C
Collyn Taylor
Guest
This team is slowly coming together on the field, and a lot of questions should get answered over the next few days.
The team practiced for about four innings Sunday with a few bullpen candidates seeing some action on the mound.
--It was headlined, not in a good way, by Carmen Mlodzinski who left the scrimmage with a right foot injury after trying to cover first base. He hurt what appeared to be his ankle and had to be helped off the field. Info on the injury wasn't readily available, and Kingston didn't talk after the scrimmage. I'm going to try and find out something soon on him.
Aside from the injury, Mlodzinski had some struggles finding the zone and walked a few batters before giving up a three-run double to Hunter Taylor. He was up to 93 miles an hour on his fastball on the stadium gun and about 80 on his off-speed.
--John Gilreath pitched again Sunday and looked pretty good. He's hitting about 90 on his fastball from the left side and is confidently throwing a pretty solid curveball as well. He gave up an unearned run in a little over an inning of work.
He will get innings this year as a man out of the bullpen.
--Another guy who saw some innings was Sawyer Bridges, who also had some command issues but worked through them, not allowing a run on three hits. I could see him getting some relief innings this year. He was in the low-to-mid 90s Sunday as well.
--After two homers and two doubles yesterday, Madison Stokes continued to swing a good bat this spring with a home run in his first at-bat. I'm honestly not sure I heard it land. Right now, he'd more than likely be the starting shortstop on Opening Day.
--Chris Cullen's started to come on as of late, roping two doubles down the lines Sunday and is catching really well. Right now it's somewhat of a toss-up on him and Hunter Taylor starting. Both will shoulder the catching load this year.
--Jacob Olson's power showed out Sunday, roping a double that looked like a home run off the bat. He and Jonah Bride also had home runs Saturday and Olson added another Friday. We knew Olson had power but I've been impressed with the power Bride's shown this offseason. He'll be a mainstay at third.
--Speaking of third base, it seems like that position is set for the next few years. Mason Streater's looking really good as Bride's backup this year. He's incredibly solid defensively and has shown a knack for getting on base. I expect him to make the roster and could see some pinch-hit appearances maybe this season.
--Jordan Holladay had a really nice diving stop on a hard-hit ball Sunday before flipping it to the covering pitcher for the out. He's already hitting well as a freshman—at least four homers in the spring—and could develop into an everyday first baseman if his defensive work stays consistent.
It's still a wide open competition for first base between Holladay, Riley Hogan, Matt Williams and LT Tolbert.
--After a somewhat inconsistent fall, Kyle Jacobsen showed why he was a highly-touted recruit coming out of school. He had a couple really well hit balls Saturday.
Kingston mentioned this before but I'll reiterate here:
--Adam Hill is your Friday night starter. Eddy Demurias is the closer. I've like Demurias's game. His velocity isn't what Tyler Johnson's was last year but he's up to 92 and has a better secondary pitch.
--Cody Morris is most likely the Saturday start as the season begins. He's up to 94-96 on his fastball and has shown a really good changeup so far this spring. Ridge and Logan Chapman are still battling for the Sunday spot.
The team practiced for about four innings Sunday with a few bullpen candidates seeing some action on the mound.
--It was headlined, not in a good way, by Carmen Mlodzinski who left the scrimmage with a right foot injury after trying to cover first base. He hurt what appeared to be his ankle and had to be helped off the field. Info on the injury wasn't readily available, and Kingston didn't talk after the scrimmage. I'm going to try and find out something soon on him.
Aside from the injury, Mlodzinski had some struggles finding the zone and walked a few batters before giving up a three-run double to Hunter Taylor. He was up to 93 miles an hour on his fastball on the stadium gun and about 80 on his off-speed.
--John Gilreath pitched again Sunday and looked pretty good. He's hitting about 90 on his fastball from the left side and is confidently throwing a pretty solid curveball as well. He gave up an unearned run in a little over an inning of work.
He will get innings this year as a man out of the bullpen.
--Another guy who saw some innings was Sawyer Bridges, who also had some command issues but worked through them, not allowing a run on three hits. I could see him getting some relief innings this year. He was in the low-to-mid 90s Sunday as well.
--After two homers and two doubles yesterday, Madison Stokes continued to swing a good bat this spring with a home run in his first at-bat. I'm honestly not sure I heard it land. Right now, he'd more than likely be the starting shortstop on Opening Day.
--Chris Cullen's started to come on as of late, roping two doubles down the lines Sunday and is catching really well. Right now it's somewhat of a toss-up on him and Hunter Taylor starting. Both will shoulder the catching load this year.
--Jacob Olson's power showed out Sunday, roping a double that looked like a home run off the bat. He and Jonah Bride also had home runs Saturday and Olson added another Friday. We knew Olson had power but I've been impressed with the power Bride's shown this offseason. He'll be a mainstay at third.
--Speaking of third base, it seems like that position is set for the next few years. Mason Streater's looking really good as Bride's backup this year. He's incredibly solid defensively and has shown a knack for getting on base. I expect him to make the roster and could see some pinch-hit appearances maybe this season.
--Jordan Holladay had a really nice diving stop on a hard-hit ball Sunday before flipping it to the covering pitcher for the out. He's already hitting well as a freshman—at least four homers in the spring—and could develop into an everyday first baseman if his defensive work stays consistent.
It's still a wide open competition for first base between Holladay, Riley Hogan, Matt Williams and LT Tolbert.
--After a somewhat inconsistent fall, Kyle Jacobsen showed why he was a highly-touted recruit coming out of school. He had a couple really well hit balls Saturday.
Kingston mentioned this before but I'll reiterate here:
--Adam Hill is your Friday night starter. Eddy Demurias is the closer. I've like Demurias's game. His velocity isn't what Tyler Johnson's was last year but he's up to 92 and has a better secondary pitch.
--Cody Morris is most likely the Saturday start as the season begins. He's up to 94-96 on his fastball and has shown a really good changeup so far this spring. Ridge and Logan Chapman are still battling for the Sunday spot.
