Let's go!!
Prior to the pandemic, Burroughs had won 109 games in his first 3 seasons, a Louisiana Tech record. Burroughs also set the program record w/ 21 conference wins in 2018.
Tech was off to a good start in 2020 at 11-6 through 17 games, the Bulldogs were set to open league play at MTSU before things got shut down. The entire team is back in 2021 + the new JC Love Field will open up on February 26th.
Highlights of the Schedule: Notre Dame, LSU (2), ULL (2), Arkansas (3), Ole Miss (2), Tulane (3), Southern Miss (8), Rice (4)
Burroughs had to have put together one of the toughest schedules in the country. Once conference play begins, Tech is only scheduled to play one midweek game. That is at LSU on May 11th.
Roster Composition:
Seniors -- 13
Juniors -- 8
Sophomores -- 11
Freshmen -- 8
Even with the free year from a year ago, the class breakdown is pretty balanced. That's a good thing.
D1 Baseball picks Tech to finish 3rd in Conference USA behind Southern Miss and FAU. The coaches picked Tech to finish 2nd in the West Divison behind Southern Miss. Southern Miss received 10 first place votes, Tech received 2. One this is clear, Tech is expected to be LEGIT.
OF Parker Bates and OF Steele Netterville were named Preseason Conference USA Player of the Year by multiple publications.
IF Hunter Wells and IF Taylor Young were also named Preseason All-Conference.
D1 Baseball did a list of Top 30 MLB Prospects for 2021 MLB Draft:
18. OF Parker Bates
It's interesting that Bates is considered the only draft prospect on the team, but I don't consider it to be outlandish.
Top Position Players in Country, per D1 Baseball:
-- 21st best OF Parker Baters
-- 38th best OF Steele Netterville
-- 11th best 2B Taylor Young
-- 14th best 3B Hunter Wells
Top Returning Hitters:
OF Parker Bates -- .422, 8 home runs, 28 RBI in 17 games
OF Steele Netterville -- .407, 6 home runs, 22 RBI in 16 games
SS Alex Ray -- .380, 1 home run, 9 RBI in 16 games
IF Hunter Wells -- .324, 1 home run, 15 RBI in 17 games
C Jorge Corona -- .321, 1 home run, 5 RBI in 15 games
IF Taylor Young -- .309, 5 home runs, 15 RBI in 15 games
Top Returning Pitchers:
LHP Jonathan Fincher -- (2-2, 2.66 era)
RHP Tyler Follis -- (0-0, 3.79 era)
RHP Jarret Whorff -- (3-0, 3.47 era)
LHP Kyle Griffen -- (1-1, 3.10 era)
RHP Beau Billings -- (0-0, 1.17 era)
Projected Lineup:
C: Jorge Corona
1B: Ben Brantley or Manny Garcia
2B: Taylor Young
3B: Hunter Wells
SS: Alex Ray
LF: Cole McConnell, Adarius Myers, or Manny Garcia
CF: Parker Bates
RF: Steele Netterville
DH: Kyle Crigger
-- Kyle Hasler will catch behind Corona. Both guys are really solid. Corona was a draft pick out of HS.
-- Crigger had TJ in the off-season, so he won't pitch in 2021, but he's won the DH job from what I've heard. Matulia could platoon at DH along with Crigger at times.
-- Loads of power in this lineup.
-- Ray might be the most underrated player, he's so good defensively at SS.
Projected Rotation:
LHP Jonathan Fincher
RHP Ryan Jennings
RHP Jarret Whorff
RHP Tyler Follis
-- I think Fincher is an absolute horse, the most legit Friday night guy Tech has had in years. That's my opinion.
-- Jennings is coming off surgery in 2020, was the best arm last fall.
-- Follis might be the x-factor, if he's right, look out.
Top Bullpen Arms:
LHP Kyle Griffen
RHP Beau Billings
RHP Greg Martinez
RHP Tanner Knight
RHP Landon Tomkins
RHP Cade Hodges
LHP Nick Ellis
RHP Casey Ouellette
RHP Seth Traweek
-- The battle for innings in the bullpen is going to be fun to watch. Guys will emerge. Tons of quality options down, bunch of velocity.
Expectations are high for the 2021 Diamond Dogs, and they should be. It's a veteran squad with loads of talent. I'm excited to see how they play in 2021. We'll cover it throughout the season.
