Hi Folks,
I have returned from my sabbatical to offer some information on your favorite local 9. They open this weekend in Malibu for a series against Pepperdine.
Let's get some things out of the way: Gambino... I know the record is what it is, but Ias been said by others too, his players love him. Other coaches really respect him, as evident by him spending time w the Collegiate National Team last summer, and I think the talent level he's now bringing in is a testament to those two things. The wins need to happen, 5 ACC wins will not cut it, ever. They need to start making the NCAA tourney, never mind the ACC tourney, which they've missed the last two years. Last year I thought would be a building year, and it was in many ways. They also had a large rash of injuries, multiple pitchers they were counting on were hurt, Vetrano, their projected "closer", pitched 1 game, (btw, I get it about bullpens, but I cannot stress this enough, stop watching college bullpens like you do MLB ones, every college bullpen kinda stinks, like even some of the Ohama clubs and esp when you are deep into a weekend series). Their starting SS got hurt, their starting 3B, their capt and C, who handles the pitching staff was hurt, Honeyman was hurt for a stretch, Gold was hurt and missed series, Landwher and others, which is what it is, but it forced a lot of players into action, and while the results were up and down, that experience is now a positive heading into this year. We'll see how it translates.
There is no question that this year's team is built around its powerful offense. BC hit 68 homeruns last year. In 2017, the year after going to Super Regionals, they hit 15. That team also had 5 batters that played professional baseball, and two big leaguers. College baseball is weird.
Here is an overview of their groups, I'll try and add some context beyond the recent team released preview.
Position Players:
LF Tavis Honeyman had a terrific Cape and vaulted himself into a top 30 player for the upcoming draft. He a really good hitter, and had surprising light tower pull power. He's plenty fast, and really does a good job of working counts. He's battled some injuries, and even had to leave his Cape season early due to one, so a healthy year is something he'll need to be a 1st round pick.
1B Joe Vetrano is their slugging 1B, also a Cape league all-star this summer, he too has tremendous power. His is to all fields, particularly impressive is his power to left center as a lefty hitter. He is a good all-around hitter too, and not just a slugger, he controls the zone and has a good plan at the plate. Now that he is a full time 1B and not pitching, he's become a really good 1B. I can't wait to see him rake this year. He'll be drafted in the 1st 5 rounds with a strong season.
RF Cam Leary is the third amigo. He was someone I thought was noticeably stronger going into last year and is also blessed with tremendous power. Maybe the most on the team, as evident by his 468ft. hr vs Austin Peay last year. He led the team w 16 HRs last year, including two off of Miami's Carson Palmquist, a high pick of the Giants who gave up 3 career HRs to lefty hitters. I believe he was dinged up this summer but looks ready to go.
DH Parker Landwher was my "sneaky guy to hit" last year as DH, and he delivered 9 hrs w a near .400 OBP. He had a ton of clutch hits late. He didn't play summer ball, and I know he missed time at the end of last year. I've heard he seems ready to go, and will likely be their DH.
CF Barry Walsh is a college GG CF. He has some ability to hit with power too, but uses he speed on the bases effectively too. He is the perfect senior to have on the team, and I think you'll see an uptick in production.
SS/2B Vince Cimini their starting SS for most of 2021 had TJ after the first series last year. That was a big blow, he gave a great AB too, doesn't K much, and made 1 error as a SS in '21. He may start the year at 2B as he recovers, but happy to see him back.
3B/2B Pat Roche played through a hand injury and had a nice first year as a starter at 3B. He had another all start summer in the NECBL, good power and speed. He will compete at 3B and 2B.
SS/2B Sam McNulty filled in for Cimini at SS, prob a little earlier than they hoped, but showed flashes of his high potential on both sides of the ball. Physically he looked a little undersized last year, and provided he filled out this offseason (which I've heard he has) he should see some ABs.
3B Nick Wang is a transfer from Holy Cross where he was his conference's rookie of the year hitting over .300 w 18 doubles. That's a really good year for a true freshman in college baseball. He adds a depth to the lineup they missed after their injuries last year.
Capt C Peter Burns is back for another year. He broke his hand and then had an appendectomy which cut his season short. He'll handle the staff, but I don't think he'll be the every day C and that's because of a certain player to come.
