D1Baseball correspondent believes IU to be stronger this season...

[ptrich]

Burke Granger is D1Baseball's Midwest correspondent based out of Columbus, Ohio and he did a fall report on IU back on Dec 22nd, and iubase.com posted some excerpts from it on their X account. I saw the full D1 report and it's very long, but he believes IU to be stronger this year despite the loss of Sinnard from the weekend rotation and he led the B1G in Ks last season. Here is his leadoff comment about IU:

"After returning a core group from a team that was one game away from a super regional, the expectations from folks like this particular D1 Baseball staffer will be loftier this year."

I will post his comments under four different posts starting with the outfield.

Here is a very general summation of his views of the outfield.

Outfield:

Granger referred to IU's outfield with this statement: "The Hoosiers are exceptionally strong in the outfield, bolstered by a trio of guys with a proven track record of collegiate success and talent to play at the next level." He believes that Carter Mathison is likely to start in center field, and if not Mathison then it will be Nick Mitchell which is no revelation.

Granger had this to say about Mathison:

"Mathison can drive the ball to all fields, has excellent zone awareness, and Mercer has lauded his even-keeled demeanor. Although he’s played primarily in the corners in each of his first two seasons, Mathison is likely to start the season in center field."

Granger said this about Mitchell who was a Cape Cod League All-Star this past summer:

"A 5-foot-9, 180-pound lefthanded hitter, he’s shown the ability to drive the ball in the gaps and let his speed play on the bases. He’s likely slated for right field, but it also wouldn’t surprise me to see he and Mathison switch spots at some point. "

Devin Taylor will be back in left field and here are his quotes on Devin:

"The reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Year, Devin Taylor is back in left field after slashing .315/.430/.650 with a team high 16 home runs and 59 RBIs."

"The ball just sounds different coming off Taylor’s bat, and he continued to stay on the barrel with wood bats over the summer, slugging .554 with eight homers for Keene in the New England Collegiate Summer League."

“I mean…Devin’s the man,” said Mercer. “He’s had a good fall. He’s gotten better defensively and he’s still one of the better offensive players I’ve ever been around. He’s the hardest worker, he’s the best kid. He’s smart and he’s just a dream to coach.”

He called Morgan Colopy as the probably one of the best fourth outfielders in the conference and here is his quote:

"There’s probably not a better fourth outfielder in the conference than Morgan Colopy. Drafted out of high school, Colopy struggled to get it going in the batter’s box last spring (.611 OPS), but he’s shown offensive upside at times during his career. Moreover, Mercer regards Colopy as one of the best defensive outfielders he’s ever coached."

He said this about Andrew Wiggins:

"Despite the crowded outfield, Andrew Wiggins is one of the more talented freshmen to make it to campus in the entire country and is going to get an opportunity. The Hoosiers’ modus operandi is they’re going to play their freshmen early and find out what they have. Thus far, that process has helped sustain a winning program. Wiggins reportedly played well in the second half of the fall season and will be in the mix in the outfield, designated hitter and as a lefthanded bat off the bench."

 

[ptrich]

Infield:

Granger said that Cerny will slide over to SS which we already knew, with Pyne back at his 3rd base position. Houston transfer Brandon Burckel will take over 2nd base, with 1st base being a possible platoon situation with redshirt freshman Joey Brenczewski involved in the platoon. He believes that while Tibbitts will be primarily behind the plate, he will platoon some at first base. He said this about Cerny:

"Cerny went on to slash .336/.376/.558 as an Appy League All-Star for Greenville over the summer. Cerny will slide over to shortstop this spring, which Mercer acknowledges is a lot to ask of the sophomore, but he’s confident Cerny is up for the challenge. “Tyler Cerny is a very, very talented defender,” said Mercer. “He’s long and athletic, has a good arm, especially when his feet are under him. But as you know – especially for a young guy – making the transition from second base to shortstop is a big ask. You have to be fundamental and you have to really have a grasp on the details and the nuance of the position. I thought he did a good job of that. He improved tremendously from the beginning of the fall to the end of the fall.”

On Pyne:

"While Mitchell had the best fall among all position players, junior Josh Pyne likely holds that title among the returnees from last year’s roster. After slashing .295/.357/.445 with 16 doubles as a third team all-conference selection last spring, the third baseman added some additional muscle to his 6-foot-2, 190-pound frame. Pyne stands out for his glove work at the hot corner, showing first-step quickness and plus arm strength. He needs to get more consistent at making the routine play, as his .916 fielding percentage isn’t indicative of his ability."

On Burckel:

"At second base, it’s going to be Houston transfer Brandon Burckel, who slashed .260/.379/.365 with 37 stolen bases as a two-year starter for the Cougars. With so many new faces in the middle of the diamond, Mercer is counting on leveraging Burckel’s experience to be a leader in the infield grass."

On first base:

"First base looks like a potential platoon situation between redshirt freshman Joey Brenczewski and a pair of catchers. An athletic switch-hitter with straight line speed, Brenczewski added muscle to a wiry frame during his redshirt year."

