Here’s a little bit of fall baseball to update you on what’s going on at Swayze Field. Several people asked for it over the last week or so, so I’ve accumulated some notes and thoughts from the few weeks of fall practice and from just what I know about the roster this season.
The disclaimer is that I don’t put tremendous stock in fall practice. I think they are very valuable to get newcomers used to the routine and competition requirements, but I recommend a grain of salt with any stats coming out of these few weeks. Returning pitchers are being careful not to overexert their arms, and the new guys haven’t had to deal with scouting reports yet.
Now, in saying all that, I do think the offense is overall better because of the returning players and the fact that this is the second fall for Kyle Watson, Will Golsan, Tate Blackman and those guys. There are also a lot of moving parts. They are testing guys out at a lot of positions. That’s a good thing. It builds some versatility and allows a look at different combinations.
How soon it shows I don’t know because freshmen have to deal with transition periods sometimes, but I do believe there’s an upgrade in mount talent. Some dynamic arms in this incoming class, and last season was a bit of a struggle considering two of the projected weekend starters were injured. Sean Johnson pitched one inning before having Tommy John surgery, and Sam Smith tried to pitch with issues from that sports hernia surgery and a fractured hip. Sam was 85-88 with scattered command. It just didn’t work.
Speaking of Johnson, he’s seven months or so post-surgery and is doing very well. He threw in a simulated scrimmage over the weekend and velocity was already in a really good place. Barring a setback, I think he can be a weekend option immediately. I previously thought it might be a bullpen situation for a few weeks.
Another big arm finishing up Tommy John rehab is right-hander Brady Feigl. The Missouri native He’s a 6-foot-5, 210-pound right-hander, who is 14 months past surgery. The velocity is back to pre-surgery normal, and it’s all about command. You just never know with Tommy John as far as when that command and sharpness comes back. But his stuff makes him a viable option.
I expect Brady Bramlett to be the Saturday or Sunday starter. That’s a good fit for him, and it gives Ole Miss a pitching advantage on one of those days. Junior college transfer Chad Smith is a Friday possibility. The 6-foot-4 right-hander out of Wallace State can pitch up to 95 MPH. He’s had a small oblique issue this fall, but it’s not a big deal. JUCO Friday night guys give me a little bit of a prove-it mentality, but the talent is unquestioned. It’s just a bit more risk-reward in my opinion. Maybe I’m stupid.
Other newcomers James McArthur (6-foot-7 freshman right-hander from New Braunfels, Texas) and David Parkinson (6-foot-2 JUCO left-hander from F-D Technical) have shown really well this fall. McArthur has a huge arm to go with that big frame. A good bit of early scout buzz on him.
Freshmen right-handers Andy Pagnozzi (Tom’s son) and Connor Green are also going to pitch this season. It was a really good arms class. Green had insane command numbers in high school and has rebounded from a slow start this fall. Pagnozzi just competes his tail off. He was a really good recruiting pull out of Fayetteville, Ark.
Will Stokes and Wyatt Short are likely going to be situated at the back end.
I don’t think it’s right now barring something odd, but I do think Parker Caracci is going to pitch at some point. There’s pitchability, and he’ll get stronger.
There’s pretty good catcher depth with Henri Lartigue, hyped freshman Nick Fortes and Nic Perkins. Lartigue has a lot of talent and is the best from a physical standpoint, but he just has to hold it together mentally. He’ll be pushed throughout by Fortes, who really hits and receives. The throwing is the relative weak part of his game. Perkins isn’t developed as a catcher, but that flat, sorta odd swing does produce, as he showed at times last season. Competition is good back there. It probably helps Lartigue to have those two quality guys against him. Fortes and Lartigue have been top hitters this fall.
Tate Blackman has been solid this fall, but he’s going to have to prove it in the spring. It’s very, very possible he does, but after the odd freshman season I’m not sure what to make out of him. I know everybody still expects him to put it together and be that guy.
Freshman DJ Miller is going to play some because of his athleticism, but I don’t think I’d put him in a starting lineup at this point. He has a 41-inch vertical and can really run. It’s baseball fast. May not burn up a combine, but he gets great jumps and gets bases. I heard him compared to Willie McGee as far as a playing style.
JB Woodman, Errol Robinson, Connor Cloyd, Will Golsan and Colby Bortles are what you expect. I think Woodman will have better at-bats this season. Kyle Watson is a freak athlete. The question is consistency and playing within himself. There’s still too much swing and miss with Joe Wainhouse for me to project him anywhere.
Just for kicks, here’s my guess at a defensive lineup:
C- Lartigue
1B: Golsan
2B: Blackman
SS: Robinson
3B: Bortles (best defender at the position)
OF: Cloyd
OF: Woodman
OF: Dishon
I’ll get some quotes from Mike soon. But that’s a bit to give you an idea what’s going on. With a lot of offensive returning players who can play multiple positions, it at least gives Mike some experience and options. The starting pitching is inexperienced and talented. We’ll see. Also, if I left a player out, it doesn’t mean they won’t play. I was just scattershooting.
