PGCROSSCHECKER COLLEGE TEAM SCOUTING REPORT

9. MIAMI (43-23, advanced to College World Series).

Conference/Projected Finish: Atlantic Coast/4^th (17-13, 5^th in 2006).

Coach: Jim Morris (606-220, 13 years).

First Game: Feb. 2 vs. Mercer.

OVERVIEW: The Hurricanes return their top four starters in junior LHPs Scott Maine (12-3, 4.57) and Manny Migueles (8-4, 4.31), junior RHP Carlos Gutierrez (9-7, 4.40) and senior RHP Danny Gil (4-3, 2.66). They will build a depleted offense around sophomore 1B Yonder Alonso (.295-10-69), the team’s home run and RBI leader, and sophomore 2B Jemile Weeks (.352-6-40), the team’s best overall talent. Sophomore OFs David DiNitale (.276-2-26 at Central Florida ), Dennis Raben (.285-8-32) and Blake Tekotte (.286-4-30) will all be fine complementary pieces.

X-Factor: Miami does not have a set replacement for departed first-rounder Chris Perez (4-1, 1.79, 12 SV), one of the nation’s premier closers. Six-foot-5 junior RHP Enrique Garcia, a 20^th-round pick in 2006 who led Potomac State (W.Va.) to consecutive Junior College World Series appearances, will get first crack. A mid-90s fastball and mid-80s slider are his best pitches.

TOP FRESHMAN: Mark Sobolewski, 3b. The Hurricanes will try and get the most they can as quickly as they can out of this fundamentally-sound player because they may have him for only two years. A 20^th-round pick last June, he’ll be eligible for the draft again after his sophomore year.

TOP SOPHOMORE: Jemile Weeks, 2b. Weeks still needs to refine aspects of his game, but he is a more advanced player at the same stage of his development than his older brother Rickie, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2003 draft.

TOP JUNIOR: Scott Maine, lhp. Tommy John surgery and head injuries he sustained in a car accident have stalled his development, but Maine ’s career is clearly on the upswing. He won 12 games a year ago with a fastball that topped out at 93 mph.

TOP SENIOR: Danny Gil, rhp. The Hurricanes are scheduled to start three seniors in the field, but none is expected play as significant a role as Gil, who is slotted as the No. 2 starter in the rotation behind Maine .