01-16-2020, 06:52 AM
There are 35 players on the roster this year.
Only 14 -- six position players and eight pitchers -- have logged meaningful time in Division I games previously.
Pitching will be OK, as we have four returning with starting experience and three who have been effective bullpen arms in high-leverage situations.
The offense is another matter entirely. Tawa should be the cornerstone but he struggled for most of last year and did likewise in the Cape. Robinson and Brueser have yet to play to their reputations earned during high school. Bellafronto has been an impact player for half of one season in the three he's been on the farm, Molfetta even less than that and Dieter has 15 career hits, three for extra bases.
The good news, where the offense is concerned, is that in 2017 the team really only had Nico Hoerner back. Maverick had played a little toward the end of 2016 and Duke was about to be lost for the year but players (Stowers, Dash, Will the Thrill, Beau) stepped up and the offense was good. That will have to be the case this year. The only question remains: who will that be?
Only 14 -- six position players and eight pitchers -- have logged meaningful time in Division I games previously.
Pitching will be OK, as we have four returning with starting experience and three who have been effective bullpen arms in high-leverage situations.
The offense is another matter entirely. Tawa should be the cornerstone but he struggled for most of last year and did likewise in the Cape. Robinson and Brueser have yet to play to their reputations earned during high school. Bellafronto has been an impact player for half of one season in the three he's been on the farm, Molfetta even less than that and Dieter has 15 career hits, three for extra bases.
The good news, where the offense is concerned, is that in 2017 the team really only had Nico Hoerner back. Maverick had played a little toward the end of 2016 and Duke was about to be lost for the year but players (Stowers, Dash, Will the Thrill, Beau) stepped up and the offense was good. That will have to be the case this year. The only question remains: who will that be?