The disclaimer is that I don’t put tremendous stock in fall practice. I think they are very valuable to get newcomers used to the routine and competition requirements, but I recommend a grain of salt with any stats coming out of these few weeks. Returning pitchers are being careful not to overexert their arms, and the new guys haven’t had to deal with scouting reports yet.
Now, in saying all that, I do think the offense is overall better because of the returning players and the fact that this is the second fall for Kyle Watson, Will Golsan, Tate Blackman and those guys. There are also a lot of moving parts. They are testing guys out at a lot of positions. That’s a good thing. It builds some versatility and allows a look at different combinations.
How soon it shows I don’t know because freshmen have to deal with transition periods sometimes, but I do believe there’s an upgrade in mount talent. Some dynamic arms in this incoming class, and last season was a bit of a struggle considering two of the projected weekend starters were injured. Sean Johnson pitched one inning before having Tommy John surgery, and Sam Smith tried to pitch with issues from that sports hernia surgery and a fractured hip. Sam was 85-88 with scattered command. It just didn’t work.
Speaking of Johnson, he’s seven months or so post-surgery and is doing very well. He threw in a simulated scrimmage over the weekend and velocity was already in a really good place. Barring a setback, I think he can be a weekend option immediately. I previously thought it might be a bullpen situation for a few weeks.
Another big arm finishing up Tommy John rehab is right-hander Brady Feigl. The Missouri native He’s a 6-foot-5, 210-pound right-hander, who is 14 months past surgery. The velocity is back to pre-surgery normal, and it’s all about command. You just never know with Tommy John as far as when that command and sharpness comes back. But his stuff makes him a viable option.
I expect Brady Bramlett to be the Saturday or Sunday starter. That’s a good fit for him, and it gives Ole Miss a pitching advantage on one of those days. Junior college transfer Chad Smith is a Friday possibility. The 6-foot-4 right-hander out of Wallace State can pitch up to 95 MPH. He’s had a small oblique issue this fall, but it’s not a big deal. JUCO Friday night guys give me a little bit of a prove-it mentality, but the talent is unquestioned. It’s just a bit more risk-reward in my opinion. Maybe I’m stupid.
Other newcomers James McArthur (6-foot-7 freshman right-hander from New Braunfels, Texas) and David Parkinson (6-foot-2 JUCO left-hander from F-D Technical) have shown really well this fall. McArthur has a huge arm to go with that big frame. A good bit of early scout buzz on him.
Freshmen right-handers Andy Pagnozzi (Tom’s son) and Connor Green are also going to pitch this season. It was a really good arms class. Green had insane command numbers in high school and has rebounded from a slow start this fall. Pagnozzi just competes his tail off. He was a really good recruiting pull out of Fayetteville, Ark.
Will Stokes and Wyatt Short are likely going to be situated at the back end.
I don’t think it’s right now barring something odd, but I do think Parker Caracci is going to pitch at some point. There’s pitchability, and he’ll get stronger.
There’s pretty good catcher depth with Henri Lartigue, hyped freshman Nick Fortes and Nic Perkins. Lartigue has a lot of talent and is the best from a physical standpoint, but he just has to hold it together mentally. He’ll be pushed throughout by Fortes, who really hits and receives. The throwing is the relative weak part of his game. Perkins isn’t developed as a catcher, but that flat, sorta odd swing does produce, as he showed at times last season. Competition is good back there. It probably helps Lartigue to have those two quality guys against him. Fortes and Lartigue have been top hitters this fall.
Tate Blackman has been solid this fall, but he’s going to have to prove it in the spring. It’s very, very possible he does, but after the odd freshman season I’m not sure what to make out of him. I know everybody still expects him to put it together and be that guy.
Freshman DJ Miller is going to play some because of his athleticism, but I don’t think I’d put him in a starting lineup at this point. He has a 41-inch vertical and can really run. It’s baseball fast. May not burn up a combine, but he gets great jumps and gets bases. I heard him compared to Willie McGee as far as a playing style.
JB Woodman, Errol Robinson, Connor Cloyd, Will Golsan and Colby Bortles are what you expect. I think Woodman will have better at-bats this season. Kyle Watson is a freak athlete. The question is consistency and playing within himself. There’s still too much swing and miss with Joe Wainhouse for me to project him anywhere.
Just for kicks, here’s my guess at a defensive lineup:
C- Lartigue
1B: Golsan
2B: Blackman
SS: Robinson
3B: Bortles (best defender at the position)
OF: Cloyd
OF: Woodman
OF: Dishon
I’ll get some quotes from Mike soon. But that’s a bit to give you an idea what’s going on. With a lot of offensive returning players who can play multiple positions, it at least gives Mike some experience and options. The starting pitching is inexperienced and talented. We’ll see. Also, if I left a player out, it doesn’t mean they won’t play. I was just scattershooting.
