Coming back from Tommy John surgery takes time, and I'm getting the idea that Avery Santos very well could be the perfect example of this. He seems to be getting a lot of positive mentions in fall ball and in this preseason. I'm thinking he could get a fair amount of time out of the bullpen this coming season.
UConn Baseball 2019
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Coming back from Tommy John surgery takes time, and I'm getting the idea that Avery Santos very well could be the perfect example of this. He seems to be getting a lot of positive mentions in fall ball and in this preseason. I'm thinking he could get a fair amount of time out of the bullpen this coming season.
2019 Conference Previews: The American | D1Baseball
UConn is picked for a third place finish behind East Carolina and Houston. Four teams (UCF the fourth team) picked to make the NCAA tourney.
The writeup has Chase Gardner as one of the three weekend starters, with Colby Dunlop as the wild card for the pitching staff. I'm inclined to think the UConn coaches will probably stick with with their original plan to move Gardner to the pen, with Dunlop the Sunday starter. Don't know if the writer has new info or what, but Penders has always had the tendency to want to go with a young and very talented pitcher such as Dunlop and try to quickly shoehorn them into a weekend starting spot. These pitchers may take a few lumps, but many times they develop into quality pitchers. Hopefully Dunlop is on something of the Wills Montgomerie track of development. I expect Gardner would be one of the fall back options in case Dunlop doesn't work out. I would think the upcoming coaches interviews with Chris Jones will have more information on how this might go.
The story also lists Randy Polonia as one of the options out of the bullpen, so hopefully the writer has some information that he is able to pitch again.
UConn is picked for a third place finish behind East Carolina and Houston. Four teams (UCF the fourth team) picked to make the NCAA tourney.
The writeup has Chase Gardner as one of the three weekend starters, with Colby Dunlop as the wild card for the pitching staff. I'm inclined to think the UConn coaches will probably stick with with their original plan to move Gardner to the pen, with Dunlop the Sunday starter. Don't know if the writer has new info or what, but Penders has always had the tendency to want to go with a young and very talented pitcher such as Dunlop and try to quickly shoehorn them into a weekend starting spot. These pitchers may take a few lumps, but many times they develop into quality pitchers. Hopefully Dunlop is on something of the Wills Montgomerie track of development. I expect Gardner would be one of the fall back options in case Dunlop doesn't work out. I would think the upcoming coaches interviews with Chris Jones will have more information on how this might go.
The story also lists Randy Polonia as one of the options out of the bullpen, so hopefully the writer has some information that he is able to pitch again.
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This is awesome!!! Greg Nappo and I work for the same baseball facility. We have become good friends. He and I recently had a great conversation about this “round-table”. He said although he felt old (LOL), he enjoyed the opportunity to sit down with his fellow alumni and the current Husky pitchers to discuss his experiences and the culture that UConn baseball has created.
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I did see Randy polonia on one of social media accounts pitching off a mound as recently as a couple days ago. So he is at least in the mix to make the team and it was a good sign. Man when that kid was on as a freshman and threw strikes he really looked the part. Two years is a long time to be away but how can you not root for him?? Would be a hell of a story.
I expect that if Polonia is able to pitch he will be on the team.
Cleaning up a few UConn related loose ends from D1baseball.com and their preseason preview on the AAC. The website has Mason Feole as the AAC Pitcher of the Year.
The preview also has a listing for top prospects and impact freshmen.
There is a Top 50 listing for AAC players eligible for the 2019 MLB draft. The following UConn players are listed:
5. Mason Feole
6. Jacob Wallace
10. Anthony Prato
25. Chris Winkel
28. Chase Gardner
46. John Toppa
There is a Top 20 listing for AAC players eligible for the 2020 MLB draft. Here are the UConn players listed:
8. Colby Dunlop
19. Joe Simeone
And finally, the UConn players listed in their AAC Top 20 Impact Freshmen.
2. Pat Winkel
8. Kyler Fedko
14. Will Lucas
17. Jake Sanderson
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I saw this yesterday, 15 players listed, non of them newcomers to the team. Also, no players listed who I figure are in danger of being cut from the team.
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Quick summary. Overall, the coaches like the depth and versatility of the position players on the team. This interviewed focused on the outfield positions. Woodworth sounds like he could be as impressive defensively in center field as he was at 2B last season. For right field, two players were mentioned, Mike Chiovitti and Anthony Nucerino. Based on the interview I would think Chiovitti is ahead in this race. Both Chiovitti and Nucerino are capable of playing all three outfield positions well. Nucerino doesn't hit for average, but he does a lot of things well, including getting on base. The coaches really seem to like his versatility.
