2024 Omahogs Baseball - projected returners and newcomers

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.