Other key infielders:

"Cal Sefcik, Hayden Carlson, and Jasen Oliver represent a trio of freshmen who will be counted on to provide infield depth."

"An athletic, physical corner infielder who evokes former Hoosier standout Sam Travis, Sefcik produced the top exit velocity at last year’s Prep Baseball Report Super 60 (107.1 mph)."

"A slick-fielding defender from California, Carlson has a lean, projectable frame with plenty of arm to make throws from deep in the hole. He’s slated to backup Cerny and Burckel up at shortstop and second base to start."

"Oliver was a two-way standout at national power Orchard Lake St. Marys (Mich.) who reportedly turned down six figure offers to honor his college commitment. His arm strength is an asset at the hot corner and on the mound, where he’s shown mid-90s velocity."

 

[ptrich]

Catcher:

On Tibbitts:

"A high school backstop, Brock Tibbitts will slide back behind the plate this year after excelling at first base during his first two years on campus. One of the best pure hitters in the conference, Tibbitts slashed .357/.447/.585 with 10 home runs while leading the team in triples (4) and RBIs (68). He’s expected to handle the primary catching duties but will also get a number of reps at first base to keep his potent bat in the lineup. Tibbitts caught a few games on the Cape over the summer, and while there was some rust to knock off, the junior showed significant improvement over the course of the fall."

On Shepard:

"A highly touted prep recruit, redshirt freshman AJ Shepard would have likely seen decent playing time on last year’s squad had he not lost his season to Tommy John surgery. He’s expected to help shoulder the load behind the plate and he shows pull side power in the batter’s box."

"Mercer also feels good about TJ Schuyler, a freshman out of Illinois who’s long and athletic with good arm strength, adding solid depth at the position."

 

[ptrich]

Pitching:

Granger led off with this:

"Outside of Sinnard, the Hoosiers didn’t use a rotation last season in a traditional sense, often deploying openers and piggybacking with a multi-inning reliever who offers a different look in order to turn over a lineup. That strategy of winning Friday on Friday and worrying about tomorrow, tomorrow worked well for Hoosiers last year and will likely be the way they start the season."

He mentioned that the loss of Sinnard is mitigated by the quality of arms that have been brought in via this recruiting class, both through the portal and with the first-year newcomers. Mercer said this about his pitching staff:

“I feel the best that I’ve felt about our depth on the mound as far as having eight, 10, 12, 14 quality competitors with quality stuff,” said Mercer. “We haven’t had this much depth.”

On Risedorph and Foley:

"Regardless of when they throw, you can expect sophomores Brayden Risedorph (3-1, 4.47) and Connor Foley (4-2, 3.72) to be two of the most integral arms on the staff. "Utilizing a mid-to-low 90s heater, a sweeping slider and a mid-80s split changeup, Risedorph is a strike thrower who led the Hoosiers in appearances (25) and saves (six), while striking out 10.3-per-9 last spring."

"At 6-foot-5, 235-pounds, Foley is an imposing physical presence on the mound with a fastball to match. He works downhill from a high three-quarter arm slot and can run his four-seamer into the upper 90s, peaking at 98 mph in my looks at him last spring. He gained valuable postseason experience last year, holding a good Kentucky offense scoreless on one hit for 2.2 innings in the Lexington Regional."

On Kraft:

"Though 19 of his 21 appearances came out of the pen and he had five saves, Ryan Kraft (6-1, 2.48) was a de facto starter for the Hoosiers last year, finishing second on the team in innings (61.2). A 6-foot-4 lefthander, Kraft works from a three-quarter slot and is able to spot his 88-90 mph fastball to either side of the plate. He’s worked to refine his slider this fall in hopes of turning it into more of a put-away pitch. He’s likely to be deployed in a similar fashion this year – as a multi-inning leverage option – but don’t be surprised to see him in the rotation either."

The rest of the pitching staff:

"Fifth-year lefthander Ty Bothwell (4-3, 6.55) is a wild card. After an up and down spring, he threw well for the Hoosiers in the regional, punching out 12 hitters in 8.2 innings over two appearances. “When he’s right, he’s as good as we have on the team,” said Mercer of Bothwell. “He’s as good as there is in the league.”

"Sophomore Ethan Phillips (4-0, 5.01) is a competitive righthander who could be in the mix for starts after a strong showing this fall. He’s got a starter’s arsenal, sitting in the low-90s with his four-seam and his sinker, and he throws three different off-speed pitches."

"Lean and projectable with a low-to-mid 90s fastball and a downer breaker, Evan Whitaker could wind up in the rotation at some point but will likely be utilized as a power arm out of the pen from the jump."

"Getting Northwestern transfer Ben Grable to Bloomington was a boon, as the big righthander with a bigger fastball had some draft buzz. Grable can scrape triple digits with his heater, but his control can vary, as he’s walked over 5-per-9 during his career. He was impressive for his new club this fall, working to be more intentional with his fastball and continuing to develop his secondaries."

