PGCROSSCHECKER COLLEGE TEAM SCOUTING REPORT

40. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (25-33, did not qualify for NCAA post-season play).

Conference/Projected Finish: Pacific-10/6^th (11-13, T-5^th in 2006).

Coach: Chad Kreuter (first year; manager in Oakland Athletics system in 2006).

First Game: Jan. 30 vs. Cal Poly.

OVERVIEW: USC will seek to rebound from a poor 2006 season that cost Mike Gillespie his coaching job. The Trojans stayed in the family in finding a replacement, tapping Gillespie’s son-in-law, former big league catcher Chad Kreuter. Kreuter’s work will be cut out for him as five of the team’s top six hitters are gone. The strength of the team should be an infield that returns junior 1B Lucas Duda (.298-3-36), junior 2B Matt Cusick (.369-4-35), senior 3B Hector Estrella (.289-3-30) and adds top freshman SS Grant Green, a 14^th-round pick of the Padres.

X-Factor: The Trojans deteriorated from 41 wins in 2005 to 25 in 2006 in large measure because No. 1 starter and Yankees first-round draft pick Ian Kennedy dropped from a 12-3, 2.50 record in 2006 to 5-7, 3.90 in 2005 and ace closer Paul Koss experienced an even sharper decline, slipping from a 4-1, 2.81 record and 14 saves in 2005 to 0-8, 6.28 with six saves a year ago. The ability of Koss to rebound and someone to step into Kennedy’s shoes will go a long way to determining USC’s fortunes this year.

TOP FRESHMAN: Robert Stock, c-rhp. Stock would have been one of the first high school players selected in this year’s draft had he not opted to forgo his senior year and enroll at USC as a 17-year-old. A power-hitting catcher, Stock has already benefited from the tutelage of Kreuter behind the plate and should quickly emerge as one of the best catchers in the college game. He’ll concentrate mostly on catching as a freshman, but will also be used out of the bullpen at the end of games. His fastball was clocked at 91-93 mph in the fall and he complemented it with an excellent changeup.

TOP SOPHOMORE: Tommy Milone, rhp. Milone (7-4, 4.94) and fellow sophomore RHP Ryan Cook (4-4, 5.97) will be counted on to pick up the slack at the front of the rotation with the departure of Kennedy. Milone’s fastball isn’t overpowering, but his stuff, notably his curveball, is vastly improved. He projects as an eighth- to 12^th-round pick in 2008. 

TOP JUNIOR: Matt Cusick, 2b. Cusick is one of the steadiest players on the field and has made a seamless transition from third base to second. He has outstanding makeup, but none of his tools grade out particularly high, although he has an exceptional approach to hitting and a knack for reaching base. He walked 43 times against 11 strikeouts as a USC junior then topped the Cape Cod League in on-base percentage during the summer.

TOP SENIOR: Paul Koss, rhp. Koss had a precipitous drop in performance in 2006 but had an equally impressive bounce-back summer in the Cape Cod League. His 90-93 mph fastball and nasty slider returned, and his 2-0, 0.00 Cape showing should be an indicator he’ll return to his old form this year. He may be one of the few seniors who becomes a legitimate early-round pick.