Fall Baseball Wrap-Up
The 2013-14 Diamond Dawgs finished up Fall Baseball this week, here are some quick takes.
Position Players
C – Replacing two seniors is tough but State has talent. Cody Walker comes in as a juco and had a really good fall. Cohen is really high on Daniel Garner, a redshirt freshman.
1B – It’s Wes Rea’s job no doubt. He was a leader last year and will be the leader this year.
2B – Brett Pirtle is coming back and had a good fall.
SS – This looked like it could be Kyle Hann’s for the taking after he had a really good summer, but Matthew Britton showed out a lot better in fall ball. Britton is who I expected to take over for Adam Frazier all along but I was beginning to have my doubts, it may have swung back in Britt’s favor, however.
3B – Alex Detz and Reid Humphreys will be battling it out. Humphreys comes in as a freshman and swings a big stick. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him take over at third with Detz starts at DH.
LF – We could see a number of guys here including Humphreys, but it’s most likely to be Jacob Robson or Juco transfer Jake Vickerson – both of whom will probably lead off when starting. Vickerson had a good fall.
CF – C.T. Bradford will anchor the fort here. He pitched a little more last year, and he was pitching at the fall game I went to. His pro career as a lefty may be on the mound so we may see him a good bit there. Demarcus Henderson or Robson could play center while he’s pitching.
RF – Henderson will most likely hold down Hunter Renfroe’s old spot. Derrick Armstrong is also an option as well, and juco transfer Seth Heck had a good fall.
Pitching
I wouldn’t expect to see the same bullpen-dominant rotation we saw last spring, although they will be good. The starters should return to form, especially with the re-emergence of Brandon Woodruff who had a solid fall. Jacob Lindgren returns and C.T. Bradford could push him for that lefty starter. Freshman Dakota Hudson might be able to break into the weekend rotation, but Trevor Fitts will probably have something to say about that.
The bullpen should be solid as Ross Mitchell who missed fall practice will return, and of course Johnathan Holder. Ben Bracewell (who could start) is back plus guys like Preston Brown, Myles Gentry, Will Cox, John Marc Shelly, etc.
Biggest Jumps in Fall Ball
- Cody Walker
- Brandon Woodruff (back to where he once was)
- Seth Heck
- Matthew Britton
- C.T. Bradford (pitching)
The season starts Friday, Feb. 14th against Hofstra. It’s likely to be the most anticipated season of MSU baseball in a long time. Should be a lot of fun.