OK, we brought in several juco players to fill out the position spots along with the leftovers from Polk. We really aren't hitting very much that I have noticed. It seems like we usually have about 8 or 9 hits most every game. I'm assuming that Cohen was looking and hoping for an improvement of maybe ten games over last year. A bunch of jucos added to a crappy team isn't going to get you to the world series. So, what kind of hitters are we bringing in from high school? And what is the deal with Jackson Posey from Sumrall? His coach (larry knight) says he is the best hitter he has ever coached and he has coached many good ones while at hattiesburg. Todd, what is the recruiting outlook? Everyone better prepare themselves to be pretty mediocre again next year. But, I am looking for significant improvement the year after next.
Lets figure this baseball problem out.
- Thread starter DirtyLopez
- Start date
with this team I think. While you can find a good juco baseball player, it is hard to build a team out of them. I am excited about the young pitchers, but the position players apparently aren't up to par, that is why I say we won't be that good next year. All of our talented players will be true freshmen (at least i hope they are talented) and really won't be ready to contribute to much of an extent.
the deal with him is his defense. That's the only question mark with him coming into this year. I saw a highlight where he made a very nice play for what it's worth. But that's why his only offer is from Pearl River CC. That said, I think- this is me talking, and purely my opinion- that we will offer him because:
1. He fills a need at the corner positions.
2. He is a legit player. He is 6'4", 215, hit .515 last year, with 11 home runs, and he has good speed. He is a Dandy Dozen baseball player and a Louisville Slugger AA. Those are better numbers than Chase Luwallen, who is highly sought after and is his teammate.
3. We should have a spot since we kicked Ethan Bright off of the team, and Coty Blanchard- who I didn't particularly care for- decommitted.
I think Cohen has put together another good class. Demarcus Henderson is a guy that I'm really excited about. I saw someone on Gene's Mississippi Hardball site rate him higher than Kaleb Barlow of Prep. I rolled my eyes, but then I looked up the numbers and Demarcus right now is hitting over .700 with just as many home runs as Barlow (3) against better competition and I think he is our SS of the future. He is another Louisville Slugger AA
Chase Luwallen is hitting over .420 right now and is playing well. Also, a Louisville Slugger AA.
Braydon Jones of MC is hitting .391 and hit a home run on Fri. Our fans our going to like him- think Rusty Thoms type guy. Probably a third baseman/LF/DH guy. Great leader, and good hustle player. And yes, a Louisville Slugger AA.
Wes Rea of Harrison Central hit two home runs last night, and I think he has three on the year. He could be a dual position guy- he is going to be a relief pitcher who throws in the mid-90's and possible 1B.
Jamie McMahon has had some arm problems at Oak Grove, but he may be better now- he had 10 K's Friday. He is just learning how to pitch- this is his second year to do it.
Taylor Stark has disappointed me at the plate. He is hitting .316, and I'd like to see him hit in the .400's. He has great speed, is a good defender, and some pop. He was a Dandy Dozen guy from Northwest Rankin.
Our CF of the future is CT Bradford, who was a Louisville Slugger AA, and then we have two players from Fairhope HS in Alabama that made the Louisville SLugger AA team in Daryl Norris- another potential dual position guy who I think will be a weekend starter for us who throws in the low 90's, and Garrett Pitts, who will be probably be a catcher for us. Then there's Adam Frazier from Georgia who is about to hold the Georgia record for doubles and yep- is a Louisville Slugger AA.
Corey Dickerson is a JUCO from Meridian who has been drafted by the Rockies and we will have to fight MLB to get him. The only other JUCO's we've signed are Brett Bozeman, a catcher, and Tim Statz a pitcher who just had Tommy John surgery that we initially signed two years ago.
A guy that I really like is Ross Mitchell from Tennessee. He is a LH pitcher who has a Big League pedigree- his Dad and uncle pitched in the Big Leagues.
I have not really looked at Evan Mitchell too much to be honest, and then we have Victor Diaz, who I'm not really expecting much from. he's the pitcher from New Jersey that's like 5'10" that Gene thinks will grow to 6'1". I don't know why we are taking a chance on him to be honest.
Overall, I think it's a very good class. Especially when you are talking the middle of the field- 2B, SS, and CF and then we got some more good pitchers. What we need to address in our next class because Bright, Carlos Leal, and Nick Ray all left is the corner positions. I would like to see Luke Bole take a few at bats this year, because I think he can be a pretty good weapon for us as a RF/P. He hit 20 home runs last year in HS and has a pretty good swing. I would love to get Kaleb Barlow, but it's just not very realistic. I think Barlow leaves in the MLB draft. We also could use another catcher, I think. I would kind of like to go get Austin Knight from Sumrall at catcher, and to replace Bright, I would like to get Brandon Woodruff from Wheeler.
I think it will come down to MSU/USM with him.
1. He fills a need at the corner positions.
2. He is a legit player. He is 6'4", 215, hit .515 last year, with 11 home runs, and he has good speed. He is a Dandy Dozen baseball player and a Louisville Slugger AA. Those are better numbers than Chase Luwallen, who is highly sought after and is his teammate.
3. We should have a spot since we kicked Ethan Bright off of the team, and Coty Blanchard- who I didn't particularly care for- decommitted.
I think Cohen has put together another good class. Demarcus Henderson is a guy that I'm really excited about. I saw someone on Gene's Mississippi Hardball site rate him higher than Kaleb Barlow of Prep. I rolled my eyes, but then I looked up the numbers and Demarcus right now is hitting over .700 with just as many home runs as Barlow (3) against better competition and I think he is our SS of the future. He is another Louisville Slugger AA
Chase Luwallen is hitting over .420 right now and is playing well. Also, a Louisville Slugger AA.
