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2024 Omahogs Baseball - projected returners and newcomers
Posted on 6/5/23 at 5:31 pm
Posted on 6/5/23 at 5:31 pm
So let’s discuss who returns next year. At first glance, we look to have many key pieces of this year’s team potentially returning. Note that all classes mentioned below are current class of the player as of this post in order to avoid confusion with current versus rising class.
Catcher
Rowland and Polk are both juniors. Have to think we hit the portal hard for a catcher and that one or both aren’t back next year. Rowland is good defensively but an empty lineup spot who contributes next to nothing at the plate. Polk has some power but is a defensive liability who was also one of our worst hitters statistically this year.
First
Slavens is gone. Figure we either roll with McLaughlin or platoon McLaughlin or Robinett here.
Second
Stovall will be back.
Shortstop
Bolton is out of eligibility and will be positive attrition in terms of offensive production. This is where I think we see Holt next year. We have to find a spot for him in the field, and he’s athletic enough to play short (I don’t know about range). Have to figure Coll is the odd man out.
Third
Cali is a junior and will likely be back. I could also see this as a platoon spot for McLaughlin given the positional changes changes DVH tried in the regional. Jones is a possibility if he stays on campus.
Left field
Wegner is out of eligibility. Figure we fill this spot via the portal. The coaches are high on Hunter Grimes and Mason Neville, so one or both might factor in.
Center field
Josenberger is a junior. However, he’s also arguably our best all around player. Will be interesting to see if he explores entering the draft. He’s also the most vocal leader. We need him back next year.
Right field
Ibuprofen is gone to the draft. Figure we see Diggs here given that he really came on as a fielder while Wegner was out and Ibuprofen shifted to LF, unless a newcomer can factor in here and let Diggs DH full time.
Starters
Hagen and Tygart are both sophomores and will be back (don’t believe either is draft eligible). Mac is a junior. Hollan is a junior and could be back. Wiggins is gone to the draft.
Relievers
We return Wood, Coil, Foutch, and Adcock of those who contributed regularly. Carter will be out with TJ. This is an area we’ll hit the portal hard. Note that I included both Mac and Tygart in the starters column, but they’re tweeners who can fill either role contingent on where we land with newcomers. Morris is done. Frank was a grad transfer but could potentially get another year of eligibility due to medical redshirt (*update - per Ultimate in another thread, Frank has stated he is returning).
Incoming freshmen
We also signed the #1 class in the country, which includes 10 players in PG’s Top 100, which leads the nation. How many of these players make it to campus remains to be seen.
Aidan Miller (#4 overall) - INF
Dylan Questad (#34 overall) - RHP
Gabe Gaeckle (#38 overall) - RHP
Ryder Helfrick (#40 overall) - catcher
Barrett Kent (#57 overall) - RHP
Tucker Holland (#70 overall - LHP
Nolan Souza (#72 overall) - SS/INF
Adam Hachman (#81 overall) - LHP
Kendall George (#95 overall) - OF
Walker Martin (#98 overall) - SS
Transfer portal
There’s always a chance we could lose several of the above presumed returners to the portal. At this point it’s purely speculation, but potential portalers could include Jones, Coll, Neville, Polk, and a few younger bullpen guys, just to name a few. It’s the new norm, so it does merit discussion with the caveat that it’s purely based on assumption.
Catcher
Rowland and Polk are both juniors. Have to think we hit the portal hard for a catcher and that one or both aren’t back next year. Rowland is good defensively but an empty lineup spot who contributes next to nothing at the plate. Polk has some power but is a defensive liability who was also one of our worst hitters statistically this year.
First
Slavens is gone. Figure we either roll with McLaughlin or platoon McLaughlin or Robinett here.
Second
Stovall will be back.
Shortstop
Bolton is out of eligibility and will be positive attrition in terms of offensive production. This is where I think we see Holt next year. We have to find a spot for him in the field, and he’s athletic enough to play short (I don’t know about range). Have to figure Coll is the odd man out.
