Todd4State
06-20-2023, 01:06 AM
No doubt about that. He's going to be a big improvement over Foxhall. And I think it's going to be quite noticeable in the near future. But MSU needs to do more than that- we need to build a better baseball lab than Wake Forest. We have the resources to do that- and the lab is already in place. We just need to find the best people to help us run it. And if I am MSU I am offering some of the people at Wake Forest jobs as soon as their season is over. Lemonis and MSU knew that biomechanics is the next thing in baseball. But we didn't have the proper people in place to make it work and when they tried to we ended up with a major disaster on the mound.
Getting Parker was a huge first step. But there is more to do.
We need to see what happens with the draft. Really the only one I would say that is completely off the table is Colin Houck. Everyone else I feel pretty good about getting. The big ones I think are Dylan Cupp, Aidan Smith, Luke Dotson, Makhai Grant, and Ethan Pulliam. Those are players that I think can challenge for innings and starting spots as freshmen. I really like Cam Schuelke who is a JUCO guy. He will be in the bullpen and I think will have an immediate impact as a reliever. Schuelke is the kind of pitcher we have been missing. He can throw from multiple crazy arm angles.
Also along with the draft we need to see if we can get some guys back for their senior year. I've heard rumblings about Cade Smith and Aaron Nixon potentially coming back based on where they are drafted. Another potential candidate may be Kellum Clark. It's too soon to know.
Then there is the portal. I'll say this- if you expect Parker to bring in a bunch of pitchers from South Carolina that's very unlikely. Actually it's not going to happen. We'll get some transfers out of the portal but I'm not expecting a massive amount. There is talent on our team already. Parker can be valuable developing guys like Loo, Loftin, and Holcombe and getting them to SEC caliber status this offseason. Then we have Nate Dohm back who is a reliable relief pitcher. That's a pretty good core group to build around. Add in some of the newcomers and some guys like Brett Auger and there is something to work with. Just needs to be developed.
Adding a third baseman and a shortstop are huge priorities as well. Do that and move Mershon back to his natural position of 2B and I suspect our infield defense will improve quite a bit as well. Big question to me is can Dylan Cupp at least give us what Amani Larry did at the plate? If he can and we find a third baseman then we're cooking with gas. We'll take Braden Montgomery if we can get him. That would be a huge addition for us.
Almost all of our guys are having good summers. Evan Siary has been dominant on the mound. Will Gibbs has been solid and Logan Forsythe has had his moments.
Highfill and Hunter Hines have been tearing up the Cape. Dakota Jordan has been hitting over .400 for his summer team. Those three are in for a big year next year I think. Connor Hujsack I think will find a spot in the lineup- it may be at DH- but if he hits like he is now we need to keep him in the lineup. Couple of question marks about the rest of the lineup but those will get answered in time.
Getting Parker was a huge first step. But there is more to do.
We need to see what happens with the draft. Really the only one I would say that is completely off the table is Colin Houck. Everyone else I feel pretty good about getting. The big ones I think are Dylan Cupp, Aidan Smith, Luke Dotson, Makhai Grant, and Ethan Pulliam. Those are players that I think can challenge for innings and starting spots as freshmen. I really like Cam Schuelke who is a JUCO guy. He will be in the bullpen and I think will have an immediate impact as a reliever. Schuelke is the kind of pitcher we have been missing. He can throw from multiple crazy arm angles.
Also along with the draft we need to see if we can get some guys back for their senior year. I've heard rumblings about Cade Smith and Aaron Nixon potentially coming back based on where they are drafted. Another potential candidate may be Kellum Clark. It's too soon to know.
Then there is the portal. I'll say this- if you expect Parker to bring in a bunch of pitchers from South Carolina that's very unlikely. Actually it's not going to happen. We'll get some transfers out of the portal but I'm not expecting a massive amount. There is talent on our team already. Parker can be valuable developing guys like Loo, Loftin, and Holcombe and getting them to SEC caliber status this offseason. Then we have Nate Dohm back who is a reliable relief pitcher. That's a pretty good core group to build around. Add in some of the newcomers and some guys like Brett Auger and there is something to work with. Just needs to be developed.
Adding a third baseman and a shortstop are huge priorities as well. Do that and move Mershon back to his natural position of 2B and I suspect our infield defense will improve quite a bit as well. Big question to me is can Dylan Cupp at least give us what Amani Larry did at the plate? If he can and we find a third baseman then we're cooking with gas. We'll take Braden Montgomery if we can get him. That would be a huge addition for us.
Almost all of our guys are having good summers. Evan Siary has been dominant on the mound. Will Gibbs has been solid and Logan Forsythe has had his moments.
Highfill and Hunter Hines have been tearing up the Cape. Dakota Jordan has been hitting over .400 for his summer team. Those three are in for a big year next year I think. Connor Hujsack I think will find a spot in the lineup- it may be at DH- but if he hits like he is now we need to keep him in the lineup. Couple of question marks about the rest of the lineup but those will get answered in time.