While he doesn't have tremendous stature at just 5-foot-11 and 165 pounds, Woodard packs some pop to add to a flashy glove and base-running prowess. Of his 67 hits a season ago at Kansas City Community College, 23 went for extra bases, including three home runs.

Stratinsky looks a little more like a power hitter than Woodard, standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 210 pounds, his bat packs major punch.

After two seasons at McHenry County College, the Palos Hills, Ill., native left with a career .354 average and 27 home runs, a school record for long balls.

The transfer pitchers joining the Blue Raiders are led by Andy Rivera, who dazzled during the Blue-White World Series in the fall and could challenge for a spot in the weekend rotation. Ryan Scharf, Sheldon Paulk and Conner Bell could also see the mound.

McGuire may be preaching patience with some of Middle Tennessee's new freshmen, but with the transfer class he's expecting production right away.

"The junior college guys are the other way around," he said. "The expectations are much higher for those guys that we've already kind of penciled into spots. We need them to have an immediate impact on us right out of the gate for us to be good."

Finding the right mix
Some well-known veteran names are still around the Blue Raider clubhouse – Aaron Aucker, Drew Huff, Ryan Kemp, Blake Benefield, Austin Dennis and Jake Wyrick, among others – but there are plenty of new guys ready to make a splash on this year's team.

In order for the Blue Raiders to be successful, they will have to figure out fast how to push the right buttons of their new guys alongside the older veterans.

"We have a lot of depth this year, both in the lineup and on the mound, thanks to the guys we've brought in," McGuire said. "We'll alternate some things and platoon probably a little bit early to get some guys at-bats and see who can get hot … but we need some of those new guys to come in and produce right away for us."

This is the first article in a series as we prepare for opening day. Look for outlooks on infielders, outfielders and pitchers to come.