Eight For Omaha Fall Ball Update

With Thanksgiving break just around the corner for colleges across the country, the fall practice season has also come to a close. So it’s time to look at how the fall went for the eight teams we projected in July to compose next year’s College World Series field.

East Carolina

2016 final record (ranking): 38-23-1 (No. 15)

Fall standouts: Infielders Turner Brown and Charlie Yorgen had strong falls offensively, as did first baseman Bryce Harman, who hit four home runs. Freshmen sluggers Spencer Brickhouse and Bryant Packard also acquitted themselves well in their first fall. Coach Cliff Godwin also said he was pleased with the competition for the rotation spots behind ace Evan Kruczynski. Freshmen Trey Benton and Tyler Smith, as well as sophomore Sam Lanier and senior Jacob Wolfe all are in the mix to start for the Pirates.

Outlook: ECU has a wealth of returning players from last year’s super regional team and added the No. 23 ranked recruiting class, the program’s first-ever Top 25 class. Godwin said he has been pleased with the way the team has come together, as the Pirates attempt to reach the CWS for the first time in school history.

“It’s good to see the camaraderie of the team,” Godwin said. “The seniors want to not only play well this year, but leave a legacy. “It’s been a good fall, it’s exciting to see. Get those new guys acclimated. We’ve got talented older guys. It’s a good mix.”

Florida

2016 final record (ranking): 52-16 (No. 5)

Fall standouts: The Gators have had a loud fall offensively, posting a team OPS better than .900. Coach Kevin O’Sullivan said this is one of the deepest lineups he has had in 10 years at Florida. Some of the production has come from expected sources such as second baseman Deacon Liput, catcher J.J. Schwarz and heralded freshman outfielder/lefthander Austin Langworthy, Florida has also gotten a boost as sophomore Blake Reese has taken a step forward. He led the team in stolen bases this fall and saw action in both the infield and outfield. Freshmen Keenan Bell and Garrett Milchin also swung the bat well this fall.

Outlook: While the offense, defense and starting rotation all appear to be strong, the Gators are still working out their bullpen after losing swingman Dane Dunning, closer Shaun Anderson and lefty specialist Kirby Snead in the draft, and moving righthander Brady Singer to the rotation. The Gators will be counting on some freshmen in the bullpen, including outfielder/lefthander Andrew Baker.

“We’re pretty much where I thought we would be,” O’Sullivan said. “I’ve said all along we’ve got to redo the bullpen. I certainly feel good about Baker. He’s beyond his years competitive-spirit wise.”

Florida State

2016 final record (ranking): 41-22 (No. 13)

Fall standouts: Shortstop Taylor Walls spent his summer playing for USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team, an experience coach Mike Martin believes benefitted the All-American. “I think it helped him tremendously,” Martin said. “He’s showing a lot of leadership, he’s maturing and that’s good.” Martin was also pleased with the development of catcher Cal Raleigh, a Freshman All-American last season. Martin said it was evident Raleigh has been hard at work to improve.

Outlook: Florida State returns nearly its entire team from last year, including its complete rotation. To that group, the Seminoles added the No. 8 recruiting class, headlined by third baseman Drew Mendoza, the highest-ranked position player on last year’s BA 500 not to sign. Martin said the team is meshing well, as they try to return to Omaha for the first time since 2012.

“A lot of guys have been through this, and the expectations of Florida State baseball are to get to Omaha every year whether you’ve got no returning players or 10 returning players,” Martin said. “I think one of the reasons for our success is the people that played here before them were very hard workers, they really got after it in the offseason and it shows. It just permeates through the team, and then the next year you’ve got some of those guys leading the new guys in the offseason because they had the J.D. Drews, the James Ramseys, the Tyler Holts, the Shane Robinsons, guys that know what it takes to improve, D.J. Stewart recently, that stuck. That makes a coach’s job a lot easier.”

Long Beach State

2016 final record (ranking): 38-22 (unranked)

Fall standouts: The Dirtbags return Big West Conference pitcher of the year Darren McCaughan and closer Chris Rivera, but will need some pitchers to step up to complement them. Freshman righthander Juan Castro threw well this fall, running his fastball up to 91 mph and showing feel for a changeup. Fellow newcomers A.J. Jones, a transfer from JC of Southern Nevada, and Ryan Mauch, the Orioles’ 32nd round pick, also look promising, but were banged up this fall. The Dirtbags also must replace the left side of their infield. Competition continues at both shortstop and third base, but coach Troy Buckley said he has been encouraged by shortstop Markus Montelongo, a transfer from South Mountain (Ariz.) CC.

Outlook: While the Dirtbags are still working some pieces of the puzzle out, Buckley said he believes this is one of the deepest groups of position players he has had at Long Beach, creating some internal competition that has been good for a more experienced team.

