10.
SAN DIEGO
2008 RECORD. Overall: 44-17
(Advanced to NCAA regional). Conference:
16-5 / 1st in West Coast Conference.
Coach: Rich Hill (393-236,
11th season).
First Game, 2009: Feb.
20 vs. Southern at
Compton, Calif.
OVERVIEW: San Diego’s pitching
depth is so superior that it has lost pitchers who went a combined 27-8 in 2008,
including first-rounder Brian Matusz (12-2) and two-way star Josh Romanski (9-1),
and yet, plausibly, the Toreros may have a better staff—not to mention a better
team—in 2009. Sophomore RHP Kyle Blair and sophomore LHP Sammy Solis, along with
junior RHP Matt Thomson, all have top-round stuff and performed well in secondary
roles to Matusz and Romanski in 2008. Having closer A.J. Griffin, who has 25 saves
in two years and pitched for Team
USA
last summer, back for a third year doesn’t hurt the pitching staff’s potential,
either. 3B Victor Sanchez, who topped the Toreros in home runs as a freshmen, and
DH James Meador, who’ll bat clean-up, provide the pop for the offense.
PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP
C: Nick McCoy, Jr. (.224-0-12).
1B: Jose Valerio, Jr. (.336-5-26).
2B: Zach Walters, So. (.265-1-13).
3B: Victor Sanchez (3),
So. (.268-*12-47).
SS: Sean Nicol, Sr. (.313-0-27).
LF: Bryan Haar, Fr. (HS—Grossmont, Calif.).
CF: Kevin Muno (1), Jr.
(.326-4-29, *21 SB).
RF: Austin Green, Fr. (Astros/43rd
round).
DH: James Meador (4), Jr.
(*374-6-*57).
1/Starter: Kyle Blair,
So. (8-4, 3.86, 74 IP/99 SO).
2/Starter: Sammy Solis,
So. (3-1, 3.83, 49 IP/42 SO).
3/Starter: Matt Thomson,
Jr. (2-1, 3.86, 32 IP/21 SO).
Closer: A.J. Griffin, Jr.
(1-1, 1.96, *14 SV, 46 IP/49 SO).
BEST TOOLS
Best Athlete: Kevin Muno.
Best Overall Hitter: Victor
Sanchez.
Best Power Hitter: Victor
Sanchez.
Best Strike-Zone Discipline:
James Meador.
Fastest Base Runner (60 time):
Kevin Muno (6.6 seconds).
Best Base Runner: Kevin
Muno.
Best Defender: Sean Nicol.
Best Infield Arm: Victor
Sanchez.
Best Outfield Arm: Austin
Green.
Best Fastball (velocity):
Sammy Solis (95 mph).
Best Breaking Ball: Kyle
Blair.
Best Changeup: A.J. Griffin.
Best Command: A.J. Griffin.
TOP FRESHMAN PROSPECT:
Bryan Haar, of: Haar and fellow freshman
Austin Green are both penciled in for starting outfield positions. The 6-foot-3,
190-pound Haar auditioned for his role by playing with colleges players last summer
in the Alaska League—and not only survived but thrived in that environment. Haar
is an advanced hitter for a freshman, with the athletic ability and speed to play
center field.
TOP SOPHOMORE PROSPECT:
Kyle Blair, rhp. Though Solis and Sanchez,
along with Blair are potential first-round picks in 2010, Blair was more dominant
at times as a freshman and is considered to have a slightly higher upside. He used
a 90-94 mph fastball and outstanding curveball to overmatch hitters a year ago—and,
at times, even overshadowed USD ace Brian Matusz, the fourth pick in last year’s
draft. Against Hawaii-Hilo in a game last March, Blair set a school record with
a 16-strikeout performance.
TOP JUNIOR PROSPECT: Matt Thomson, rhp. The 6-foot-5, 215-pound A.J. Griffin is a higher-profile performer
with a more proven track record than Thomson, but
Griffin
’s stuff is considered just modest by pro standards. The 6-foot-4, 195-pound Thomson
has better raw stuff with a fastball in the 91-93 mph range, touching 94, and his
ability to command the pitch set him apart from almost every pitcher in the Cape
Cod League last summer. His breaking stuff remains more of a work in progress, but
a
big spring
season could vault him to the doorstep of the first round.
TOP SENIOR PROSPECT: Matt Couch, rhp: On a pitching staff filled
with top prospects, Couch is the Toreros wild card. He’s a proven performer with
a 23-7 career mark, and started for three years before missing all but 21 innings
of 2008 after undergoing TJ surgery.
--DAVID RAWNSLEY