Saw somebody ask a question about next year's team in the other thread so figured I'd start a thread. I don't have any insight but I follow the team pretty closely.
Three outfield spots are set with Kinneman, McLain and Deatherage. Wilson and Pitarra up the middle. Corner infield is up for grabs but I assume Shane Shepard will be given every opportunity to start at first. Debo has to be in the lineup but not sure if they'll put him behind the plate or at DH, maybe some reps at first. I've heard good things about the freshman Bailey behind the plate but he won't catch every day. Third base I have no idea. I'd assume some freshmen will be given an opportunity to play there because nobody from last year's team is really a third baseman.
Pitching will hopefully be Feeney, Bienlien and Brown on the weekends. O'Donnell and Staley at the back of the pen. Klyman was excellent last year too. Pitching will be wide open but the weekend rotation and back of the pen should be pretty solid. One of the biggest issues last year was lack of defined roles and depth. If we can define roles and have more depth then we will likely take a step forward. Gauthier and Brabrand will be huge for that reason and I'm sure we've got at least one or two capable freshman. Of course, injuries can change everything especially on the mound, as we've seen the last two years.
I think it's a good team, hopefully we fly under the radar, but I would think it's a regional team at worst. Wilson and Debo are studs. (Debo needs to hit for more power and less contact IMO). One of the knocks on our teams recently is that we haven't had an All American type guy but they've both got that potential. (Not sure I agree with this because Dunand came on last year but whatever, it definitely applied the two years before). It's going to be tough to win the ACC as always but baseball is all about getting hot and peaking in May and June so it's certainly possible. I desperately want to see Avent get the ACC championship and get past the nightmares of the last three years and I think this team can. I wouldn't bet on it, but it's possible.
Three outfield spots are set with Kinneman, McLain and Deatherage. Wilson and Pitarra up the middle. Corner infield is up for grabs but I assume Shane Shepard will be given every opportunity to start at first. Debo has to be in the lineup but not sure if they'll put him behind the plate or at DH, maybe some reps at first. I've heard good things about the freshman Bailey behind the plate but he won't catch every day. Third base I have no idea. I'd assume some freshmen will be given an opportunity to play there because nobody from last year's team is really a third baseman.
Pitching will hopefully be Feeney, Bienlien and Brown on the weekends. O'Donnell and Staley at the back of the pen. Klyman was excellent last year too. Pitching will be wide open but the weekend rotation and back of the pen should be pretty solid. One of the biggest issues last year was lack of defined roles and depth. If we can define roles and have more depth then we will likely take a step forward. Gauthier and Brabrand will be huge for that reason and I'm sure we've got at least one or two capable freshman. Of course, injuries can change everything especially on the mound, as we've seen the last two years.
I think it's a good team, hopefully we fly under the radar, but I would think it's a regional team at worst. Wilson and Debo are studs. (Debo needs to hit for more power and less contact IMO). One of the knocks on our teams recently is that we haven't had an All American type guy but they've both got that potential. (Not sure I agree with this because Dunand came on last year but whatever, it definitely applied the two years before). It's going to be tough to win the ACC as always but baseball is all about getting hot and peaking in May and June so it's certainly possible. I desperately want to see Avent get the ACC championship and get past the nightmares of the last three years and I think this team can. I wouldn't bet on it, but it's possible.
