2020 NCAA Top 25 Preview: No. 2 Louisville

Image credit: Dan McDonnell (Getty Images)

Last Year: 51-18 (21-9 in ACC); reached College World Series 
Final Ranking: No. 3
Coach (Record at school): Dan McDonnell (605-240, 13 seasons)

Top 100 Draft Prospects: LHP Reid Detmers (No. 11), RHP Bobby Miller (No. 89)

The Good News: In lefthander Reid Detmers and righthander Bobby Miller, the Cardinals have one of the best starting rotation one-two punches in the entire country. Detmers dominated in 2019 to the tune of 167 strikeouts in 113.1 innings, and Miller showed flashes of greatness while transitioning into a full-time starting role. At the back end, lefthanders Michael Kirian, who had a 1.69 ERA in relief last season, and Adam Elliott are back to help close out games. Offensively, Freshman All-American third baseman Alex Binelas, shortstop Justin Lavey, DH Danny Oriente, left fielder Zach Britton and toolsy second baseman Lucas Dunn, who can handle multiple premium defensive positions if pressed into duty, provide a good foundation among position players. Defensively, catcher Henry Davis should help curtail stolen bases with his cannon of an arm and center fielder Luke Brown, a junior college transfer, has the speed to run down just about everything in the outfield. A ton of talent returns from a team that made a deep run in Omaha last season. 

 

The Bad News: There is some turnover in the lineup, what with the departures of Logan Wyatt, Tyler Fitzgerald, Drew Campbell and Jake Snider. The Cardinals will likely turn to a freshman in Dalton Rushing at first base and two junior college transfers, Brown and Levi Usher, in center and right field, respectively. Lavey is new to shortstop and though he has the tools to succeed there, it is a demanding position that could create a bit of an adjustment period for the former second baseman. A minor question mark is bullpen depth. Michael McAvene, Shay Smiddy and Bryan Hoeing are all gone after throwing a lot of innings in relief last season. There are plenty of quality arms on the staff to fill those innings, but it’s just a matter of finding the right pitchers for the right roles. 

Player to Know: Bobby Miller, RHP

Detmers is a known commodity. In 2019, he set the Louisville program record for strikeouts in a season, which were good for second nationally, and he was named the ACC pitcher of the year. But Miller holds the key that could take the Louisville rotation from great to elite. He took steps forward last season, including throwing eight shutout innings against East Carolina in the deciding game of the super regional, and his stuff is absolutely undeniable, highlighted by a fastball that can touch 100 mph and a plus slider in the low 90s. With 12 starts among his 20 appearances last season, the next step for Miller will be taking the ball every week in 2020 and becoming a workhorse alongside Detmers. 

Path to Omaha: If Louisville simply plays to its talent level and experience, it will have the inside track to get to Omaha, which would make it three trips in four seasons for Dan McDonnell’s team. An experienced rotation led by two highly-regarded draft prospects, a proven closer and a veteran-laden offense should make this team close to unflappable. 

LINEUP
POS	Name, Year	AVG	OBP	SLG	HR	RBI	AB
C	Henry Davis, So.	.280	.345	.386	3	23	132
1B	Dalton Rushing, Fr.	HS — Brighton, TN
2B	Lucas Dunn, Jr.	.309	.399	.398	1	25	191
3B	Alex Binelas, So.	.291	.383	.612	14	59	206
SS	Justin Lavey, Sr.	.286	.361	.366	3	33	227
LF	Zach Britton, Jr.	.288	.368	.470	5	28	132
CF	Luke Brown, Jr.	JUCO — John A. Logan College
RF	Levi Usher, So.	JUCO — Kirkwood CC
DH	Danny Oriente, Sr.	.332	.404	.435	1	49	193
PITCHING
POS	Name, Year	W	L	ERA	IP	SO	SV
LHP	Reid Detmers, Jr.	13	4	2.78	113.1	167	0
RHP	Bobby Miller, Jr.	7	1	3.83	80	86	0
RHP	Luke Smith, Sr.	6	1	4.24	68	53	0
RP	Michael Kirian, Jr.	3	1	1.69	32	42	5
RP	Adam Elliott, Sr.	3	2	2.48	32.2	33	0