Baseball - Bradley Loftin - Left Handed Freshman

[The Federalist Engineer]

Saw these pictures of Loftin throwing, dated 12/27/22

His fall ended early, so he did not pitch in the scrimmages vs Alabama.

This is one of MSU's top freshmen. With Loftin (FR), Pico Kohn (SO), Tyler Davis (JR), and Graham Yntema (JR) seems the team has a huge upgrade in LHP vs 2022. Lofin and Kohn are true Blue Chip HS talents. Davis is a Friday night transfer from VCU, so he is a very good player with experience. Yntema is a JC transfer with stats that signal lots of promise.

Yntema throws in the High-80's but strikes out lots of hitters. Total JC stats don't look stellar but gave up most of his hits and runs in the last 4 appearances. Un-Hittable in his first 42 innings and then had a rough final 13 innings to end his season. Even 10 or the 25 walks happened in that last 13 innings. Curious.

[Todd4State]

Gonna have to have some transfers come through. Mostly on the mound of course.

Biggest issue is we don't have an ace. Unless someone like Parker Stinnett pulls off a Chris Stratton.

I can't see Loftin in the rotation for now. Maybe midweek.

Kohn is kind of a good college player guy. Someone that could stay four years and be a good leader. Every team needs those kinds of guys.

[Saltydog]

Gonna have to have some transfers come through. Mostly on the mound of course.

Biggest issue is we don't have an ace. Unless someone like Parker Stinnett pulls off a Chris Stratton.

I can't see Loftin in the rotation for now. Maybe midweek.

Kohn is kind of a good college player guy. Someone that could stay four years and be a good leader. Every team needs those kinds of guys.

Yeah I agree. I do think we're going to be pretty decent offensively though. I think the staff could be pretty good in due time once guys settle into roles. There's some decent arms there. IF Stinnett could get his shit together, he can be a game changer. Remember how he pitched against Texas Tech a couple of years ago down in Biloxi. He definitely has Friday night stuff.

[AlSwearengen]

Todd hits the nail. At this point, C. Smith is probably a Saturday type guy and then we have a few Sunday guys. Maybe some or all make a jump. I think we have more arms with potential than we did last year, but several are going to have to step up and command consistently.

Hope I?m wrong, but I don?t think we are going to have the pitching to finish above middle of the pack SEC, which would still be a good season. That, in my mind, is best case scenario.

[Homedawg]

Todd hits the nail. At this point, C. Smith is probably a Saturday type guy and then we have a few Sunday guys. Maybe some or all make a jump. I think we have more arms with potential than we did last year, but several are going to have to step up and command consistently.

Hope I?m wrong, but I don?t think we are going to have the pitching to finish above middle of the pack SEC, which would still be a good season. That, in my mind, is best case scenario.

Dohm, Nixon, gartman all have to be big factors if we want to be too half of the league. Until they do it here, I understand the skepticism.

[The Federalist Engineer]

Todd hits the nail. At this point, C. Smith is probably a Saturday type guy and then we have a few Sunday guys. Maybe some or all make a jump. I think we have more arms with potential than we did last year, but several are going to have to step up and command consistently.

Hope I'm wrong, but I don't think we are going to have the pitching to finish above middle of the pack SEC, which would still be a good season. That, in my mind, is best case scenario.

I think Cade and Beef did better than their stats in 2022. They were stretched and stressed because the pen was not good. Lemonis let good starts become rough cause he needed something left for Sunday.

Last year, the pen was trotting out cats with +9 ERAs for SEC middle relief.

Not every prospect is going to pan out, but last year's pitching was historically bad. Like we were cursed with some evil. MSU usually gets a Houston Harding, Chuck Holly, John Harden, Ross Mitchell, or Girodo surprise from a player than scouts that did not fancy. Last year, we got nothing but injuries and Paul Young mental flops.

[WSOPdawg]

I think Cade and Beef did better than their stats in 2022. They were stretched and stressed because the pen was not good. Lemonis let good starts become rough cause he needed something left for Sunday.

Last year, the pen was trotting out cats with +9 ERAs for SEC middle relief.

Not every prospect is going to pan out, but last year's pitching was historically bad. Like we were cursed with some evil. MSU usually gets a Houston Harding, Chuck Holly, John Harden, Ross Mitchell, or Girodo surprise from a player than scouts that did not fancy. Last year, we got nothing but injuries and Paul Young mental flops.

Jaxon Fristoe - is he still with the team? Lemonis kept trying him as the closer last year because he liked his stuff. If he's still around, he could also be one to take that leap forward.

[The Federalist Engineer]

Jaxon Fristoe - is he still with the team? Lemonis kept trying him as the closer last year because he liked his stuff. If he's still around, he could also be one to take that leap forward.

He's gone. I don't think we were going to get a leap there.

You could say, he felt that way himself and took a mid-round pick to move on.

[Todd4State]

He's gone. I don't we were going to get a leap there.

You could say, he felt that way himself and took a mid-round pick to move on.

We'll never know. I don't think Foxhall's style really fit him that well IMO. He's better if he works down in the zone. We also repeatedly put him in some shitty situations and it's hard to build confidence when you kept being brought into a bases loaded no outs situation with the game on the line every time it seems like and you're already struggling with your command.

[maroonmania]

Unless we have some pitchers perform significantly above expectations, I think we are a middle of the pack SEC team at best this season. Would love to be wrong though.

[WSOPdawg]

Saw these pictures of Loftin throwing, dated 12/27/22

His fall ended early, so he did not pitch in the scrimmages vs Alabama.

