Quote Originally Posted by Todd4State View Post
End of a talent cycle? Our talent in 2025 has a very real chance to be as good as it has ever been here.

Rotation could be Loo, Loftin, and Siary. Caden Marcum is a huge wild card there but he was a first round pick out of high school and then had Tommy John before the draft and ended up in JUCO. He could be a huge steal for us. I think Makhai Grant and Nolan Stevens could be big time contributors out of the bullpen as well once Grant recovers from Tommy John and he should be recovered by next season.

Highfill will be a junior. Assuming Hines goes pro Jackson McKenzie or Stevens will take over for him. They'll be sophomores. Then we get Mershon and Cupp back and a year older. Third base will be up for grabs but Paul Spalitta could potentially move there and then we're probably getting Henry Allen through the draft and he probably starts day one somewhere.

Assuming we lose Dakota Jordan we have a ton of guys that can play the outfield and Dante Nori could start day one in CF. We get Bryce Chance back and he will be an upperclassman. Allen, Stevens, and Spalitta could all fight for spots in the OF. Conrad Cason is one of the top dual position prospects in the country and he could help out on the mound, 3B, SS, or the OF.

And based on what I'm hearing I think we have a good chance to get those guys through the draft. At least at this way too early point.

I know a mentioned a few freshman but with the portal and a good season we don't really have a ton of needs. We'll take any pitcher that can help us and it would be great to find an established closer like an Aaron Nixon again. Maybe a proven third baseman and another OF but those needs are hardly massive and very doable with our NIL. If the season goes like I think it will it will be easier to get those players too.

Now I do agree that if we don't perform this year then you have to look at firing Lemonis. I just don't think it will come down to that.
The reason I say talent cycle is because every guy you mentioned is solely on potential. They have either not shown it at all or not shown it consistently at this level. Those other guys (Jordan, Hines, Larry, etc.) are proven commodities at this level. If those guys you mentioned all produce then it is all a moot point.