Third
Cali is a junior and will likely be back. I could also see this as a platoon spot for McLaughlin given the positional changes changes DVH tried in the regional. Jones is a possibility if he stays on campus.
Left field
Wegner is out of eligibility. Figure we fill this spot via the portal. The coaches are high on Hunter Grimes and Mason Neville, so one or both might factor in.
Center field
Josenberger is a junior. However, he’s also arguably our best all around player. Will be interesting to see if he explores entering the draft. He’s also the most vocal leader. We need him back next year.
Right field
Ibuprofen is gone to the draft. Figure we see Diggs here given that he really came on as a fielder while Wegner was out and Ibuprofen shifted to LF, unless a newcomer can factor in here and let Diggs DH full time.
Starters
Hagen and Tygart are both sophomores and will be back (don’t believe either is draft eligible). Mac is a junior. Hollan is a junior and could be back. Wiggins is gone to the draft.
Relievers
We return Wood, Coil, Foutch, and Adcock of those who contributed regularly. Carter will be out with TJ. This is an area we’ll hit the portal hard. Note that I included both Mac and Tygart in the starters column, but they’re tweeners who can fill either role contingent on where we land with newcomers. Morris is done. Frank was a grad transfer but could potentially get another year of eligibility due to medical redshirt (*update - per Ultimate in another thread, Frank has stated he is returning).
Incoming freshmen
We also signed the #1 class in the country, which includes 10 players in PG’s Top 100, which leads the nation. How many of these players make it to campus remains to be seen.
Aidan Miller (#4 overall) - INF
Dylan Questad (#34 overall) - RHP
Gabe Gaeckle (#38 overall) - RHP
Ryder Helfrick (#40 overall) - catcher
Barrett Kent (#57 overall) - RHP
Tucker Holland (#70 overall - LHP
Nolan Souza (#72 overall) - SS/INF
Adam Hachman (#81 overall) - LHP
Kendall George (#95 overall) - OF
Walker Martin (#98 overall) - SS
Transfer portal
There’s always a chance we could lose several of the above presumed returners to the portal. At this point it’s purely speculation, but potential portalers could include Jones, Coll, Neville, Polk, and a few younger bullpen guys, just to name a few. It’s the new norm, so it does merit discussion with the caveat that it’s purely based on assumption.
This post was edited on 6/6/23 at 7:07 am
Posted on 6/5/23 at 5:41 pm to Feral
I did the math on Frank and it looks like this was his COVID year. Assuming he could probably get this year back for medical RS if he wanted it. That was the only injury that really burned me. He was gonna be nice.
This post was edited on 6/5/23 at 5:43 pm
Posted on 6/5/23 at 5:56 pm to Feral
I don’t see any way Josenberger or Hollan are back. Hollan is listed at 85 and Josenberger at 115 on the latest board I have seen
Posted on 6/5/23 at 6:45 pm to Raz4back
The Buzz mentioned Hollan has had a nagging injury that will require surgery as well so that will be part of his decision. Thanks for thread was wondering what we would look like next year.
Posted on 6/5/23 at 7:11 pm to spehog
Of the '23 class, I wouldn't doubt that Miller and Martin. Both being projected 1st rounders.
I'm excited about the Catchers in Ryan Helfrick and Ty Waid. I'm hoping Rowland and Polk are not on the roster next season.
I'm excited about the Catchers in Ryan Helfrick and Ty Waid. I'm hoping Rowland and Polk are not on the roster next season.
Posted on 6/5/23 at 7:18 pm to Feral
I'm thinking that Wood will make it into the rotation and not be a reliever next year
Posted on 6/6/23 at 7:00 am to Pygthagorean Theorem
quote:
Of the '23 class, I wouldn't doubt that Miller and Martin. Both being projected 1st rounders.
Same.
Not sure about Martin, but I highly doubt Miller makes it to campus.
