Louisiana Tech will open its 2022 season at home against Wichita State this weekend.
The Bulldogs finished the 2021 season at 42-20 overall and hosted its first NCAA Regional in program history.
We just getting started, fam. Buckle up, 2022 is going to be a DOOZY.
A Glimpse at the Bulldogs
Key Returners | SS Taylor Young (.331, 7 HR, 36 RBI), OF Steele Netterville (.283, 12 HR, 57 RBI), OF Phil Matulia (.311, 8 HR, 37 RBI), OF Cole McConnell (.347, 4 HR, 30 RBI), C Jorge Corona (.269, 5 HR, 29 RBI) LHP Jonathan Fincher (8-3, 3.05), RHP Ryan Jennings (5-4, 4.48), RHP Jarret Whorff (9-2, 4.00), RHP Kyle Crigger (4-2, 3.47, 5 saves), LHP Cade Gibson (4-3, 6.40), RHP Greg Martinez (4-1, 7.99)
-- Fincher will get the ball on Friday night. He's the horse at the top of the rotation.
-- Ryan Jennings will go on Sunday. Jarret Whorff is the normal Sunday starter, but he's working his way back from a lat strain. It's possible that Cade Gibson takes his spot in the rotation against the Shockers this weekend.
-- Offensively, when you return TY, McConnell, Matulia, Netterville and Corona you're poised to put up some numbers. Will need some guys further down the lineup to produce for the offense to get to the level it was at in 2021.
-- Defensively, I'll be keeping a close eye on McConnell in CF and McLeod at 3B. At the very least, McLeod has to be really good at 3B.
-- In the bullpen, Crigger and Lancaster will handle the closing duties. Who handles the middle innings? We'll find out who they want to lean on right away this weekend.
Full preview on the 'Dogs for 2022: https://latech.forums.rivals.com/threads/2022-louisiana-tech-baseball-preview.12150/
A Glimpse at the Shockers
Key Returners | C Ross Cadena (.274, 2 HR, 26 RBI), 1B Garrett Kocis (.286, 12 HR, 45 RBI), 2B Jack Sigrist (.321, 4 HR, 25 RBI, 15 SB), RHP Jace Kaminska (8-1, 2.32), RHP LJ McDonough (1-0, 2.49)
-- Wichita State finished 31-23 overall and #3 in the AAC in 2021. They are picked to finish 5th in the AAC in 2022.
-- Eric Wedge enters his third season as the head coach at his alma mater. Prior to taking over at Wichita State, Wedge was an MLB Manager for 10 years for the Cleveland Indians (7 yrs) and Seattle Mariners (3 yrs).
-- The Shockers bring a roster to Ruston that features 27 freshmen or sophomores. They took 12 transfers in the off-season.
-- Top Draft Prospects: OF Chuck Ingram, RHP LJ McDonough (bullpen guy), OF Janson Reeder, 2B Jack Sigrist, 1B Garrett Kocis, RHP Jace Kaminska (FRI night guy), OF Seth Stroh
-- Jace Kaminska will get the ball Friday night. He's a sophomore, will be upper 80s, low 90s. Not going to overpower anyone, not a big strikeout guy. He can pitch though, throws 3 pitches for strikes.
-- We'll see who they name as the other two starting pitchers. Coming out of the fall it looked like a sophomore and a true freshman. They really like the pieces in the bullpen, but no one that's overpowering outside of LJ McDonough. He can go get mid-90s at times, 36K in 25 IP last year.
-- Garrett Kocis was leading the country in HR a season ago before he broke his wrist on April 10th. Good power at 1B.
-- Jack Sigrist is a good hitter towards the top of the lineup. Uses all fields pretty well. Good base stealer, swiped 15 in 2021.
-- They are looking for Seth Stroh to bounce back in the outfield after hitting only .231 last year.
-- Xavier Casserilla is the AAC FR of the Year in the preseason. Physical 3B with some pop. Hit 6 HR in the fall. 20th round pick by the Cardinals last summer.
I'll update further when the pitching probables are released. Tell your friends about the INCREDIBLE PREVIEWS that we do for each series. Let's go!!!
