2017 College Preseason Top 25 Capsules: No. 24 Maryland

24. Maryland

2016 Record (Ranking): 30-27 (NR). RPI: 60.
Coach (Record at school): John Szefc (142-99, 4 years)
Postseason History: 5 regionals (last in 2015), 0 CWS trips, 0 national titles.

Mike Shawaryn became known as “The Unicorn” at Maryland because he was such a transformational talent for the program. The big righthander moved on to pro ball as a fifth-round pick last year, but the Terrapins have another program-shaping player ready to lead them this year.

Shortstop Kevin Smith isn’t nicknamed for a mythical creature, but he gives Maryland another veritable star and as it sets its sights on a return to the NCAA Tournament after an up-and-down 2016.

Smith, the 2015 Big Ten Conference freshman of the year, took a step forward over the summer in the Cape Cod League. Coach John Szefc said Smith came back for his junior year with a more confident attitude.

“He’s not really any different as a person, but he’s got an air about him on the field,” Szefc said. “He can play at a high level and I think he understands that.”

Smith had a disappointing sophomore season offensively but made some adjustments over the summer. That paid off on the Cape, as he hit .301/.348/.427.

Maryland has an experienced lineup around Smith. Second baseman Nick Dunn also had a strong summer on the Cape, and outfielders Marty Costes and Madison Nickens add thump to the lineup. If graduate transfer Brandon Gum adjusts quickly to the Big Ten, the Terrapins’ lineup will have impressive depth.

Maryland also has plenty of depth on the mound, despite losing Shawaryn, who set the program’s career wins and strikeouts records. Righthanders Taylor Bloom and Brian Shaffer return to the rotation with more than 200 combined innings of experience. Freshman lefthander Tyler Blohm was drafted in the 17th round by the Orioles last year but chose not to sign. He has the talent to make an immediate impact, but Maryland can afford to bring him along slowly thanks to the development of sophomore righthanders Hunter Parsons and Cameron Enck, who were a part of Maryland’s 22nd-ranked recruiting class a year ago.

Maryland’s bullpen got a boost when righthander Mike Rescigno, the top-ranked player in the Cal Ripken Collegiate League this summer, chose to return for his senior season. Though Maryland’s bullpen isn’t as experienced as its rotation, Rescigno’s return, as well as the emergence of lefthander Andrew Miller and righthanders Ryan Hill and Ryan Selmer, gives Szefc optimism.

“In the time we’ve been here, we’ve never had five starters we could run out and feel pretty good about,” Szefc said. “We have four guys in the bullpen that have experience and/or really good summers.

“We really haven’t had that much depth before on the mound before.”

Maryland had 14 freshmen on its roster last year and it showed at times. But the young Terrapins received an invaluable education in a highly competitive Big Ten race, as just 4.5 games separated the top 10 teams in the standings.

With the bulk of that team returning, Szefc likes his team’s potential.

“On paper, I like the talent and experience we have coming back,” he said. “I think you have to feel good about things on paper before you run it out there.”

Soon, Szefc and the Terrapins will see if they are able to translate that potential into results on the field.

2017 LINEUP
Pos.	Name, Yr.	AVG	OBP	SLG	HR	RBI	SB
C	Justin Morris, Jr.	.194	.297	.301	2	13	0
1B	Kevin Biondic, Jr.	.278	.377	.407	5	24	1
2B	Nick Dunn, So.	.300	.382	.392	1	31	3
3B	Brandon Gum, Sr.	Tr.—George Mason
SS	Kevin Smith, Jr.	.259	.308	.409	8	34	0
LF	Madison Nickens, Sr.	.260	.362	.423	8	29	8
CF	Zach Jancarski, Jr.	.257	.348	.327	6	33	5
RF	Marty Costes, So.	.263	.363	.479	9	37	0
DH	Nick Cieri, Sr.	.256	.379	.367	3	29	0
Pos.	Name, Yr.	W	L	ERA	IP	SO	SV
RHP	Brian Shaffer, Jr.	8	3	2.60	104	75	0
RHP	Taylor Bloom, Jr.	6	5	2.46	102	60	0
RHP	Hunter Parsons, So.	2	3	3.50	36	28	0
RP	Mike Rescigno, Sr.	2	1	5.59	19	23	3