It’s one of the weird ironies of college baseball recruiting, where there is such a thing as recruiting “too well” and having the linchpins of your class go pro. LSU signed one of the best classes ever last year, but nearly half their kids in the top 100 went pro instead.
This post was edited on 6/6/23 at 7:03 am
Posted on 6/6/23 at 10:53 am to Pygthagorean Theorem
My crystal ball is that we lose 5-6 signees to the MLB Draft. Hope we get lucky and it's not that many.
Posted on 6/6/23 at 4:06 pm to Feral
Hollan first player to leave. That was pretty much a given.
Posted on 6/6/23 at 4:52 pm to ArHog
Say what?
quote:
John Nabors 1h ago
I asked Razorback Pitcher Hunter Hollan about his future next season:
"I got a lot of thinking to do on a lot of things. But don't be surprised if I am in a Razorback uniform again next season."
This post was edited on 6/6/23 at 4:54 pm
Posted on 6/6/23 at 4:58 pm to UltimateHog
He gone, trust me on this one.
Posted on 6/6/23 at 5:07 pm to ArHog
Yep, probably just floating that out there for leverage in the draft.
Posted on 6/6/23 at 5:37 pm to Feral
2024 could be our year. Where in post season play do you all think DVH fails us next year. My bet is after a loss at home regional this year we come back hot and head to Omaha for a quick exit.
Posted on 6/6/23 at 6:17 pm to oklahogjr
We'll probably still magically not have enough bullpen arms even with a top class coming in and one of the every day starters will have a really low BA and be a hole in the lineup.
This post was edited on 6/6/23 at 7:25 pm
Posted on 6/6/23 at 7:03 pm to Pygthagorean Theorem
I actually think we win it all next year.
Posted on 6/6/23 at 7:09 pm to UltimateHog
quote:
I actually think we win it all next year.
Smith, tygert, diggs, Stovall, hunt, McLaughlin are really good pieces to build around.
HY needs to buy the other parts. Especially a top tier catcher.
Posted on 6/6/23 at 7:22 pm to Poker_hog
We will without a doubt have at least 1-2 impact transfers and 1-2 impact freshmen.
Not including a guy or two step up from off the radar a bit.
Not including a guy or two step up from off the radar a bit.
This post was edited on 6/6/23 at 7:23 pm
Posted on 6/6/23 at 8:13 pm to UltimateHog
Going into this 2023 season we were replacing every player in our lineup but Slavens and Stovall, and Slavens sat several games last year when he was slumping badly.
Conversely, we’ve got some great pieces (potentially) coming back for 2024 just in terms of returners.
Diggs
Stovall
Holt
Cali
McLaughlin
Robinett
Josenberger (?)
Whoever we bring in at catcher and shortstop will automatically be offensive upgrades over Rowland and Bolton the day they hit campus. Biggest losses will be Ibuprofen and Wegner, but we also played half this season without Wegner. We have to get Josenberger back.
Smith
Tygart
McEntire
Wood
Hollan (?)
Frank
Adcock
Whatever arms we bring in from the portal will be an upgrade over the paper thin pen depth we had this year.
Conversely, we’ve got some great pieces (potentially) coming back for 2024 just in terms of returners.
Diggs
Stovall
Holt
Cali
McLaughlin
Robinett
Josenberger (?)
Whoever we bring in at catcher and shortstop will automatically be offensive upgrades over Rowland and Bolton the day they hit campus. Biggest losses will be Ibuprofen and Wegner, but we also played half this season without Wegner. We have to get Josenberger back.
Smith
Tygart
McEntire
Wood
Hollan (?)
Frank
Adcock
Whatever arms we bring in from the portal will be an upgrade over the paper thin pen depth we had this year.
This post was edited on 6/6/23 at 8:14 pm
Posted on 6/6/23 at 9:09 pm to Poker_hog
quote:
Smith, tygert, diggs, Stovall, hunt, McLaughlin are really good pieces to build around.
I thought Holt was a big spark plug for the team when Stovall went out. I really like that kid. Seems like Arkansas kids can make a difference.
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