Braydon Jones of MC is hitting .391 and hit a home run on Fri. Our fans our going to like him- think Rusty Thoms type guy. Probably a third baseman/LF/DH guy. Great leader, and good hustle player. And yes, a Louisville Slugger AA.
Wes Rea of Harrison Central hit two home runs last night, and I think he has three on the year. He could be a dual position guy- he is going to be a relief pitcher who throws in the mid-90's and possible 1B.
Jamie McMahon has had some arm problems at Oak Grove, but he may be better now- he had 10 K's Friday. He is just learning how to pitch- this is his second year to do it.
Taylor Stark has disappointed me at the plate. He is hitting .316, and I'd like to see him hit in the .400's. He has great speed, is a good defender, and some pop. He was a Dandy Dozen guy from Northwest Rankin.
Our CF of the future is CT Bradford, who was a Louisville Slugger AA, and then we have two players from Fairhope HS in Alabama that made the Louisville SLugger AA team in Daryl Norris- another potential dual position guy who I think will be a weekend starter for us who throws in the low 90's, and Garrett Pitts, who will be probably be a catcher for us. Then there's Adam Frazier from Georgia who is about to hold the Georgia record for doubles and yep- is a Louisville Slugger AA.
Corey Dickerson is a JUCO from Meridian who has been drafted by the Rockies and we will have to fight MLB to get him. The only other JUCO's we've signed are Brett Bozeman, a catcher, and Tim Statz a pitcher who just had Tommy John surgery that we initially signed two years ago.
A guy that I really like is Ross Mitchell from Tennessee. He is a LH pitcher who has a Big League pedigree- his Dad and uncle pitched in the Big Leagues.
I have not really looked at Evan Mitchell too much to be honest, and then we have Victor Diaz, who I'm not really expecting much from. he's the pitcher from New Jersey that's like 5'10" that Gene thinks will grow to 6'1". I don't know why we are taking a chance on him to be honest.
Overall, I think it's a very good class. Especially when you are talking the middle of the field- 2B, SS, and CF and then we got some more good pitchers. What we need to address in our next class because Bright, Carlos Leal, and Nick Ray all left is the corner positions. I would like to see Luke Bole take a few at bats this year, because I think he can be a pretty good weapon for us as a RF/P. He hit 20 home runs last year in HS and has a pretty good swing. I would love to get Kaleb Barlow, but it's just not very realistic. I think Barlow leaves in the MLB draft. We also could use another catcher, I think. I would kind of like to go get Austin Knight from Sumrall at catcher, and to replace Bright, I would like to get Brandon Woodruff from Wheeler.
I think it will come down to MSU/USM with him.
DirtyLopez said:
is to bring in these Freshmen, let them get a few starts, at bats and etc., but at the same time, we will have a buffer with these JUCO guys who will be seniors next year. Then by the time next years freshmen are sophomores, they will be ready to start.
Don't be shocked if a few of the freshmen win jobs next year to.
Oh, and I'll add- we need to get Jarrod Parks brother from Madison Central. He is hitting well over .500 right now. I'm going to keep my eye on him. But not in a stalking way of course. His name is Stanford Parks.
does Posey seriously not have any offers? I know (or so I was told by someone whowouldn't bs me)last year during the CUSA tournament, after one of the games was over usm's former and current coaches were all over him in one of the skytrailers. And concerning Lewellen, people around this area always say the same thing about the guy and that is that he is just a damn good baseball player, which I take as meaning that he is a "gamer" which is what you want out of that position.
I heard the Lewellen kid didn't make the grades and he will not be coming to State. I saw Posey play a while back and while he is big I wasn't that impressed with his stroke. Really long which you can get away with in high school but will haunt you in college.
I have seen Sumrall first hand and Jackson Posey could be a corner player on the DI level. He has the size to develop into a Connor Powers type hitter. Austin Knight is not DI material he is the coaches son and a good high school player but if you have seen him play you know he is not a high level player. His arm strength and athleticism are questionable will probably make a good Juco who could potentially play at DSU if he develops.
And yes, last I heard both MSU and USM were "looking at him." That interview was after the season was over, so I assume it was after the tournament you are speaking of.
According to an interview with him a LONG time ago, he had no offers.
As of now, he would be going to PRCC.
Personal opinion- I think he wants to go MSU. USM may very well have offered him, but I think he is hoping to get an offer from us this spring so that he can go play with his teammates Luwallen and Jared Miller. Cohen has made a nice pipeline with the Sumrall program. Look for Austin Knight, HC Larry Knight's son, to get an offer from us an a token of thanks.
According to an interview with him a LONG time ago, he had no offers.
As of now, he would be going to PRCC.
Personal opinion- I think he wants to go MSU. USM may very well have offered him, but I think he is hoping to get an offer from us this spring so that he can go play with his teammates Luwallen and Jared Miller. Cohen has made a nice pipeline with the Sumrall program. Look for Austin Knight, HC Larry Knight's son, to get an offer from us an a token of thanks.
but I think it's just a rumor. If he had grade issues, I suspect that Cohen would have handled it a la Donnie Tabb last year where Tabb committed verbally, but was not part of the signing class. Since Lewallen signed a LOI with us in Nov., I would take that as a good sign.
was the guy from Alabama who was trying to decide between MSU baseball and Alabama football. He verbally committed to us and wanted to play QB for us, but Dan didn't want to offer him a football scholarship. He verbally commits to us in baseball, then Saban offered him a chance to play football at Bama- not sure if it was a scholarship or walk-on- but, he decommits from MSU baseball. He went back and forth several times.
Hey Todd, I heard that from a pretty reliable source but I guess we will wait and see. <div>Todd4State said:
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