Prior to the pandemic, Burroughs had won 109 games in his first 3 seasons, a Louisiana Tech record. Burroughs also set the program record w/ 21 conference wins in 2018.
Tech was off to a good start in 2020 at 11-6 through 17 games, the Bulldogs were set to open league play at MTSU before things got shut down. The entire team is back in 2021 + the new JC Love Field will open up on February 26th.
Highlights of the Schedule: Notre Dame, LSU (2), ULL (2), Arkansas (3), Ole Miss (2), Tulane (3), Southern Miss (8), Rice (4)
Burroughs had to have put together one of the toughest schedules in the country. Once conference play begins, Tech is only scheduled to play one midweek game. That is at LSU on May 11th.
Roster Composition:
Seniors -- 13
Juniors -- 8
Sophomores -- 11
Freshmen -- 8
Even with the free year from a year ago, the class breakdown is pretty balanced. That's a good thing.
D1 Baseball picks Tech to finish 3rd in Conference USA behind Southern Miss and FAU. The coaches picked Tech to finish 2nd in the West Divison behind Southern Miss. Southern Miss received 10 first place votes, Tech received 2. One this is clear, Tech is expected to be LEGIT.
OF Parker Bates and OF Steele Netterville were named Preseason Conference USA Player of the Year by multiple publications.
IF Hunter Wells and IF Taylor Young were also named Preseason All-Conference.
D1 Baseball did a list of Top 30 MLB Prospects for 2021 MLB Draft:
18. OF Parker Bates
It's interesting that Bates is considered the only draft prospect on the team, but I don't consider it to be outlandish.
Top Position Players in Country, per D1 Baseball:
-- 21st best OF Parker Baters
-- 38th best OF Steele Netterville
-- 11th best 2B Taylor Young
-- 14th best 3B Hunter Wells
Top Returning Hitters:
OF Parker Bates -- .422, 8 home runs, 28 RBI in 17 games
OF Steele Netterville -- .407, 6 home runs, 22 RBI in 16 games
SS Alex Ray -- .380, 1 home run, 9 RBI in 16 games
IF Hunter Wells -- .324, 1 home run, 15 RBI in 17 games
C Jorge Corona -- .321, 1 home run, 5 RBI in 15 games
IF Taylor Young -- .309, 5 home runs, 15 RBI in 15 games
Top Returning Pitchers:
LHP Jonathan Fincher -- (2-2, 2.66 era)
RHP Tyler Follis -- (0-0, 3.79 era)
RHP Jarret Whorff -- (3-0, 3.47 era)
LHP Kyle Griffen -- (1-1, 3.10 era)
RHP Beau Billings -- (0-0, 1.17 era)
Projected Lineup:
C: Jorge Corona
1B: Ben Brantley or Manny Garcia
2B: Taylor Young
3B: Hunter Wells
SS: Alex Ray
LF: Cole McConnell, Adarius Myers, or Manny Garcia
CF: Parker Bates
RF: Steele Netterville
DH: Kyle Crigger
-- Kyle Hasler will catch behind Corona. Both guys are really solid. Corona was a draft pick out of HS.
-- Crigger had TJ in the off-season, so he won't pitch in 2021, but he's won the DH job from what I've heard. Matulia could platoon at DH along with Crigger at times.
-- Loads of power in this lineup.
-- Ray might be the most underrated player, he's so good defensively at SS.
Projected Rotation:
LHP Jonathan Fincher
RHP Ryan Jennings
RHP Jarret Whorff
RHP Tyler Follis
-- I think Fincher is an absolute horse, the most legit Friday night guy Tech has had in years. That's my opinion.
-- Jennings is coming off surgery in 2020, was the best arm last fall.
-- Follis might be the x-factor, if he's right, look out.
Top Bullpen Arms:
LHP Kyle Griffen
RHP Beau Billings
RHP Greg Martinez
RHP Tanner Knight
RHP Landon Tomkins
RHP Cade Hodges
LHP Nick Ellis
RHP Casey Ouellette
RHP Seth Traweek
-- The battle for innings in the bullpen is going to be fun to watch. Guys will emerge. Tons of quality options down, bunch of velocity.
Expectations are high for the 2021 Diamond Dogs, and they should be. It's a veteran squad with loads of talent. I'm excited to see how they play in 2021. We'll cover it throughout the season.
