I thought I posted this earlier but I guess I didnt hit send. This info was put together from TOS. Good info I believe.
"Nick Senzel is the only returning starter in the infield for the 2016 BaseVols and by all accounts he's moving from 2B to 3B. That leaves question marks at 1B, 2B and SS.
Only because I saw Dominick Cammarata play there in the fall will I project him as a possibility at 1B and the same goes for Freshman Daniel Neal. I discussed DC in the previous thread so I'm going to move on.
Neal is listed on the UT roster as a utility player. Coming out of high school, PG listed him as 3B/SS/OF/RHP. I don't know this for a fact but I've read the the thinking that he's outgrown the middle infield positions at 6'3 195. We also know who's at 3B. There are several options at 2B and SS and most of them aren't really first baseman in terms of proto-typical size. The exceptions are Jr. Jordan Rodgers, 6-1 185, and So. Brett Langhorne 6'3 200.
Rodgers has played a bit of everything but mostly 3B and outfield. I believe he spent some time at 1B last season too, but don't hold me to that one. At least one factor in who gets the job at 1B will be offensive production and Rodgers has shown signs that he can be productive, but consistency is the issue. Rodgers hit .278 over all and .262 in SEC play. That .262 was better than AJ Simcox and Chris Hall. I don't have a clue where Rodgers will end up, but if he's hitting he's proven to be flexible in terms of the field.
I always believed that Langhorne was the heir apparent at SS once AJ moved on. After all he was rated the #3 SS in Virginia coming out of high school.Well, if Mr. Kentucky Baseball has outgrown the middle infield maybe Langhorne has too?
Langhorne, playing behind Simcox just didn't get a lot of opportunity, couple that with the weather and getting off to a slow start where even the mid week games become must win...well...simply put, he couldn't get on the field. He struggled at the plate too.
Honestly, I don't have any idea if any discussion has gone on regarding LHorne playing 1B, just saying it could be a possibility.
And to add to the confusion, CDS has never been afraid to put a not so proto-typical player at first, like a Maddox or aMoberg...so like the Abbott and Costello skit...Who's on first, what's on second...
If I had to guess, which I am, I'd say Cammarata will get the nod and Neal will get work too to start the season...but it's just a guess.
Senior Jeff Moberg is going to get his shot at 2B, and it's going to come down to both his fielding and hitting. Moberg is coming off a great summer where he hit .331 for the L.A. Brewers. He was in the mix at 3B to begin the 2015 season with Rodgers, Langhorne and Pruett and boy did he get off to a rough start...one from which it's hard to recover. He finished with a .737 fielding percentage. He had only 11 at bats in SEC play finishing with a .182 batting average. I always pull for the guys that have been in the program four years, hope if this is going to be their last baseball season that it's one that brings good memories down the road. Good Luck Moby.
The aforementioned Rodgers and Langhorne could also be in play at 2B as well as the guy who won the starting job at third base last year, Jared Pruett. Pruett had a pretty successful year hitting .273 overall and a very respectable .281 in SEC play. Being the low man on the totem pole, he was the last to get a chance at 3B, but he seized the opportunity. In 26 games, 23 starts, he had zero errors. Batting .281 against SEC pitching and fielding at that rate, he'll find a place somewhere, no doubt about it. He might be a Will Maddox type player at 2B if he gets the chance.
Finally in regards to 2B, Leno Ramirez. I watched him play 3B this fall and he was a stand out that particular day in the field. He looked like the type of guy that could play just about anywhere on the baseball field. I don't know much about him other than that. All I can say is that I came away impressed. I do know he is married and is a father and it's probably been a heck of a journey to get here. He plays the game with a lot of passion and I think it will be evident to all if he gets a chance.
At Short Stop, I think Langhorne is going to get a shot but so is JUCO transfer Max Bartlett, maybe Ramirez too. One knowledgeable poster says the staff is high on Bartlett. Bartlett played at Gulf Coast CC last year and was the primary short stop batting .289 through 53 games with 31 RBI's.
One more note on Langhorne. I watched his numbers closely this summer because he was in a competition for playing time with the starting SS from UGA. All in all he out played that guy and he out hit him too finishing with a .283 BA. I don't usually put too much stock in the California League, but maybe in his case it can carry over. We'll see soon enough.
At 3B it sort of seems wrapped up and maybe it is. Everything I've read and heard points to Senzel moving to third. He was the MVP of the Cape and an All Star at 3B.
Still...I watched or listened to most of the games and every now and then on a routine play he'd pick up an E, an over throw, ball falls out of the glove...
I'm still sticking with him as the starter at 3B but can I see a scenario where he either moves back to 2B or into a DH role...sure. I don't think it's likely mind you, just in the realm of the possible. Obviously Pruett has proven himself there and I like Ramirez too. Both Rodgers and Langhorne got a shot at 3B last season.
Derek Lance is a guy that could play in the infield as well, I'm just accustomed to seeing him in the out field, but in summer ball, he's played third, I could see him maybe getting a shot at either first or second. Coach Serrano always seems to give the seniors a fair shot and I think Lance will get his, just not sure where.
