Todd4State
01-29-2014, 05:24 PM
Ground rules: I think that Paul Young, Garner, Robson, and Hann will all be drafted and leave by 2016. I am well aware that the draft may take some of these players.
This might be our 2016 lineup:
Fri.- Dakota Hudson Jr.- Drafted by the Rangers out of high school. Projected starter as a freshman. Has the chance to be a first round pick.
Sat.- Austin Sexton Jr.- Highly thought of and missed Sr. season with an ACL injury. Will spot start some for us this year and most years would be good enough to be the midweek guy at the very least.
Sun.- Jesse McCord So.- Draftable talent out of the Birmingham area made MaxPreps All-American as a Jr. in high school.
Midweek- Vance Tatum Jr.- Will compete with McCord for the Sunday spot. LHP that led Southaven to a state title in the top high school league in Mississippi.
Sidearmer- Myles Gentry Sr.- Well, since we have the sidearm camp, I thought I would mention him. He could be the next Caleb Reed. Senior leader that eats up innings.
Closer- Austin Riley Fr.- This could be a number of people, but since we're talking two years out, the exact roles are going to be hard to determine. Riley is already throwing in the low 90's and is a legacy that has a chance to be an Under Armour All-American as a dual threat player. (More on that in a minute) But he seems like a good choice to be a closer as a freshman who will later transition to the SEC rotation.
C- Chase Vallot So.- Under Armour All-American that has legit power and if he makes it to campus will be without a doubt the best catching prospect that Cohen has brought in. I expect him to challenge for a starting spot as a freshman.
1B- Cole Gordon So.- LH power hitter from the talent rich Tampa area. Is the prototypical size for a first baseman at 6'5" and has very good speed for someone his size. In fact his speed is good enough that the outfield is not out of the question. Another draftable type talent that could replace Wes Rea next year.
2B- Dale Burdick So.- Another draftable talent in the MSU class who has protypical MLB size for a middle infielder with decent power and speed and is also a very good defender. Highly coveted player from Tennessee.
3B- Reid Humphries Jr.- Drafted by the Washington Nationals out of high school and one of the most highly regarded players to come from Mississippi in recent years. Should play a good bit as a freshman for MSU and has the potential to hit for power and average while also having good speed. Is very versatile and can play a number of positions.
SS- Luke Alexander Fr.- Made Team USA as an eight grader and committed to MSU also as an eighth grader after receiving offers from Ole Miss and LSU. Is a plus defender who is a switch hitter with speed and a good arm. He's a top of the order type hitter who has a little bit of pop and good size for a middle infielder.
LF- Joey Swinarski- Jr.- Bypassed his senior year in high school to play SEC baseball. He has five tool potential with the speed to cover the vast LF outfield at Dudy-Noble Field. He's 6'3" and much like Hunter Renfroe, if he can put it all together, he could be a high draft pick.
CF- Jake Mangum Fr.- One of the most highly thought of players to come through Mississippi in recent years, Mangum is a switch hitter who will hit at the top of the order and steal bases and is probably the best bunter in the Mississippi high school ranks. He also has a chance to pitch in college as well, and has the size that you look for in a CF in MLB. Is a tremendous defender who will replace Robson in a couple of years.
RF- Austin Riley Fr.- Here's that guy again! As a position player, he has tremendous power and should hit for average as well. He has the arm strength necessary to play RF and he could also play third base potentially as well. He's an instant impact type player that will find his way into the lineup as a freshman.
DH- Gavin Collins Jr.- Very highly thought of Californian who has the ability to play catcher, and by DH him we could let Vallot play DH on his off day, he can play RF and come in when Riley pitches using this scenario that I am outlining, and if Alexander has trouble transitioning to college pitchers, he has the ability to play third base allowing us to move Humphries to SS. Wherever he plays, I think he will hit for power and average.
Footnotes- Every single player listed is at least 6'0" tall. Every single player also has a very legit chance to be drafted at some point in their career. One thing that is very evident to me is the increase in power while at the same time this team is still going to have players that can run- which will hopefully give us a very balanced lineup. Going to more power is wise because the baseball seams will be changing in 2015 to try to get more home runs. Once again, good job by Cohen and his staff of adjusting to the changes in the game. It's also good to see us staying with the power arms on the staff and mixing in some sidearm guys to give us a lot of variety.
