Projected Finish:
1. Charlotte
2. Tech
3. DBU
4. FAU
5. UTSA
6. Middle Tennessee
7. UAB
8. Rice
9. WKU
10. FIU
Projected Regional Teams (2): Charlotte, Louisiana Tech
Player of the Year: Nolan Schanuel, OF, Florida Atlantic
Pitcher of the Year: Jonathan Fincher, LHP, Louisiana Tech
Freshman of the Year: Dylan Oborne, RHP, Florida Atlantic
Blurb on Tech:
Head Coach: Lane Burroughs
2022 Record: 42-19 (20-10 in C-USA)
Strengths: Despite losing stalwarts Taylor Young and Steele Netterville, Louisiana Tech should remain a very dangerous offensive club, well stocked with power and athleticism. It’s an unusually deep group of positions players, with 12 or more likely to make significant contributions. And Jonathan Fincher is back to give the Bulldogs one of college baseball’s most proven, reliable aces.
Question Marks: Aside from Fincher, LaTech must replace four of its top five arms in Ryan Jennings, Cade Gibson, Jarret Whorff and closer Kyle Crigger. The Bulldogs feel great about their newcomers and their emerging talent on the mound, but this pitching staff clearly has a little to prove. Young’s departure left a key hole to fill at shortstop, where Logan McLeod looks likely to slide over from third base, unless LSU transfer Will Safford winds up there.
Star Power: Fincher has been a mainstay on this pitching staff for going on five years — the last three as the anchor of the rotation. He’s a fearless lefty with an unflappable presence, premium control (73/9 K/BB mark last year in 79.1 innings) and a plus changeup. Center Fielder Cole McConnell (.336/.417/.535, 9 HR) is an accomplished power/speed dual threat coming off an all-star summer in the Cape Cod League. And Jorge Corona has a chance to make a run at All-America honors behind the plate, after hitting 16 homers a year ago.
Glue Guys: Philip Matulia heads into his fifth year in Ruston as a dependable cog in the lineup, having hit 17 homers combined over the last two years. He’s an important lefthanded run producer as well as one of the team leaders, along with Fincher, McConnell and Corona. Outfielder Adarious Myers also fits into that leadership core, and he’s another hard-nosed veteran run producer coming off a strong fall.
Pick To Click: Righthander Greg Martinez flashed great potential a year ago, making eight starts among his 24 appearances and finishing with 58 strikeouts in 56 innings, but he still finished with an ERA of 5.46 and went undrafted despite getting some pro interest. He has a huge arm, with a fastball that bumped 97-98 this fall along with the ability to spin a tight breaking ball, and he looks poised to take another step forward with his pitchability. The Bulldogs are counting on him to hold down a weekend rotation spot behind Fincher.
Top Newcomers: Louisiana Tech landed two transfers from LSU who could make a big impact. Safford, the likely second baseman, showed good power in the fall and should serve as another key lefthanded run producer. And outfielder Brody Drost is the most tooled-up player on the roster, with lightning-quick hands that could make him a big star if he can make a strong recover from a back injury that still slowed him in the fall. Juco transfer Dalton Davis should also step into a key job, likely as the everyday first baseman and potential 3-hole hitter.
Outcome: The Bulldogs have established themselves as an annual regional contender, and they are just two years removed from hosting a regional for the first time ever, so this is obviously a program with a high ceiling. The veteran core of this roster provides a rock-solid floor as well, ensuring this team will be very competitive. If the newcomers prove as good as hoped, the Bulldogs could wind up hosting a regional again and making a run at Omaha.
1. Charlotte
2. Tech
3. DBU
4. FAU
5. UTSA
6. Middle Tennessee
7. UAB
8. Rice
9. WKU
10. FIU
Projected Regional Teams (2): Charlotte, Louisiana Tech
Player of the Year: Nolan Schanuel, OF, Florida Atlantic
Pitcher of the Year: Jonathan Fincher, LHP, Louisiana Tech
Freshman of the Year: Dylan Oborne, RHP, Florida Atlantic
Blurb on Tech:
LOUISIANA TECH
Head Coach: Lane Burroughs
2022 Record: 42-19 (20-10 in C-USA)
Strengths: Despite losing stalwarts Taylor Young and Steele Netterville, Louisiana Tech should remain a very dangerous offensive club, well stocked with power and athleticism. It’s an unusually deep group of positions players, with 12 or more likely to make significant contributions. And Jonathan Fincher is back to give the Bulldogs one of college baseball’s most proven, reliable aces.
Question Marks: Aside from Fincher, LaTech must replace four of its top five arms in Ryan Jennings, Cade Gibson, Jarret Whorff and closer Kyle Crigger. The Bulldogs feel great about their newcomers and their emerging talent on the mound, but this pitching staff clearly has a little to prove. Young’s departure left a key hole to fill at shortstop, where Logan McLeod looks likely to slide over from third base, unless LSU transfer Will Safford winds up there.
Star Power: Fincher has been a mainstay on this pitching staff for going on five years — the last three as the anchor of the rotation. He’s a fearless lefty with an unflappable presence, premium control (73/9 K/BB mark last year in 79.1 innings) and a plus changeup. Center Fielder Cole McConnell (.336/.417/.535, 9 HR) is an accomplished power/speed dual threat coming off an all-star summer in the Cape Cod League. And Jorge Corona has a chance to make a run at All-America honors behind the plate, after hitting 16 homers a year ago.
Glue Guys: Philip Matulia heads into his fifth year in Ruston as a dependable cog in the lineup, having hit 17 homers combined over the last two years. He’s an important lefthanded run producer as well as one of the team leaders, along with Fincher, McConnell and Corona. Outfielder Adarious Myers also fits into that leadership core, and he’s another hard-nosed veteran run producer coming off a strong fall.
Pick To Click: Righthander Greg Martinez flashed great potential a year ago, making eight starts among his 24 appearances and finishing with 58 strikeouts in 56 innings, but he still finished with an ERA of 5.46 and went undrafted despite getting some pro interest. He has a huge arm, with a fastball that bumped 97-98 this fall along with the ability to spin a tight breaking ball, and he looks poised to take another step forward with his pitchability. The Bulldogs are counting on him to hold down a weekend rotation spot behind Fincher.
Top Newcomers: Louisiana Tech landed two transfers from LSU who could make a big impact. Safford, the likely second baseman, showed good power in the fall and should serve as another key lefthanded run producer. And outfielder Brody Drost is the most tooled-up player on the roster, with lightning-quick hands that could make him a big star if he can make a strong recover from a back injury that still slowed him in the fall. Juco transfer Dalton Davis should also step into a key job, likely as the everyday first baseman and potential 3-hole hitter.
Outcome: The Bulldogs have established themselves as an annual regional contender, and they are just two years removed from hosting a regional for the first time ever, so this is obviously a program with a high ceiling. The veteran core of this roster provides a rock-solid floor as well, ensuring this team will be very competitive. If the newcomers prove as good as hoped, the Bulldogs could wind up hosting a regional again and making a run at Omaha.