Reserve Lucas Stalman is now a C, a veteran hitter that is a great glue guy. He played for Argentina in teh WBC qualifier and hit a huge homerun to give then a late lead b4 they ultimately lost. I don't think we'll much of him this year, but he filled in admirably late in the season.
Adian Harrington got 30 ABs as a freshman and hit a surprising .250, he's a really slick fielder, and may push for a spot at 3B, 2B, and SS. Dan Burauch is a 5th year player. He's always had power potential but hasn't made enough contact. He has had productive summers in the NECBL before, and is someone we may see as a PH versus a lefty late in the game.
The main thing I like about this lineup is it is deeper. It was pretty top-heavy last year, and we saw them give away too many ABs, particularly once injuries hit as we result. Wang, a healthy Cimini, and a more experiences Roche and McNulty is really going to add depth, not to mention a few freshmen that may be surprising.
On the freshman class....
First up is Adonys Guzman, a top 100 prospect (not just amount HS, among all players) in the draft last year, wanted to come to BC instead of entering pro ball. He told teams a really high number, with the expectations he'll make it to campus (weird for a player to do when Gambino can't recruit). He has a rocket arm behind the plate, and a really good defensive C. His bat offers a lot of potential, I am not sure its ACC ready quite yet, but wouldn't surprise me if it was. This kid is a stud.
Owen Deshazo is a 6'6 IF, who played mostly SS in HS, but will be a 3B or 1B here. He is a right-handed hitter that controls the strike zone much better than you'd expect for a hitter his size. He is someone with really good power potential. He was a very good BB player in HS too, so he isn't just big, he is a quality athlete. He played in a collegiate summer league and hit 6 doubles, 3 triples, and a HR in 100 ABs. That's a really good summer with the wood bat for a player that hadn't played college baseball yet.
Deshazo is gets most of the fanfare, but I think Kyle Wolff is equally as exciting. He was ISL player of the year as a freshman. That's sort of unheard of give the D1 talent that conference puts out year after year. He had TJ his junior year but returned this year to produce at the plate. He's a right-handed hitter, but a lefty pitcher (he is coming in as a two-way player) and has an all-star summer in the NECBL and championship one too. In the championship game he hit an eventual game winning 3 run HR in the top of the 9th with his team down 2 runs for Nashua. He hit 7 HRs and 13 doubles in the summer with the wood bat a few weeks after graduating HS. I think we'll see him play a bit at DH and as a pinch hitter.
Cohl Mercado is a OF from NJ who played with his two brothers, both of which are college bound players too. Cohl if a lefty hitter with impressive speed. He'll be someone that takes over for Walsh next year, we may see at times this yr, esp if there is an injury.
James Hackett is an OF from IL and another long (6'4) hitter with projectable power. He played SS in HS, but is likley to be an OF only. Someone I think we'll prob see next year as well.
IF Connor Dryer is from the famed Delabarton school in NJ. He's an undersized, but dynamic fielder, with surprising pop. We may see him in the IF, if the defense struggles, but like the potential for him to become a really good ACC SS.
The rest of the freshman are Ps:
Jason Hernandez RHP from CT He impressed the coaches this fall with his makeup and stuff. May see him in the pen and midweek appearances.
Gio Arzuga RHP from MA that pitched at Tabor Academy, a school some really good D1 players. He is a bulldog on the mound, and prob will have a similar role to Hernandez.
Dylan Murphy RHP was a late add to their class, and someone that came on his senior year out of a San Diego HS. He has a really good curve ball, but is undersized, I think he is more developmental.
Bobby Chicone RHP from NY who shocked coaches this fall with a fastball already hitting 97. He was a really good hitter in HS too, but think he will be on the mound, and someone I think we'll see in the pen and maybe some mid-week starts. He was my fav freshman P coming in before the news about 97, becuase of his makeup, he also has a good CB.
Ryan Dimaggio LHP from NJ had TJ his senior year, which is a bummer bc he was already hitting 92, also a very good hitter in HS, will be a P only, we might see him at the back end of the year, but I'd be surprised.
AJ Calarusso LHP from the Groton School. 3 pitches already, has hit 93, and had a really good showcase summer. He and Chicoine are their future weekend starters.
I'll back later with a preview of the pitchers, and a sneak preview at Pepperdine and what to expect. I'm sure you're asleep by now anyways.
bostoncollege.rivals.com
