gtbeak
Ramblin' Wreck
- Messages
- 539
Now that we have our coaching situation for next season resolved, I am interested in hearing thoughts on what the team's roster will look like. I know that there are a ton of unknowns with the transfer portal, the draft, etc., and so this is way too early, but I got nothing better to do, so why not start thinking about it now?
The outfield, I assume, we will lose entirely. All three should get drafted fairly early. Do we have any freshman from this past season who didn't see action but should be ready to step in? Do we have incoming freshmen that could start day 1? Or will this be a priority in the transfer portal? The only names I can think of are Riley Stanford, wasn't he highly ranked but injured early and never returned? And Jett Lovett.
The infield is a little more interesting. First base, would I be dreaming too much if I imagined Giesler returning? I believe he still has two years of eligibility remaining, and his 2023 season compares almost as a mirror image to Andrew Jenkins 2021 season. Second base, similarly, can I dream about Kristian Campbell returning? He still has three years of eligibility remaining. I saw that he has agreed to at least start the season with Cotuit on the Cape. Does that tell us anything about his plans for 2024? I have heard of players starting on the Cape until they are drafted and signed, so probably not, but I can hope, right? Shortstop, unless we lose all to the transfer portal, I think at least one of Diamant or Senese will provide equivalent production to what Jackson provided this year. And don't we have a highly ranked freshman coming in? I am confident this position will be stronger in '24 than it was in '23. Third base, can one of Baughcum or Romano improve in the off-season and provide respectable performance there? Any other infield options I should have on my radar screen?
Catcher, no offense to Rubenstein and much respect from me for how he developed, but I expect that Minnick should improve enough to provide equivalent production in '24. What about catcher #2? Do we have an incoming freshman capable of stepping into this gap?
Wild card...Jackson Finley. He has two years of eligibility remaining, I think. Any chance he is back with the Jackets next season?
Pitching: I would expect Schmolke and Finateri to been written in as weekend starters. The 3rd spot could go to Samol, Finley if he is back, a healthy Logan McGuire or Cam Hill, and I'm sure others will be considered. Seems we have potential to be a lot better in the weekend rotation next season. Gold colored glasses too much on my part? The bullpen, I would have to guess that Ben King will be drafted, and Jackson Vaughn is out of eligibility, I believe. I would expect Mannelly, Smith, Siegel, and Brown to move on. But Terry Busse still has two years of eligibility, correct? And I would expect that Cody Carwile could become a good lefty out of the pen. I also expect there are others waiting in the wings to get their chance, along with incoming freshmen. Any names I should especially expect to hear from in the fall?
The outfield, I assume, we will lose entirely. All three should get drafted fairly early. Do we have any freshman from this past season who didn't see action but should be ready to step in? Do we have incoming freshmen that could start day 1? Or will this be a priority in the transfer portal? The only names I can think of are Riley Stanford, wasn't he highly ranked but injured early and never returned? And Jett Lovett.
The infield is a little more interesting. First base, would I be dreaming too much if I imagined Giesler returning? I believe he still has two years of eligibility remaining, and his 2023 season compares almost as a mirror image to Andrew Jenkins 2021 season. Second base, similarly, can I dream about Kristian Campbell returning? He still has three years of eligibility remaining. I saw that he has agreed to at least start the season with Cotuit on the Cape. Does that tell us anything about his plans for 2024? I have heard of players starting on the Cape until they are drafted and signed, so probably not, but I can hope, right? Shortstop, unless we lose all to the transfer portal, I think at least one of Diamant or Senese will provide equivalent production to what Jackson provided this year. And don't we have a highly ranked freshman coming in? I am confident this position will be stronger in '24 than it was in '23. Third base, can one of Baughcum or Romano improve in the off-season and provide respectable performance there? Any other infield options I should have on my radar screen?
Catcher, no offense to Rubenstein and much respect from me for how he developed, but I expect that Minnick should improve enough to provide equivalent production in '24. What about catcher #2? Do we have an incoming freshman capable of stepping into this gap?
Wild card...Jackson Finley. He has two years of eligibility remaining, I think. Any chance he is back with the Jackets next season?
Pitching: I would expect Schmolke and Finateri to been written in as weekend starters. The 3rd spot could go to Samol, Finley if he is back, a healthy Logan McGuire or Cam Hill, and I'm sure others will be considered. Seems we have potential to be a lot better in the weekend rotation next season. Gold colored glasses too much on my part? The bullpen, I would have to guess that Ben King will be drafted, and Jackson Vaughn is out of eligibility, I believe. I would expect Mannelly, Smith, Siegel, and Brown to move on. But Terry Busse still has two years of eligibility, correct? And I would expect that Cody Carwile could become a good lefty out of the pen. I also expect there are others waiting in the wings to get their chance, along with incoming freshmen. Any names I should especially expect to hear from in the fall?
