Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Photo by: Brent Beerends
Infielders lead Blue Raiders on and off field
2/6/2018 12:00:00 PM | Baseball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – If Middle Tennessee wants to show vast improvements this season and get back into contention for a high Conference USA Tournament seed, its infield could very well lead the way.
Nowhere else in the lineup does Head Coach Jim McGuire have experience like what he'll get from a few of his infielders. There are also guys there looking to make names for themselves.
The mix will include some of the most talented Blue Raiders who will be the faces of this year's campaign.
"I think that's the strength of the team," McGuire said. "I like what we can do both offensively and defensively with that group ... we're expecting some big things from our infield."
Middle Infielders
Middle Tennessee fans will see a new double play combination up the middle this year.
The hole left by shortstop Riley Delgado, a ninth-round pick in the 2017 MLB draft by the Atlanta Braves, will be filled by junior college transfer LA Woodard.
While Woodard has drawn praise from McGuire for his defensive ability and speed on the base paths, he's a new addition to the team who'll have to prove himself. He'll benefit from having one of C-USA's best second basemen beside him.
In his first season with the Blue Raiders after transferring from Columbia State Community College last year, senior Ryan Kemp turned into the team's three-hole hitter and delivered despite standing just 5-foot-4.
He finished the season fourth in C-USA and tops on the team with a .366 batting average to add to 16 doubles (team high), 39 runs scored, eight home runs, .622 slugging percentage (team high, third in C-USA), nine stolen bases and .966 fielding percentage.
Kemp was instrumental last season in helping Middle Tennessee reach its highest totals in many offensive categories since 2010, including batting average (.306), runs scored (363) and home runs (46). Hitting coach Tim Donnelly, who's in his second season at MT, is expecting similar success from Kemp and his fellow seniors this year.
"The older guys just have to keep doing the same things that helped them have good years last year," Donnelly said. "I feel like those guys will have good years again, and we don't plan on changing a whole lot."
Corner Infielders
The corner infield spots are similar to the middle infield in that there are experienced centerpieces of the team mixed with some new faces.
Junior Drew Huff will man third base for the third straight season, and while he's one of the team's best hitters, he's also one of their most reliable bullpen arms.
The Murfreesboro native finished with three saves in 14 appearances a year ago, pitching to a 3.63 ERA to lead the team.
"As our third baseman, he's very solid," McGuire said. "He's going to hit in the middle of our lineup, and he's been one of our most consistent pitchers that we'll be using in a relief role. He'll be one of the anchors for us in the infield because of his experience level."
On the other side of the diamond, redshirt senior Kevin Dupree and McHenry County College transfer Brett Stratinsky will battle for the starting first baseman spot.
Dupree missed all of last year because of offseason Tommy John surgery, but started 91 games for the Blue Raiders his first three seasons. Stratinsky is a big left-handed hitter who set McHenry County's all-time home runs record with 27 in two years.
Redshirt senior Aaron Aucker could also see some time at first base when he isn't serving as designated hitter, while senior Kevin Sullivan will be a little bit of everywhere in the infield as a utility player.
Catchers
Catcher is one of the positions that McGuire may not have a name penciled in as an every day starter in the early part of the season.
Sophomore Aaron Antonini showed promise in the position last year when spelling 38-game starter Chaz Vesser, who left via graduation, and may have the upper hand on the starting job come opening day. But, freshman Jake Hagenow could also push for early playing time.
Hagenow finished his high school career at Farragut High School in Farragut, Tennessee with an All-American nod in 2017 and All-American honorable mention as a junior. He hit .456 with 23 doubles, three triples and nine home runs as a senior.
If Hagenow can find a hot bat right off the start and Antonini improve on his defense (five errors in 22 games last year), McGuire may have a good problem in having too many qualified catchers.
"I don't really know what we're going to do there," the head coach said. "Antonini is probably the front-runner, and Hagenow is a freshman who needs to get back there because he's talented. [Will] Schnure is also in the mix, but he's hurt right now and isn't 100 percent.
"That's where the biggest juggling act will be for me, and it could be how they handle the pitchers as to who gets the nod, too."
A little help from their friends
The production from the infield both at the plate and in the field will be important to Middle Tennessee's success this season.
With that, McGuire and his coaching staff are accepting help wherever they can get it, and some former players are stepping up to try and get the team jumpstarted.
Current and former MLB players and MT alumni like Delgado and newly announced Director of Player Development Michael McHenry are sticking close to the program by offering words of wisdom and even in some cases lessons on the field.
"Luckily, we have a lot of pro guys we can have come back and talk to them about this and that," Donnelly said. "To me, it's more mental than anything. These guys are recruited as good players and good hitters, all they have to do is free their minds and let their athleticism play. Those guys who come back help a lot with that."