"A low slot lefthander, redshirt sophomore Grant Holderfield is back after missing last season with an injury. He was an often-used matchup piece as a freshman – tying for the team lead in appearances (25) that spring – and is expected to play a similar tole this season."

Granger went on to mention that Gonzaga transfer Jack Moffitt, red shirt freshman Jacob Vogel, and freshman Seth Benes might be some of the arms we see coming out of the bullpen. He also had this to say about freshman Ryan Rushing:

"Ryan Rushing is a 5-foot-9 freshman from IMG Academy who could be a significant bullpen contributor from the left side. He’ll pitch in the low-90s fastball who can really snap off a breaking ball."

 

[Charlesroast]

Thanks! This is the most talented offensive team since the Schwarber/Travis teams. Defense and pitching should determine how far they go. Losing Sinnard hurts but there are a lot of arms available. iirc last year they had a 6 run target, hopefully they can achieve something a little lower this year. Would really like to see Bothwell emerge as a Friday/Saturday starter along with Risedorph. Mercer and Glant could have a strong contingent of short relievers to mix and match behind 5/6 inning starters.

Like the news that Shepard will be available.

 

[ptrich]

Thanks! This is the most talented offensive team since the Schwarber/Travis teams. Defense and pitching should determine how far they go. Losing Sinnard hurts but there are a lot of arms available. iirc last year they had a 6 run target, hopefully they can achieve something a little lower this year. Would really like to see Bothwell emerge as a Friday/Saturday starter along with Risedorph. Mercer and Glant could have a strong contingent of short relievers to mix and match behind 5/6 inning starters.

Like the news that Shepard will be available.

Bothwell is an X factor this season. He got off to a horrible start last season, but came on like gangbusters during the latter part of the season and into the playoffs. Hopefully, we get the same Bothwell that we saw at the end of the season, and that would be huge.

 

[Bucket Getter]

Good news is we are only like 6 weeks away from watching this season unfold! 😁

 

[ptrich]

Good news is we are only like 6 weeks away from watching this season unfold! 😁

The preseason polling by the B1G coaches is going to be interesting. I still think they are going to give the nod to Iowa primarily because of the quality pitching they have coming back with their weekend rotation in Brody Brecht and Marcus Morgan. They had IU finishing 6th last year and they were definitely off on that with IU coming within a game of winning the regular season championship.

 

[ptrich]

There's one situation that really has me puzzled. What is the status of Seti Manase? I have seen absolutely no mention of him anywhere and he is still listed on the roster. He was not with the team when they went to Lexington for the regional last season. If anyone knows his situation, I, and probably others would sure like to know.

I might add that his X account still has him with IU baseball, and he reposted an item two weeks ago from Baseball America about IU's Derek Simmons being among the Top 10 hottest assistant coaching names in college baseball, so there is that.

 

[Next time]

I thought I saw where Seti won the Ironman so he’s there. Not sure what happened late last season, but would have been great to have the extra arm those last two games. This years going to be exciting and can’t wait to see how it all plays out. BIG shoes to fill from last years squad, but sounds like they’ll be just fine.

 

[gonnerm]

 

[ptrich]

I thought I saw where Seti won the Ironman so he’s there. Not sure what happened late last season, but would have been great to have the extra arm those last two games. This years going to be exciting and can’t wait to see how it all plays out. BIG shoes to fill from last years squad, but sounds like they’ll be just fine.

The preseason fall report by D1Baseball didn't mention him. He started 13 games last season and appeared in two more games as a reliever. His longest outing was 4.1 IP and he usually didn't last past two innings. Mercer's committee approach after Sinnard probably had some impact on his innings pitched. Here's some of his stats from last season.

His won/loss record was 2-2 and he pitched 33 IP. He had an ERA 2.73 and a WHIP of 1.45. He had 25 Ks and 16 BBs. His OBA was .256.

 

[Bucket Getter]

The preseason fall report by D1Baseball didn't mention him. He started 13 games last season and appeared in two more games as a reliever. His longest outing was 4.1 IP and he usually didn't last past two innings. Mercer's committee approach after Sinnard probably had some impact on his innings pitched. Here's some of his stats from last season.

His won/loss record was 2-2 and he pitched 33 IP. He had an ERA 2.73 and a WHIP of 1.45. He had 25 Ks and 16 BBs. His OBA was .256.

Didn’t he start the first game of the season? Or at least a game in the opening series? Then slowly but surely disappeared?

 

[ptrich]

Didn’t he start the first game of the season? Or at least a game in the opening series? Then slowly but surely disappeared?

I checked on that and in the season-opening three game series with Auburn, Ben Seiler was the starting pitcher in game one, Ty Bothwell started game two, and Luke Sinnard started the last game which was a victory, and Manase came in out of the bullpen and pitched the 9th inning of that game, and Manase's inning was clean with one K.