“This is the most physical position-player team I’ve had as a head coach, this is the fastest team I’ve had as a head coach, this is the most athletic team I’ve head as head coach,” Buckley said. “It’s going to come down to can some guys repeat their performances or make some small strides forward, can we stay healthy and when will we get the pitching roles ironed out.”

Louisiana State

2016 final record (ranking): 45-21 (No. 12)

Fall standouts: Greg Deichmann moved from first base to right field this fall, showing the kind of athleticism necessary for his new position. Freshmen infielders Jake Slaughter and Josh Smith, part of LSU’s fourth-ranked recruiting class, impressed coach Paul Mainieri, and will likely hold down the infield corners this season. On the mound, freshmen righthanders Zack Hess, Todd Peterson and Eric Walker all threw well, putting them in the mix to join Alex Lange and Jared Poche’ in the Tigers’ rotation.

Outlook: After having to replace eight starters in its lineup going into the 2016 season, LSU will go into this season with most of its lineup and pitching staff back. Having an older, more experienced team made for a different kind of fall, Mainieri said.

“The aura around the team was much different, there was a much higher level of self-confidence, experience, knowing how to do things,” Maineri said. “We didn’t have to teach the entire team how to tie their shoes. They knew the routine already of how we do things.”

The Tigers’ experience is also expected to help them quickly adjust to the late-fall surprise they got when assistant coach Andy Cannizaro left in early November to become the head coach at Mississippi State.

Oregon State

2016 final record (ranking): 35-19 (unranked)

Fall standouts: The Beavers must replace catcher Logan Ice and shortstop Trever Morrison, both of whom were drafted in June. Coach Pat Casey was pleased with what he saw from a few of their options at both positions this fall. Cadyn Grenier played third base as a freshman last year and is in the mix to move to shortstop this season. Casey said Grenier was noticeably better offensively than he was last fall. Fellow sophomore Nick Madrigal, who played second last year, was out this fall as he recovered from an injury he suffered at the end of the season, but is also in the mix. Behind the plate, freshman Adley Rutschman impressed in his first fall.

Outlook: Oregon State missed the NCAA Tournament last year despite finishing in a tie for third place in the Pacific-12 Conference. The Beavers have the pieces to make sure that doesn’t happen again, and Casey was struck this fall by the athleticism and versatility of his team.

“We have a lot of good athletes that can move around and play in a lot of positions,” Casey said. “A couple freshmen arms have come in throw well. I think we got a lot of things accomplished there. I think we’ve got a real athletic club, some real diverse things we can do.”

South Carolina

2016 final record (ranking): 46-18 (No. 14)

Fall standouts: South Carolina brought in the 11th ranked recruiting class this year, but its biggest recruit may have been the return of redshirt junior righthander Wil Crowe, who missed last season following Tommy John surgery. With all-Southeastern Conference righthander Clarke Schmidt also back for his junior year, Crowe’s decision to return to school instead of moving on to pro ball gives the Gamecocks a pair of pitchers who have proven themselves as Friday night starters in the SEC. Coach Chad Holbrook said Crowe has gotten into better shape and threw well this fall, running his fastball up to 97 mph and showing an improved breaking ball. Offensively, Holbrook said outfielder T.J. Hopkins, catcher Chris Cullen and infielders Madison Stokes and L.T. Tolbert all played well this fall. Stokes and Tolbert are two of the players competing for the shortstop job, which is open following Marcus Mooney’s graduation.

Outlook: With Crowe and Schmidt back, South Carolina has one of the best 1-2 punches in the nation, but the strength of their pitching staff goes beyond their pair of aces. Sunday starter Adam Hill returns, as do key relievers Tyler Johnson and Josh Reagan, and redshirt freshman Cody Morris is healthy after missing last season due to Tommy John surgery. Holbrook said he was pleased with the staff’s performance this fall.

“The depth of the pitching staff and talent and arm strength of the staff is a strength of the team,” he said. “Hopefully they continue to throw well when the spring gets here.”

Texas Christian

2016 final record (ranking): 49-18 (No. 3)

Fall standouts: The Horned Frogs return nearly their entire team and brought in the fifth-ranked recruiting class, leaving little room for surprises this fall. But a few players were able to raise their profile. Coach Jim Schlossnagle said righthander Sean Wymer saw good results after working with pitching coach Kirk Saarloos to lower his arm angle, improving both his command and velocity. Outfielder Austin Ingraham, a transfer from North Central Texas JC, led TCU in hitting and extra-base hits this fall, giving himself a chance to force his way into the lineup.

Outlook: With so much returning talent and a streak of three straight CWS appearances, Schlossnagle knows TCU will have a target on its back this year. He has been preparing the Horned Frogs for that since they returned from Omaha in June, and said they did a good job of embracing their role this fall.

“Any time you have a club that returns so many veteran players, the natural reaction for the team is that it’s easy to go through the motions when you know what to expect,” Schlossnagle said. “My challenge to our players from the day we got back from World Series was to not be that team, to be stronger and get better. The focus was good this fall.”