This is the second article in a series as we prepare for opening day. Look for outlooks on outfielders and pitchers to come, and go to NEWCOMERS to learn more about the program's new faces.
Nowhere else in the lineup does Head Coach Jim McGuire have experience like what he'll get from a few of his infielders. There are also guys there looking to make names for themselves.
The mix will include some of the most talented Blue Raiders who will be the faces of this year's campaign.
"I think that's the strength of the team," McGuire said. "I like what we can do both offensively and defensively with that group ... we're expecting some big things from our infield."
Middle Infielders
Middle Tennessee fans will see a new double play combination up the middle this year.
The hole left by shortstop Riley Delgado, a ninth-round pick in the 2017 MLB draft by the Atlanta Braves, will be filled by junior college transfer LA Woodard.
While Woodard has drawn praise from McGuire for his defensive ability and speed on the base paths, he's a new addition to the team who'll have to prove himself. He'll benefit from having one of C-USA's best second basemen beside him.
In his first season with the Blue Raiders after transferring from Columbia State Community College last year, senior Ryan Kemp turned into the team's three-hole hitter and delivered despite standing just 5-foot-4.
He finished the season fourth in C-USA and tops on the team with a .366 batting average to add to 16 doubles (team high), 39 runs scored, eight home runs, .622 slugging percentage (team high, third in C-USA), nine stolen bases and .966 fielding percentage.
Kemp was instrumental last season in helping Middle Tennessee reach its highest totals in many offensive categories since 2010, including batting average (.306), runs scored (363) and home runs (46). Hitting coach Tim Donnelly, who's in his second season at MT, is expecting similar success from Kemp and his fellow seniors this year.
"The older guys just have to keep doing the same things that helped them have good years last year," Donnelly said. "I feel like those guys will have good years again, and we don't plan on changing a whole lot."
Corner Infielders
The corner infield spots are similar to the middle infield in that there are experienced centerpieces of the team mixed with some new faces.
Junior Drew Huff will man third base for the third straight season, and while he's one of the team's best hitters, he's also one of their most reliable bullpen arms.
The Murfreesboro native finished with three saves in 14 appearances a year ago, pitching to a 3.63 ERA to lead the team.
"As our third baseman, he's very solid," McGuire said. "He's going to hit in the middle of our lineup, and he's been one of our most consistent pitchers that we'll be using in a relief role. He'll be one of the anchors for us in the infield because of his experience level."
On the other side of the diamond, redshirt senior Kevin Dupree and McHenry County College transfer Brett Stratinsky will battle for the starting first baseman spot.
Dupree missed all of last year because of offseason Tommy John surgery, but started 91 games for the Blue Raiders his first three seasons. Stratinsky is a big left-handed hitter who set McHenry County's all-time home runs record with 27 in two years.
Redshirt senior Aaron Aucker could also see some time at first base when he isn't serving as designated hitter, while senior Kevin Sullivan will be a little bit of everywhere in the infield as a utility player.
Catchers
Catcher is one of the positions that McGuire may not have a name penciled in as an every day starter in the early part of the season.
Sophomore Aaron Antonini showed promise in the position last year when spelling 38-game starter Chaz Vesser, who left via graduation, and may have the upper hand on the starting job come opening day. But, freshman Jake Hagenow could also push for early playing time.
Hagenow finished his high school career at Farragut High School in Farragut, Tennessee with an All-American nod in 2017 and All-American honorable mention as a junior. He hit .456 with 23 doubles, three triples and nine home runs as a senior.
If Hagenow can find a hot bat right off the start and Antonini improve on his defense (five errors in 22 games last year), McGuire may have a good problem in having too many qualified catchers.
"I don't really know what we're going to do there," the head coach said. "Antonini is probably the front-runner, and Hagenow is a freshman who needs to get back there because he's talented. [Will] Schnure is also in the mix, but he's hurt right now and isn't 100 percent.
"That's where the biggest juggling act will be for me, and it could be how they handle the pitchers as to who gets the nod, too."
A little help from their friends
The production from the infield both at the plate and in the field will be important to Middle Tennessee's success this season.
With that, McGuire and his coaching staff are accepting help wherever they can get it, and some former players are stepping up to try and get the team jumpstarted.
Current and former MLB players and MT alumni like Delgado and newly announced Director of Player Development Michael McHenry are sticking close to the program by offering words of wisdom and even in some cases lessons on the field.
"Luckily, we have a lot of pro guys we can have come back and talk to them about this and that," Donnelly said. "To me, it's more mental than anything. These guys are recruited as good players and good hitters, all they have to do is free their minds and let their athleticism play. Those guys who come back help a lot with that."
This is the second article in a series as we prepare for opening day. Look for outlooks on outfielders and pitchers to come, and go to NEWCOMERS to learn more about the program's new faces.
Players Mentioned
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