Baseball recruits- looking to the future cause the present blows balls

[cottondistrictdawg]

I know Todd and others have outlined this before, but can someone list the players we have coming in next year and anything known about them? If there is an old post that can be linked to that's fine too. It's just frustrating with baseball because its not like football and basketball where the information on recruits is so readily available.

Thanks in advance, I'll hang up and listen.

 

[GoState662]

http://mississippistate.scout.com/2/914710.html

 

[8dog]

with quotes from Burroughs.

I think the most important thing from next years class is to find a middle infield that can hit and field with some consistency. They will be freshmen so that will be tough on them at the plate, but it can't get much worse. Adam Frazier (GA), Chase Lewallen (MS), and Garrett Pitts (AL) will be vying for those spots along with Rawdow.

I don't see any pitchers that will be immediate impact. Rea is not throwing this spring and Norris is not dominating like I thought he would. So we need the pitchers that we have to get better quickly.

I think we need one of the freshmen to step up and be able to start in the outfield at a minimum. I think that could be CT Bradford. He is a leadoff type.

Cory Dickerson would have the biggest impact on the lineup but I don't expect him to be here.

We are bringing in several others but I see the above as the ones with a chance to make us better.

I think Jarrod Parks will win the 3B job and Freeman will play 1B unless Rea is just lights out. Thigpen will catch. I really want to see 2 of the guys I mentioned above be the infield.

The outfield is really up for grabs particularly if Shephard leaves. If that happens, it may be all newcomers.

There are a lot of unknowns but that's the way I see it.

 

[BearBryantstillDead]

Darryl Norris from Fairhope will pitch next year if he makes it to Starkville. He is good enough to possibly be in the weekend rotation. I don't know that he will make it to State though cause the word on the street down here around Mobile is that he is a possible top 5 round draft pick. Kid throws hard and is a hell of an athelete.

 

[8dog]

but he's just not dominating this spring like I had hoped so Im not counting on him to be huge difference maker right now.

 

[beyourowndawg]

nm

 

[Todd4State]

that after years and years of defending Polk, I find it pretty funny that Gene is defending Cohen and his staff and is trying to calm things down by writing a recent flurry of stories about baseball recruits.

Typical.

 

[Todd4State]

I really think he is going to be our first baseman next year. Right now, that position is wide open and it will likely be him or JUCO mystery recruit #2 vying for that spot.

Frost is starrting to hit better, and I think it will be between him and Adam Frazier, Chase Luwallen, Taylor Stark, and DeMarcus Henderson. Personally, I think Frazier will win the job.

Third base probably would have to be Jarrod Parks. Norris might be here or Luwallen. I think Vickerson will be moved to the OF or DH.

Shortstop- See second base candidates minus Frost and add in Ogden. I would go with Luwallen here.

Outfield- I agree with 8dog that this is totally dependent on what happens with the draft. I just hope Corey Dickerson is as good as hyped, and I hope that Jaron will come back. Those two with Vickerson would be potentially a solid outfield. Depending on what happens with the draft- we've got Brownlee, maybe Trey Johnson, maybe JUCO mystery recruit #1 and then CT Bradford, Cody Abraham, and DeMarcus Henderson waiting in the wings that will compete for a spot.

I know think that Cody Freeman will DH.

Here's my new up to date lineup going by my killer baseball instinct, but with no inside info, this is how I would do it assuming no one leaves for the draft.

C- Thigpen and Brett Bozeman
1B- Wes Rea
2B- Adam Frazier
3B- Jarrod Parks
SS- Chase Luwallen
RF- Nick Vickerson
CF- Jaron Shepherd
LF- Corey Dickerson
DH- Cody Freeman

Another guy that I think will RS is Brayden Jones from Madison. He might fgure into the OF or at third.

 

[AthensBully]

Is Shephard thinking about transferring or the draft?

 

[8dog]

he has been drafted twice and the consensus is that he signs if he's drafted a 3rd time.

and by consensus, I mean Paul Jones said that and I tend to agree. Can't really argue with that.

 

[DirtyLopez]

bitching on the sixpack board. Back in the day, we could field a team of newcomers and be competitive in the SEC, but those days are over. There are growing pains ahead of us for sure. I was talking with the parent of a former player the other day and he was in agreement that Cohen not only inherited a tough situation, but one that, because of the way that our weaknesses(pitching/hitting/defense) arestaggered, will make the rebound take a little longer. </p>

 

[sonofabitch]

don't be surprised to see vickerson leave as well. combination of this year and trying the draft.

 

[8dog]

but its seems like it would be tough to get drafted when you don't have a position.

 

[lawdawg02]

He is so smooth in the field. I hope he gets on the field next year, either at SS or 2B. He also hits lefty, which is nice, but I wonder if he'll struggle transitioning from mostly 3A pitching to SEC pitching.

 

[Todd4State]

Apparently he was able to field a ground ball and throw a guy out while talking to the other teams third base coach.

My response- Who says men can't multi-task?

My disclaimer to sixpack- I don't believe the story- I mean, why are you talking to the other teams third base coach in the middle of an inning when the play is live?

But it's a funny story and I think the point is made that he is a good fielder.

As far as his hitting- I think that's a legit concern, but Sumrall also plays several 6A schools like Oak Grove and Gulfport- both playoff teams as well- and Luwallen also hit well against them. On top of that, he is hitting like .556 or something, which is pretty good for any level of baseball. I actually think he will do OK because he is really good at making contact and getting the bat on the ball.

 

[lawdawg02]

because, like you said, they've played teams from higher classifications, and I would be that most teams have thrown their ace whenever possible against Sumrall. Jeffrey Rea also came out of 3A, and he didn't have a problem hitting. Of course, his averages for his SO-JR-SR years were .494, .613, and .676 respectively. That was amazing, I don't care what level you play.

I heard the same story about Lewallen from a coach in south MS, but Lewallen actually turned a double play at 2nd, never missing a beat in the conversation. Who knows.