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D1 Baseball SEC Preview
Projected Order of Finish:
EASTERN DIVISION
(2) Florida
(4) South Carolina
(7) Vanderbilt
Kentucky
Tennessee
Georgia
Missouri
WESTERN DIVISION
(5) LSU
(20) Texas A&M
Ole Miss
Mississippi State
Arkansas
Alabama
Auburn
Projected Regional Teams (9): Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt.
Player of the Year: Jeren Kendall, of, Vanderbilt
Pitcher of the Year: Alex Faedo, rhp, Florida
Freshman of the Year: Grae Kessinger, ss, Ole Miss
......Tennessee hopes this is the year it finally escapes the bottom half of the SEC. While the Vols have something to prove offensively, they could have a very solid weekend rotation, starting with the one-two punch of LHP Zach Warren and RHP Will Neely. Warren will sit in the low-90s with his fastball, along with an effective changeup and breaking ball, while Neely is an absolute grinder who attacks hitters with a fastball that has late life, which in turn makes his changeup and slider more effective offerings. True freshman RHP Garrett Stallings and fellow youngster Zach Linginfelter also are worth watching. Stallings has command of four pitches and works in the low-90s with his fastball, while Linginfelter is an advanced pitcher who can get up to the mid-90s with his fastball and complements that pitch well with a slider. He also continues to develop a changeup. The X-factor for the pitching staff? Clearly, RHP Kyle Serrano. Serrano is finally healthy and has a power arm that can get up to 95-98 at times, along with a power breaking ball. Serrano could be a big-time weapon for the Vols if he can stay healthy and command his offerings Offensively, USC graduate transfer Reggie Southall should provide some experience and production, while Benito Santiago, Jeff Moberg and Jordan Rodgers are experienced guys who have potential. Rodgers finished last season with four homers and showed improved power in the fall, while Moberg is a versatile hitter who could be placed anywhere in the lineup. Theres also advanced youngster Peter Derkay at first base. Derkay showed a mature approach in the fall with gap potential. The offensive X-factor is outfielder Brodie Leftridge, who was a little quiet offensively last year, but who made big strides during the offseason and combines athleticism and speed with power potential.
Projected Order of Finish:
EASTERN DIVISION
(2) Florida
(4) South Carolina
(7) Vanderbilt
Kentucky
Tennessee
Georgia
Missouri
WESTERN DIVISION
(5) LSU
(20) Texas A&M
Ole Miss
Mississippi State
Arkansas
Alabama
Auburn
Projected Regional Teams (9): Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt.
Player of the Year: Jeren Kendall, of, Vanderbilt
Pitcher of the Year: Alex Faedo, rhp, Florida
Freshman of the Year: Grae Kessinger, ss, Ole Miss
......Tennessee hopes this is the year it finally escapes the bottom half of the SEC. While the Vols have something to prove offensively, they could have a very solid weekend rotation, starting with the one-two punch of LHP Zach Warren and RHP Will Neely. Warren will sit in the low-90s with his fastball, along with an effective changeup and breaking ball, while Neely is an absolute grinder who attacks hitters with a fastball that has late life, which in turn makes his changeup and slider more effective offerings. True freshman RHP Garrett Stallings and fellow youngster Zach Linginfelter also are worth watching. Stallings has command of four pitches and works in the low-90s with his fastball, while Linginfelter is an advanced pitcher who can get up to the mid-90s with his fastball and complements that pitch well with a slider. He also continues to develop a changeup. The X-factor for the pitching staff? Clearly, RHP Kyle Serrano. Serrano is finally healthy and has a power arm that can get up to 95-98 at times, along with a power breaking ball. Serrano could be a big-time weapon for the Vols if he can stay healthy and command his offerings Offensively, USC graduate transfer Reggie Southall should provide some experience and production, while Benito Santiago, Jeff Moberg and Jordan Rodgers are experienced guys who have potential. Rodgers finished last season with four homers and showed improved power in the fall, while Moberg is a versatile hitter who could be placed anywhere in the lineup. Theres also advanced youngster Peter Derkay at first base. Derkay showed a mature approach in the fall with gap potential. The offensive X-factor is outfielder Brodie Leftridge, who was a little quiet offensively last year, but who made big strides during the offseason and combines athleticism and speed with power potential.
