06-21-2022, 07:43 PM
Early thoughts on Stanford baseball 2023.
As always, a lot about the team depends upon who stays and who goes pro.
I think essentially everyone could technically return with the COVID eligibility exemption, but that won't matter for most.
The usual assumption is that seniors and juniors with decent draft prospects leave. That's a good place to start, but of course a lot depends on things we don't know about - like how advanced are individuals towards their degree and how much do they like school.
Also, I am not sure if any of the sophs are draft eligible.
With that ...
Presumably gone: Williams (senior), Kretzschmar (senior), Jones (junior), Matthews (junior), Huff (junior)
Maybe gone:
Barrera (junior) - only had one notable season, but hit for high average with decent power. Played out of position at second base. Might actually improve draft position if he returns and hits for more power.
Crampton (junior) - not a particularly high draft prospect because he doesn't have much hitting power and defense is good but not spectacular. However, unless his hitting really takes off he's not going to improve draft prospects a lot.
Key Returners: Park (soph), Bowser (soph), Graham (soph), Troy (soph) Montgomery (frosh), Dixon (soph), Dowd (soph), Pancer (soph), R. Bruno (soph), O'Rourke (soph), Uber (frosh).
So, it seems possible Stanford could lose as few as two players from the usual hitting lineup, but as many as four barring unforeseen transfer/drop outs or draft eligible sophs.
Also, Stanford appears that they will be starting a lot of juniors next year; that will be a veteran team. 2024 might be tough.
Expected new starters:
Texas St. hero Trevor Haskins seems destined for an infield spot - though if none open up somebody will move to the outfield.
Backup frosh catcher Charlie Saum was a highly rated recruit. Came in to give Huff a rest a few times, but only had 14 at bats (2 hits, one a double) so hard to know how ready he is to hit next year. A hopeful comparison is Carter Graham, who a year ago only had 11 at bats with 1 hit (a single).
Saum seems he may be in a battle with incoming frosh Moore for the catcher's spot.
Anybody else who emerges we haven't seen yet.
As always, the biggest issue will be how the pitching comes along.
There are a ton of sophomore arms on the team, they have to come on strong next year.
The inside track for the weekend starters would appear to be: Dowd, Dixon, Uber - as they have the most starts of the returners.
Of the group, Dowd has the strongest arm. He lost the strike zone towards the end of the season, but pitched very strongly in the tournament.
Dixon took over from Dowd when Dowd struggled. Then Dixon struggled in the tournament. Dixon doesn't have particularly great natural stuff, so he'll need to locate/mix like Williams did.
Bruno is the top arm. Seems like he'd most likely stay as the closer. If he continues to develop his secondary pitches he could be a star.
Other arms that interest me:
Pancer (soph) - throws strikes. Seems like a possible starter.
O'Rourke (soph) - has pretty good arm, lots of control problems lately.
Meier (junior) - really came on in the post season. Doesn't throw very hard, but the sidearm motion confuses hitters for a while.
Jensen (rs junior) - pitched well in the UConn game when UConn had a big lead. Got hammered in the Arkansas game when Arkansas had a big lead. I can't help but remember the promise he showed as a frosh in 2019. Not sure he'll be back.
Jaden Bruno (rs frosh) - we've never seen him due to rs year and injury. His twin has a great arm, does he? [He wasn't as highly ranked as brother.]
There seem to be four incoming RHP. We should see one or two. I don't know about them but I'll throw out Matt Scott from Redding, CT. He seems to be highest ranked of our pitchers from PG (maybe, I haven't paid to see rankings) and he is listed as 6'6'', so he could look imposing from the mound.
As always, a lot about the team depends upon who stays and who goes pro.
I think essentially everyone could technically return with the COVID eligibility exemption, but that won't matter for most.
The usual assumption is that seniors and juniors with decent draft prospects leave. That's a good place to start, but of course a lot depends on things we don't know about - like how advanced are individuals towards their degree and how much do they like school.
Also, I am not sure if any of the sophs are draft eligible.
With that ...
Presumably gone: Williams (senior), Kretzschmar (senior), Jones (junior), Matthews (junior), Huff (junior)
Maybe gone:
Barrera (junior) - only had one notable season, but hit for high average with decent power. Played out of position at second base. Might actually improve draft position if he returns and hits for more power.
Crampton (junior) - not a particularly high draft prospect because he doesn't have much hitting power and defense is good but not spectacular. However, unless his hitting really takes off he's not going to improve draft prospects a lot.
Key Returners: Park (soph), Bowser (soph), Graham (soph), Troy (soph) Montgomery (frosh), Dixon (soph), Dowd (soph), Pancer (soph), R. Bruno (soph), O'Rourke (soph), Uber (frosh).
So, it seems possible Stanford could lose as few as two players from the usual hitting lineup, but as many as four barring unforeseen transfer/drop outs or draft eligible sophs.
Also, Stanford appears that they will be starting a lot of juniors next year; that will be a veteran team. 2024 might be tough.
Expected new starters:
Texas St. hero Trevor Haskins seems destined for an infield spot - though if none open up somebody will move to the outfield.
Backup frosh catcher Charlie Saum was a highly rated recruit. Came in to give Huff a rest a few times, but only had 14 at bats (2 hits, one a double) so hard to know how ready he is to hit next year. A hopeful comparison is Carter Graham, who a year ago only had 11 at bats with 1 hit (a single).
Saum seems he may be in a battle with incoming frosh Moore for the catcher's spot.
Anybody else who emerges we haven't seen yet.
As always, the biggest issue will be how the pitching comes along.
There are a ton of sophomore arms on the team, they have to come on strong next year.
The inside track for the weekend starters would appear to be: Dowd, Dixon, Uber - as they have the most starts of the returners.
Of the group, Dowd has the strongest arm. He lost the strike zone towards the end of the season, but pitched very strongly in the tournament.
Dixon took over from Dowd when Dowd struggled. Then Dixon struggled in the tournament. Dixon doesn't have particularly great natural stuff, so he'll need to locate/mix like Williams did.
Bruno is the top arm. Seems like he'd most likely stay as the closer. If he continues to develop his secondary pitches he could be a star.
Other arms that interest me:
Pancer (soph) - throws strikes. Seems like a possible starter.
O'Rourke (soph) - has pretty good arm, lots of control problems lately.
Meier (junior) - really came on in the post season. Doesn't throw very hard, but the sidearm motion confuses hitters for a while.
Jensen (rs junior) - pitched well in the UConn game when UConn had a big lead. Got hammered in the Arkansas game when Arkansas had a big lead. I can't help but remember the promise he showed as a frosh in 2019. Not sure he'll be back.
Jaden Bruno (rs frosh) - we've never seen him due to rs year and injury. His twin has a great arm, does he? [He wasn't as highly ranked as brother.]
There seem to be four incoming RHP. We should see one or two. I don't know about them but I'll throw out Matt Scott from Redding, CT. He seems to be highest ranked of our pitchers from PG (maybe, I haven't paid to see rankings) and he is listed as 6'6'', so he could look imposing from the mound.