Baseball is back baby and despite some unsettling injury news, I'm excited to get things going again this weekend. Depth will be tested immediately but upside is we're supposed to have some of that this year.
For the first time in a while Clemson is not opening with a traditional three game series against a single opponent. That plus the unknowns of a new season (plus a heavier than expected work week) will have the first edition of the gameweek previews taking more of an outline format. My hope and intention is that future entries will look more like they typically have in the past.
The #8 (BA & PG) Tigers begin with three power conference foes, all with significant baseball pedigree. It's hard to know what our own lineups and rotation will look like and we're definitely saying a prayer at this point for projected #3 starter Dane Moehler who almost certainly will not pitch this weekend even with a miraculous medical outcome. Seton Hall transfer Michael Gillen may be the next man up for the time being and he comes in with high potential.
Getting right to it with the opposition:
#13 (BA) Oklahoma State Projected Starters
C Ian Daugherty SR R/R .252/10/32
1B Colin Brueggemann SR L/R .251/14/50
2B Avery Ortiz SO .258/9/34
3B Aidan Meola SR R/R .329/10/47
SS Brock Thompson FR *** high school ***
LF Nolan Schubart JR L/R .370/23/68
CF Donovan LaSalle SO *** no stats in 2024 ***
RF Kollin Ritchie SO L/R .271/7/28
DH Garrett Shull FR *** high school ***
The Cowboys lost some top-level bats from last year's squad, namely draftees Carson Benge, a two-way star, and Zach Ehrhard. As you can see, there are some very dangerous hitters that return however, headlined by JR LF Nolan Schubart (.370/23/68) and SR 3B Aidan Meola (.329/10/47). I expect this opponent to be productive offensively so Aidan Knaak will face a nice test right out of the gate.
The Oklahoma State pitching staff must replace several premium and reliable arms in 2025 as Brian Holliday and Sam Garcia are both now playing pro ball as are the aforementioned Benge and Janzen Keisel in what represents a major talent exodus.
The projected #1 starter, and thus the man we will likely face, is imposing (6-9, 235) JR RHP Gabe Davis. It is possible that Hawaii transfer Harrison Bodendorf, a junior lefty with a funky delivery (*shudder*), may get the opening day nod.
The arms to know are primarily this group:
JR RHP Gabe Davis - 4.17 ERA in 45.1 IP, 5 starts, 55 K, 25 BB
JR LHP Harrison Bodendorf (stats from Hawaii) - 4.61 ERA in 56.2 IP, 11 starts, 64 K, 28 BB
JR RHP Mario Pesca (stats from St. John's) - 2.96 ERA in 76.0 IP, 15 starts, 53 K, 38 BB
JR RHP Sean Youngerman (stats from NAIA Westmont College) - 3.71 ERA in 70.1 IP, 12 starts, 69 K, 15 BB
JR LHP Ryan Ure - 4.91 ERA in 3.2 IP, 0 starts, 7 K, 4 BB
#12 (PG) Arizona Projected Starters
C Adonys Guzman JR .265/1/17
1B Tommy Splaine SR .230/5/23
2B Garen Caulfield SR .310/5/42
3B Richie Morales SR .283/0/19
SS Mason White JR .305/19/65
LF Easton Breyfogle SO .252/1/14
CF Brendan Summerhill JR .324/8/59
RF Andrew Cain SO .290/5/23
DH Madison Mihalakis JR .259/3/32
The Wildcats project similarly to Oklahoma State, to an even more lopsided degree, in that they return significant portions of the offense but lost much of the proven pitching from 2024. Emilio Corona is the only line-up regular who does not return but the pitching appears a near total crapshoot that will likely require some time to sort out roles - and for this weekend means I have no idea who starts game #2 against the Tigers.
The pitching candidates are transfers RHP Christian Coppola (Rutgers), RHP Michael Hilker Jr. (Wisconin-Whitewater) and RHP Collin McKinney (Baylor) with returnees Tony Pluta, Casey Hintz, Eric Orloff, all of whom worked from the pen last season, in the mix.
I can't even venture a guess as to the rotation - one would think the coaches have a better read but Arizona's own staff may still be weighing options - so we're going to have to wait and see on Saturday who gets the ball first, last and in-between. Also, as in game one, we will see a salty veteran batting order that will give challenge to Ethan Darden.