This is one of MSU's top freshmen. With Loftin (FR), Pico Kohn (SO), Tyler Davis (JR), and Graham Yntema (JR) seems the team has a huge upgrade in LHP vs 2022. Lofin and Kohn are true Blue Chip HS talents. Davis is a Friday night transfer from VCU, so he is a very good player with experience. Yntema is a JC transfer with stats that signal lots of promise.

Don't forget about our ambidextrous prodigy Lo Cijente (I know I mis-spelled his name). I can't remember the last time we had so much LHP, but I think it's especially awesome for 2024.

[The Federalist Engineer]

Don't forget about our ambidextrous prodigy Lo Cijente (I know I mis-spelled his name). I can't remember the last time we had so much LHP, but I think it's especially awesome for 2024.

I got to see that for myself, against hitters from Southern Miss, Georgia, and Arizona State.

I know he has a primary arm and the other is good. But is it D1 good? SEC good?

There is probably a good reason you see switch hitters and almost Zero switch pitchers.

[Quaoarsking]

Don't forget about our ambidextrous prodigy Lo Cijente (I know I mis-spelled his name).

Is he going to switch arms during the game, or be like two separate pitchers each weekend?

Imagine a future year where he's our Friday (LHP) and Saturday (RHP) starter.

Or if he's switching during the game, imagine a future where he goes 9 innings each Friday night.

[BeardoMSU]

Is he going to switch arms during the game, or be like two separate pitchers each weekend?

Imagine a future year where he's our Friday (LHP) and Saturday (RHP) starter.

Or if he's switching during the game, imagine a future where he goes 9 innings each Friday night.

It's batter to batter. He wears a special glove that works on both hands.

[Quaoarsking]

It's batter to batter. He wears a special glove that works on both hands.

If both arms are equally good, and he can keep them both lose, he ought to have a lot more stamina than a typical starter. If he can get into our rotation (maybe in a future season) and eat up a whole game each weekend, that would take a lot of pressure off the bullpen.

[Todd4State]

Last year when Parker was healthy, he pitched the BEST game we had all year against top-10 Texas Tech with 12 strikeouts to only 3 BBs. If he can get past the mental hurdles and stay healthy, he definitely could be one of the ones we're talking about making the BIG jump. Let's keep our fingers crossed.

His issue went from mental to physical.

Anybody know the progress on Stone Simmons? Not sure if we're expecting him back this year or not.........

I wouldn't expect a lot from him. Maybe late in the year in some midweek games. That may be optimistic. It's going to be a rehab year for him.

Yeah I agree. I do think we're going to be pretty decent offensively though. I think the staff could be pretty good in due time once guys settle into roles. There's some decent arms there. IF Stinnett could get his shit together, he can be a game changer. Remember how he pitched against Texas Tech a couple of years ago down in Biloxi. He definitely has Friday night stuff.

Offensively we're going to be different than last year. We're going to have a lot more balance throughout the lineup. Probably will result in less power but also should result in fewer strike outs. Will be more like what we were used to seeing from 2016-2021 which is what I still feel like is the best way to go on offense in baseball. We're still going to have power but we'll also have the ability to manufacture runs as well. We didn't really have a true leadoff guy and now we do with Larry. And I think that Ledbetter will may hit 2 which will allow us to drop down Hancock which is a better spot for all involved.

I've watched alot of PFS and remain skeptical that he can be consistent on the mound. I view anything positive we get from him as a bonus

Let's not forget that we had pegged Hunt to be our Friday night guy heading into last season. Hunt came back to prove he is that guy. Give me:

Hunt- Friday
Smith- Sat
Gartman- Sun

And honestly- with our LHP we have this year I'm not sure I wouldnt tandem some guys on the weekend. Maybe go Smith/Kohn tandem on Satuday. Gartman/Davis on Sunday. Look to get 4 Innings from each. They are getting work yet staying fresh for June.

Last year Sims was the Friday night guy going into the season. There is a lot of talk in baseball circles in general about pitching staffs going to be more like tandem rotations where the first guy throws like 50 pitches and then you bring in someone else for 50 pitches and then you go to your flamethrowers and shut down guys. And that's not just us- I'm talking about at the MLB level. Part of it is injury prevention related and part of it is strategy. For a MSU example- if we throw a guy like Ethan Small from the left side for three and then go to a guy from the right side like Ginn who is very different and then close it out with Sims- that's tough on hitters.

If both arms are equally good, and he can keep them both lose, he ought to have a lot more stamina than a typical starter. If he can get into our rotation (maybe in a future season) and eat up a whole game each weekend, that would take a lot of pressure off the bullpen.

The thing that a lot of people don't know about pitching is how much you use your whole body and your legs. So no way we would be able to use him twice as a starter on a weekend. Assuming that he is used conventionally and throws 100 pitches. Even using him in relief for an inning later in the weekend or midweek would be dicey at best.

[KOdawg1]

I'm excited about the season.

I don't have too high expectations, but it's kinda hard to be worse than last year.

[Coach34]

Dont have a Friday night guy? Did Hunt get hurt or disappear?

Fristoe signed with the Yankees

[WSOPdawg]

Dont have a Friday night guy? Did Hunt get hurt or disappear?

Fristoe signed with the Yankees

Pretty sure KC Hunt came back. He should be one of our big 3 this year.

[Todd4State]

Pretty sure KC Hunt came back. He should be one of our big 3 this year.

I'm not sure he has a rotation spot locked down. He could start. He also could be a multi inning relief guy.

If you ask me our rotation is going to be Stinnett Fri, Cade Smith Sat, and Landon Gartman Sun. Hunt or one of the freshmen could compete and get the Sunday spot and then we end up using Gartman like we used Houston Harding.