The Bulldogs finished the 2021 season at 42-20 overall and hosted its first NCAA Regional in program history.
We just getting started, fam. Buckle up, 2022 is going to be a DOOZY.
A Glimpse at the Bulldogs
Key Returners | SS Taylor Young (.331, 7 HR, 36 RBI), OF Steele Netterville (.283, 12 HR, 57 RBI), OF Phil Matulia (.311, 8 HR, 37 RBI), OF Cole McConnell (.347, 4 HR, 30 RBI), C Jorge Corona (.269, 5 HR, 29 RBI) LHP Jonathan Fincher (8-3, 3.05), RHP Ryan Jennings (5-4, 4.48), RHP Jarret Whorff (9-2, 4.00), RHP Kyle Crigger (4-2, 3.47, 5 saves), LHP Cade Gibson (4-3, 6.40), RHP Greg Martinez (4-1, 7.99)
-- Fincher will get the ball on Friday night. He's the horse at the top of the rotation.
-- Ryan Jennings will go on Sunday. Jarret Whorff is the normal Sunday starter, but he's working his way back from a lat strain. It's possible that Cade Gibson takes his spot in the rotation against the Shockers this weekend.
-- Offensively, when you return TY, McConnell, Matulia, Netterville and Corona you're poised to put up some numbers. Will need some guys further down the lineup to produce for the offense to get to the level it was at in 2021.
-- Defensively, I'll be keeping a close eye on McConnell in CF and McLeod at 3B. At the very least, McLeod has to be really good at 3B.
-- In the bullpen, Crigger and Lancaster will handle the closing duties. Who handles the middle innings? We'll find out who they want to lean on right away this weekend.
Full preview on the 'Dogs for 2022: https://latech.forums.rivals.com/threads/2022-louisiana-tech-baseball-preview.12150/
A Glimpse at the Shockers
Key Returners | C Ross Cadena (.274, 2 HR, 26 RBI), 1B Garrett Kocis (.286, 12 HR, 45 RBI), 2B Jack Sigrist (.321, 4 HR, 25 RBI, 15 SB), RHP Jace Kaminska (8-1, 2.32), RHP LJ McDonough (1-0, 2.49)
-- Wichita State finished 31-23 overall and #3 in the AAC in 2021. They are picked to finish 5th in the AAC in 2022.
-- Eric Wedge enters his third season as the head coach at his alma mater. Prior to taking over at Wichita State, Wedge was an MLB Manager for 10 years for the Cleveland Indians (7 yrs) and Seattle Mariners (3 yrs).
-- The Shockers bring a roster to Ruston that features 27 freshmen or sophomores. They took 12 transfers in the off-season.
-- Top Draft Prospects: OF Chuck Ingram, RHP LJ McDonough (bullpen guy), OF Janson Reeder, 2B Jack Sigrist, 1B Garrett Kocis, RHP Jace Kaminska (FRI night guy), OF Seth Stroh
-- Jace Kaminska will get the ball Friday night. He's a sophomore, will be upper 80s, low 90s. Not going to overpower anyone, not a big strikeout guy. He can pitch though, throws 3 pitches for strikes.
-- We'll see who they name as the other two starting pitchers. Coming out of the fall it looked like a sophomore and a true freshman. They really like the pieces in the bullpen, but no one that's overpowering outside of LJ McDonough. He can go get mid-90s at times, 36K in 25 IP last year.
-- Garrett Kocis was leading the country in HR a season ago before he broke his wrist on April 10th. Good power at 1B.
-- Jack Sigrist is a good hitter towards the top of the lineup. Uses all fields pretty well. Good base stealer, swiped 15 in 2021.
-- They are looking for Seth Stroh to bounce back in the outfield after hitting only .231 last year.
-- Xavier Casserilla is the AAC FR of the Year in the preseason. Physical 3B with some pop. Hit 6 HR in the fall. 20th round pick by the Cardinals last summer.
I'll update further when the pitching probables are released. Tell your friends about the INCREDIBLE PREVIEWS that we do for each series. Let's go!!!