"Nick Senzel is the only returning starter in the infield for the 2016 BaseVols and by all accounts he's moving from 2B to 3B. That leaves question marks at 1B, 2B and SS.
Only because I saw Dominick Cammarata play there in the fall will I project him as a possibility at 1B and the same goes for Freshman Daniel Neal. I discussed DC in the previous thread so I'm going to move on.
Neal is listed on the UT roster as a utility player. Coming out of high school, PG listed him as 3B/SS/OF/RHP. I don't know this for a fact but I've read the the thinking that he's outgrown the middle infield positions at 6'3 195. We also know who's at 3B. There are several options at 2B and SS and most of them aren't really first baseman in terms of proto-typical size. The exceptions are Jr. Jordan Rodgers, 6-1 185, and So. Brett Langhorne 6'3 200.
Rodgers has played a bit of everything but mostly 3B and outfield. I believe he spent some time at 1B last season too, but don't hold me to that one. At least one factor in who gets the job at 1B will be offensive production and Rodgers has shown signs that he can be productive, but consistency is the issue. Rodgers hit .278 over all and .262 in SEC play. That .262 was better than AJ Simcox and Chris Hall. I don't have a clue where Rodgers will end up, but if he's hitting he's proven to be flexible in terms of the field.
I always believed that Langhorne was the heir apparent at SS once AJ moved on. After all he was rated the #3 SS in Virginia coming out of high school.Well, if Mr. Kentucky Baseball has outgrown the middle infield maybe Langhorne has too?
Langhorne, playing behind Simcox just didn't get a lot of opportunity, couple that with the weather and getting off to a slow start where even the mid week games become must win...well...simply put, he couldn't get on the field. He struggled at the plate too.
Honestly, I don't have any idea if any discussion has gone on regarding LHorne playing 1B, just saying it could be a possibility.
And to add to the confusion, CDS has never been afraid to put a not so proto-typical player at first, like a Maddox or aMoberg...so like the Abbott and Costello skit...Who's on first, what's on second...
If I had to guess, which I am, I'd say Cammarata will get the nod and Neal will get work too to start the season...but it's just a guess.
Senior Jeff Moberg is going to get his shot at 2B, and it's going to come down to both his fielding and hitting. Moberg is coming off a great summer where he hit .331 for the L.A. Brewers. He was in the mix at 3B to begin the 2015 season with Rodgers, Langhorne and Pruett and boy did he get off to a rough start...one from which it's hard to recover. He finished with a .737 fielding percentage. He had only 11 at bats in SEC play finishing with a .182 batting average. I always pull for the guys that have been in the program four years, hope if this is going to be their last baseball season that it's one that brings good memories down the road. Good Luck Moby.
The aforementioned Rodgers and Langhorne could also be in play at 2B as well as the guy who won the starting job at third base last year, Jared Pruett. Pruett had a pretty successful year hitting .273 overall and a very respectable .281 in SEC play. Being the low man on the totem pole, he was the last to get a chance at 3B, but he seized the opportunity. In 26 games, 23 starts, he had zero errors. Batting .281 against SEC pitching and fielding at that rate, he'll find a place somewhere, no doubt about it. He might be a Will Maddox type player at 2B if he gets the chance.
Finally in regards to 2B, Leno Ramirez. I watched him play 3B this fall and he was a stand out that particular day in the field. He looked like the type of guy that could play just about anywhere on the baseball field. I don't know much about him other than that. All I can say is that I came away impressed. I do know he is married and is a father and it's probably been a heck of a journey to get here. He plays the game with a lot of passion and I think it will be evident to all if he gets a chance.
At Short Stop, I think Langhorne is going to get a shot but so is JUCO transfer Max Bartlett, maybe Ramirez too. One knowledgeable poster says the staff is high on Bartlett. Bartlett played at Gulf Coast CC last year and was the primary short stop batting .289 through 53 games with 31 RBI's.
One more note on Langhorne. I watched his numbers closely this summer because he was in a competition for playing time with the starting SS from UGA. All in all he out played that guy and he out hit him too finishing with a .283 BA. I don't usually put too much stock in the California League, but maybe in his case it can carry over. We'll see soon enough.
At 3B it sort of seems wrapped up and maybe it is. Everything I've read and heard points to Senzel moving to third. He was the MVP of the Cape and an All Star at 3B.
Still...I watched or listened to most of the games and every now and then on a routine play he'd pick up an E, an over throw, ball falls out of the glove...
I'm still sticking with him as the starter at 3B but can I see a scenario where he either moves back to 2B or into a DH role...sure. I don't think it's likely mind you, just in the realm of the possible. Obviously Pruett has proven himself there and I like Ramirez too. Both Rodgers and Langhorne got a shot at 3B last season.
Derek Lance is a guy that could play in the infield as well, I'm just accustomed to seeing him in the out field, but in summer ball, he's played third, I could see him maybe getting a shot at either first or second. Coach Serrano always seems to give the seniors a fair shot and I think Lance will get his, just not sure where.