Before this interview, I was thinking that Nucerino was one of the players who were on the team last season that could have ended up getting cut from the squad this season. From the sound of the interview, it sounds like his place on the team is solid, and Nucerino could get a lot of time as the fourth outfielder.
2019 College Top 350 Prospects | D1Baseball
This focuses on players eligible for the 2019 draft. UConn players listed are:
86. Mason Feole
99. Jacob Wallace
226. Anthony Prato
This focuses on players eligible for the 2019 draft. UConn players listed are:
86. Mason Feole
99. Jacob Wallace
226. Anthony Prato
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As mentioned before, sounds like Christian Fedko will join Prato and Chris Winkel as regulars in the infield. Once again, confirmation that Fedko's defense is much improved at 2B. Brodnansky and Langer described as professional hitters. Pack of guys who could be in the mix at 3B. It wouldn't surprise me if Conor Moriarty gets first crack. Coach Hourigan says he is one of the best defensive players in the conference at 3B. With his speed and power, I suspect he will keep the spot if he can hit .250 or better. If not, he goes back to being a late inning defensive replacement. As reported before, Pat Winkel, Kyler Fedko, and Will Lucas all look very good as freshmen players. Pat Winkel sounds like the leader at catcher, although Thad Phillips and especially Pau Gozzo could get looks there as well. In addition to Phillips who is probably the leader at the D.H. spot, several other players could very well get time there as well.
Also, always a chance that Will Lucas or Kyler Fedko could get a little time in the outfield. That's been suggested in previous articles and interviews. I wouldn't be surprised if one of them gets moved out there next season.
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Better get Chase stretched out to start
Feole not pitching isn't good, but if he only misses two weeks it is not the end of the world. Just hope it doesn't turn into a Tim Cate situation where he missed most of the season.
Gardner would be one option. At this point I'm really interested in hearing the upcoming Chris Jones interview on the pitching staff. Usually it will mention those pitchers who have been stretched out for possible pitching starts. Jeff Kersten and Colby Dunlop would no doubt be givens in this regard, I'm guessing Joe Simeone as well, but we don't know for sure. There could be a freshman or two in the mix as well. It wouldn't surprise me if Gardner gets the nod primarily due to his past experience. His problem last year was that he usually would only be effective for a few innings before he would start losing it, which is the reason for moving him to the bullpen where he would certainly pitch in shorter stints.
Also, UConn will need a fourth starter beginning in the third weekend of the season, so this could play into the decision as well. Whoever that fourth starter is may just end up being moved up to the first two weekends as well.
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Just checked roster is partially up. On the website are the obvious choices for who will be on the team so don't get too excited. Its funny that the no brainers are put on there first rather than all at once.
Still waiting for Coach Mac's review of the pitchers...
Still waiting for Coach Mac's review of the pitchers...
Always interested in the preseason coach interviews. As always, I'm interested to hear of incoming pitchers who have a chance to contribute this season.
By coincidence Johnson, Sanderson, and Briggs were all involved in collegiate summer leagues last year. They all got a number of mentions on twitter during fall ball games as well. One would guess these guys are the most likely to see time, but we'll see how things develop during the season. One of my favorite things to follow during the regular season is to see how the pitching staff develops or not over a period of time.
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Five Quick Hits: Mid-Majors To Watch | D1Baseball
>– CONNECTICUT
Last year, I had the Huskies on this “Five Mid-Majors To Watch” list and sure enough they made noise in the postseason, reaching the championship round of both the AAC Tournament and the Conway Regional. This year, they’ve got all three weekend starters back, including Team USA pitcher Mason Feole and a pair of up-the-middle stalwarts in in Anthony Prado and Michael Woodworth among six returning starters. Unlike ECU though, the Huskies have a rugged nonconference slate and play 21 of their first 22 games on the road. So we might have to wait till April or May to see their best baseball.<
>– CONNECTICUT
Last year, I had the Huskies on this “Five Mid-Majors To Watch” list and sure enough they made noise in the postseason, reaching the championship round of both the AAC Tournament and the Conway Regional. This year, they’ve got all three weekend starters back, including Team USA pitcher Mason Feole and a pair of up-the-middle stalwarts in in Anthony Prado and Michael Woodworth among six returning starters. Unlike ECU though, the Huskies have a rugged nonconference slate and play 21 of their first 22 games on the road. So we might have to wait till April or May to see their best baseball.<
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