Ole Miss Projected Starters
C Cameron Southwick SO L/R .266/1/12
1B Will Furniss JR L/R .236/9/31
2B Luke Hill JR R/R .291/3/27
3B Judd Utermark JR R/R .230/5/12
SS Brayden Randle SO L/R .204/2/14
LF Ryan Moerman (transfer from Illinois)
CF Mitchell Sanford (transfer from New Orleans)
RF Isaac Humphrey *** no stats in 2024 ***
DH
Tentative rotation (making Dennis our probable, if correct):
LHP Hunter Elliott - *** no stats in 2024 ***
SR RHP Riley Maddox - 5.48 ERA in 69.0 IP, 14 starts, 53 K, 23 BB
SR LHP Gunnar Dennis - 7.88 ERA in 40.0 IP, 8 starts, 46 K, 21 BB
SR RHP Mason Nichols - 4.15 ERA in 39.0 IP, 6 starts, 42 K, 21 BB
SR RHP Connor Spencer - 6.16 ERA in 19.0 IP, 0 starts, 7 saves, 28 K, 10 BB
The Rebels, with much better talent than their 2024 season record would indicate, bring back a blend of experience and newcomers both in the field and on the mound. 1B Will Furniss is the son of college baseball great Eddy Furniss, a name old schoolers like myself will almost certainly remember from mid-90's LSU fame. Like dad, son has some serious raw power to be aware of. The rest of the line-up will need to prove some things to protect Furniss but with a top recruiting class and some key transfers, talent is available if not yet established. Suits me fine if it takes at least until the second weekend to get it together.
The pitching is where I believe the biggest jump stands to be made for Ole Miss as Hunter Elliott, returning from injury, has the potential to be a legitimate SEC Friday starter while Maddox, Dennis and Nichols are all fully capable to round out the weekend and into the midweek even. Senior righty Connor Spencer makes the Rebels the only weekend foe with a returning closer, ostensibly, as that role tends to be fluid for most college teams.
Bottom line:
Clemson clearly has the talent and ability to win these games, and every game, but we can't lose sight of the fact that this team nonetheless stinks and will probably only win if the opponent is having an off day.
For the first time in a while Clemson is not opening with a traditional three game series against a single opponent. That plus the unknowns of a new season (plus a heavier than expected work week) will have the first edition of the gameweek previews taking more of an outline format. My hope and intention is that future entries will look more like they typically have in the past.
The #8 (BA & PG) Tigers begin with three power conference foes, all with significant baseball pedigree. It's hard to know what our own lineups and rotation will look like and we're definitely saying a prayer at this point for projected #3 starter Dane Moehler who almost certainly will not pitch this weekend even with a miraculous medical outcome. Seton Hall transfer Michael Gillen may be the next man up for the time being and he comes in with high potential.
Getting right to it with the opposition:
#13 (BA) Oklahoma State Projected Starters
C Ian Daugherty SR R/R .252/10/32
1B Colin Brueggemann SR L/R .251/14/50
2B Avery Ortiz SO .258/9/34
3B Aidan Meola SR R/R .329/10/47
SS Brock Thompson FR *** high school ***
LF Nolan Schubart JR L/R .370/23/68
CF Donovan LaSalle SO *** no stats in 2024 ***
RF Kollin Ritchie SO L/R .271/7/28
DH Garrett Shull FR *** high school ***
The Cowboys lost some top-level bats from last year's squad, namely draftees Carson Benge, a two-way star, and Zach Ehrhard. As you can see, there are some very dangerous hitters that return however, headlined by JR LF Nolan Schubart (.370/23/68) and SR 3B Aidan Meola (.329/10/47). I expect this opponent to be productive offensively so Aidan Knaak will face a nice test right out of the gate.
The Oklahoma State pitching staff must replace several premium and reliable arms in 2025 as Brian Holliday and Sam Garcia are both now playing pro ball as are the aforementioned Benge and Janzen Keisel in what represents a major talent exodus.
The projected #1 starter, and thus the man we will likely face, is imposing (6-9, 235) JR RHP Gabe Davis. It is possible that Hawaii transfer Harrison Bodendorf, a junior lefty with a funky delivery (*shudder*), may get the opening day nod.