This might be our 2016 lineup:
Fri.- Dakota Hudson Jr.- Drafted by the Rangers out of high school. Projected starter as a freshman. Has the chance to be a first round pick.
Sat.- Austin Sexton Jr.- Highly thought of and missed Sr. season with an ACL injury. Will spot start some for us this year and most years would be good enough to be the midweek guy at the very least.
Sun.- Jesse McCord So.- Draftable talent out of the Birmingham area made MaxPreps All-American as a Jr. in high school.
Midweek- Vance Tatum Jr.- Will compete with McCord for the Sunday spot. LHP that led Southaven to a state title in the top high school league in Mississippi.
Sidearmer- Myles Gentry Sr.- Well, since we have the sidearm camp, I thought I would mention him. He could be the next Caleb Reed. Senior leader that eats up innings.
Closer- Austin Riley Fr.- This could be a number of people, but since we're talking two years out, the exact roles are going to be hard to determine. Riley is already throwing in the low 90's and is a legacy that has a chance to be an Under Armour All-American as a dual threat player. (More on that in a minute) But he seems like a good choice to be a closer as a freshman who will later transition to the SEC rotation.
C- Chase Vallot So.- Under Armour All-American that has legit power and if he makes it to campus will be without a doubt the best catching prospect that Cohen has brought in. I expect him to challenge for a starting spot as a freshman.
1B- Cole Gordon So.- LH power hitter from the talent rich Tampa area. Is the prototypical size for a first baseman at 6'5" and has very good speed for someone his size. In fact his speed is good enough that the outfield is not out of the question. Another draftable type talent that could replace Wes Rea next year.
2B- Dale Burdick So.- Another draftable talent in the MSU class who has protypical MLB size for a middle infielder with decent power and speed and is also a very good defender. Highly coveted player from Tennessee.
3B- Reid Humphries Jr.- Drafted by the Washington Nationals out of high school and one of the most highly regarded players to come from Mississippi in recent years. Should play a good bit as a freshman for MSU and has the potential to hit for power and average while also having good speed. Is very versatile and can play a number of positions.
SS- Luke Alexander Fr.- Made Team USA as an eight grader and committed to MSU also as an eighth grader after receiving offers from Ole Miss and LSU. Is a plus defender who is a switch hitter with speed and a good arm. He's a top of the order type hitter who has a little bit of pop and good size for a middle infielder.
LF- Joey Swinarski- Jr.- Bypassed his senior year in high school to play SEC baseball. He has five tool potential with the speed to cover the vast LF outfield at Dudy-Noble Field. He's 6'3" and much like Hunter Renfroe, if he can put it all together, he could be a high draft pick.
CF- Jake Mangum Fr.- One of the most highly thought of players to come through Mississippi in recent years, Mangum is a switch hitter who will hit at the top of the order and steal bases and is probably the best bunter in the Mississippi high school ranks. He also has a chance to pitch in college as well, and has the size that you look for in a CF in MLB. Is a tremendous defender who will replace Robson in a couple of years.
RF- Austin Riley Fr.- Here's that guy again! As a position player, he has tremendous power and should hit for average as well. He has the arm strength necessary to play RF and he could also play third base potentially as well. He's an instant impact type player that will find his way into the lineup as a freshman.
DH- Gavin Collins Jr.- Very highly thought of Californian who has the ability to play catcher, and by DH him we could let Vallot play DH on his off day, he can play RF and come in when Riley pitches using this scenario that I am outlining, and if Alexander has trouble transitioning to college pitchers, he has the ability to play third base allowing us to move Humphries to SS. Wherever he plays, I think he will hit for power and average.
Footnotes- Every single player listed is at least 6'0" tall. Every single player also has a very legit chance to be drafted at some point in their career. One thing that is very evident to me is the increase in power while at the same time this team is still going to have players that can run- which will hopefully give us a very balanced lineup. Going to more power is wise because the baseball seams will be changing in 2015 to try to get more home runs. Once again, good job by Cohen and his staff of adjusting to the changes in the game. It's also good to see us staying with the power arms on the staff and mixing in some sidearm guys to give us a lot of variety.