15. GEORGIA TECH

2008 RECORD. Overall: 41-21. (Advanced to NCAA regional). Conference: 16-14 / 5^th in ACC.

Coach: Danny Hall (652-294, 16^th season at Georgia Tech; 860-411 overall in 21 seasons).

First Game, 2009: Feb. 20 vs. Lipscomb.

OVERVIEW: Offensively, the Yellow Jackets look like the class of the ACC with the return of seven starters from a team that hit .308 with 92 home runs in 2008. Four players are back that reached double-digits, including sophomore SS Derek Dietrich, who homered 14 times and topped the Jackets with 66 RBIs. The pitching staff is also relatively intact. Two starters must be replaced, but 6-foot-6, 230-pound sophomore RHP Deck McGuire positioned himself as a possible first-round pick in 2010 off a dominating summer-ball season.

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP

C: Jason Haniger, Sr. (.329-10-34).

1B: Tony Plagman (4), Jr. (.306-*16-45).

2B: Thomas Nichols, So. (.283-7-36).

3B: Matt Skole, Fr. (HS—Woodstock, Ga.).

SS: Derek Dietrich (3), So. (.332-14-*66).

LF: Chris House, Sr. (.245-1-10).

CF: Jeff Rowland (1), So. (.335-4-26, *22 SB).

RF: Luke Murton, Sr. (.332-12-51, *25 2B).

DH: Patrick Long, Jr. (.276-0-9).

1/Starter: Deck McGuire, So. (*8-1, 3.46, 78 IP/70 SO).

2/Starter: Brandon Cumpton, So. (2-1, 7.19, 46 IP/40 SO).

3/Starter: Zack Von Tersch, Jr. (7-5, 4.33, 73 IP/49 SO).

Closer: Mark Pople, Fr. (Braves/17^th round).

BEST TOOLS

Best Athlete: Jeff Rowland.

Best Overall Hitter: Derek Dietrich.

Best Power Hitter: Derek Dietrich / Tony Plagman.

Best Strike-Zone Discipline: Jeff Rowland.

Fastest Base Runner (60 time): Jeff Rowland (6.5 seconds).

Best Base Runner: Jeff Rowland.

Best Defender: Jason Haniger / Tony Plagman.

Best Infield Arm: Derek Dietrich.

Best Outfield Arm: Chase Burnette.

Best Fastball (velocity): Kevin Jacob (94 mph).

Best Breaking Ball: Deck McGuire.

Best Changeup: Deck McGuire / Andrew Robinson.

Best Command: Deck McGuire.

TOP FRESHMAN PROSPECT: Mark Pope, rhp. A very polished pitcher for his age, the 6-foot-2, 195-pound Pope fell to the middle rounds of last year’s draft because of signability concerns. The Jackets showed no hesitation installing him as their closer as a freshman. Pope has two plus pitches needed for the role: a sinking fastball in the 89-93 mph range with an above-average breaking ball.

TOP SOPHOMORE PROSPECT: Derek Dietrich, ss / Deck McGuire, rhp. Dietrich was a premium third-round pick in 2007 out of an Ohio high school who wound up at Georgia Tech when the Houston Astros refused to go over slot to meet his bonus demands. McGuire was passed over in the same draft out of a Virginia high school. But both prospects appear destined to be first-round picks in 2010. Dietrick is a significant middle-of-the-order offensive threat for a shortstop with power to all fields. His arm is also well above-average. McGuire has command of four pitches, including a fastball in the 89-93 mph range.

TOP JUNIOR PROSPECT: Tony Plagman, 1b. Plagman is a solid defender at first base and has the ability to drive balls out of any part of the field. He homered 16 times as a sophomore, and could easily surpass that total this year.

TOP SENIOR PROSPECT: Jason Haniger, c. After serving as a back-up to rising big league star Matt Wieters for two years, Haniger had a breakout season of his own in 2008. It led to his being drafted in the 19^th round by the Pittsburgh Pirates, but Haniger decided he could improve his stock by returning to school for his senior year. His defensive ability and power are his primary strengths.

--JEFF SIMPSON