The arms to know are primarily this group:
JR RHP Gabe Davis - 4.17 ERA in 45.1 IP, 5 starts, 55 K, 25 BB
JR LHP Harrison Bodendorf (stats from Hawaii) - 4.61 ERA in 56.2 IP, 11 starts, 64 K, 28 BB
JR RHP Mario Pesca (stats from St. John's) - 2.96 ERA in 76.0 IP, 15 starts, 53 K, 38 BB
JR RHP Sean Youngerman (stats from NAIA Westmont College) - 3.71 ERA in 70.1 IP, 12 starts, 69 K, 15 BB
JR LHP Ryan Ure - 4.91 ERA in 3.2 IP, 0 starts, 7 K, 4 BB
#12 (PG) Arizona Projected Starters
C Adonys Guzman JR .265/1/17
1B Tommy Splaine SR .230/5/23
2B Garen Caulfield SR .310/5/42
3B Richie Morales SR .283/0/19
SS Mason White JR .305/19/65
LF Easton Breyfogle SO .252/1/14
CF Brendan Summerhill JR .324/8/59
RF Andrew Cain SO .290/5/23
DH Madison Mihalakis JR .259/3/32
The Wildcats project similarly to Oklahoma State, to an even more lopsided degree, in that they return significant portions of the offense but lost much of the proven pitching from 2024. Emilio Corona is the only line-up regular who does not return but the pitching appears a near total crapshoot that will likely require some time to sort out roles - and for this weekend means I have no idea who starts game #2 against the Tigers.
The pitching candidates are transfers RHP Christian Coppola (Rutgers), RHP Michael Hilker Jr. (Wisconin-Whitewater) and RHP Collin McKinney (Baylor) with returnees Tony Pluta, Casey Hintz, Eric Orloff, all of whom worked from the pen last season, in the mix.
I can't even venture a guess as to the rotation - one would think the coaches have a better read but Arizona's own staff may still be weighing options - so we're going to have to wait and see on Saturday who gets the ball first, last and in-between. Also, as in game one, we will see a salty veteran batting order that will give challenge to Ethan Darden.
Ole Miss Projected Starters
C Cameron Southwick SO L/R .266/1/12
1B Will Furniss JR L/R .236/9/31
2B Luke Hill JR R/R .291/3/27
3B Judd Utermark JR R/R .230/5/12
SS Brayden Randle SO L/R .204/2/14
LF Ryan Moerman (transfer from Illinois)
CF Mitchell Sanford (transfer from New Orleans)
RF Isaac Humphrey *** no stats in 2024 ***
DH
Tentative rotation (making Dennis our probable, if correct):
LHP Hunter Elliott - *** no stats in 2024 ***
SR RHP Riley Maddox - 5.48 ERA in 69.0 IP, 14 starts, 53 K, 23 BB
SR LHP Gunnar Dennis - 7.88 ERA in 40.0 IP, 8 starts, 46 K, 21 BB
SR RHP Mason Nichols - 4.15 ERA in 39.0 IP, 6 starts, 42 K, 21 BB
SR RHP Connor Spencer - 6.16 ERA in 19.0 IP, 0 starts, 7 saves, 28 K, 10 BB
The Rebels, with much better talent than their 2024 season record would indicate, bring back a blend of experience and newcomers both in the field and on the mound. 1B Will Furniss is the son of college baseball great Eddy Furniss, a name old schoolers like myself will almost certainly remember from mid-90's LSU fame. Like dad, son has some serious raw power to be aware of. The rest of the line-up will need to prove some things to protect Furniss but with a top recruiting class and some key transfers, talent is available if not yet established. Suits me fine if it takes at least until the second weekend to get it together.
The pitching is where I believe the biggest jump stands to be made for Ole Miss as Hunter Elliott, returning from injury, has the potential to be a legitimate SEC Friday starter while Maddox, Dennis and Nichols are all fully capable to round out the weekend and into the midweek even. Senior righty Connor Spencer makes the Rebels the only weekend foe with a returning closer, ostensibly, as that role tends to be fluid for most college teams.
Bottom line:
Clemson clearly has the talent and ability to win these games, and every game, but we can't lose sight of the fact that this team nonetheless stinks and will probably only win if the opponent is having an off day.
Last edited:
