29.
ARIZONA
2008 RECORD. Overall: 42-19
(Advanced to NCAA super regional). Conference:
12-12 / 4th in Pac-10.
Coach: Andy Lopez (252-159,
8th season at
Arizona
; 939-577 overall in 26 seasons).
First Game, 2009: Feb.
20 vs.
Sacramento State
.
OVERVIEW: The Wildcats
began the 2008 season ranked No. 1 by PG Crosschecker, and pushed then-No. 1
Miami
to the limit in a prospect-laden, super-regional showdown on
Miami
’s home turf before finally succumbing in a hotly-contested series. With the loss
of four regulars and five quality arms, the Wildcats won’t be expected to close
to within a game of the College World Series again, but considerable talent remains
in No. 1 starter Preston Guilmet, ace closer Jason Stoffel, and offensive stalwarts
like senior 3B Brad Glenn and junior 1B Dillon Baird.
PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP
C: Dwight Childs, Jr. (.193-1-15).
1B: Dillon Baird, Jr. (.318-7-36).
2B: Mike Weldon, Jr. (.329-1-23).
3B: Brad Glenn, Sr. (.302-14-54).
SS: Bryce Ortega, So. (.326-2-26,
13 SB).
LF: Rafael Valenzuela,
So. (.259-0-13).
CF: Bobby Coyle, So. (.277-1-13).
RF: Matt Presley, So. (.200-0-0)
/ Steve Selsky, Fr. (HS—Manhattan Beach, Calif.).
DH: Jeff Bandy, Fr. (Dodgers/41st
round).
1/Starter:
Preston
Guilmet, Sr. (6-4, 4.38, *97 IP/*93
SO).
2/Starter: Matt Veltmann,
So. (3-3, 3.56 at San Diego CC; Yankees/46th round).
3/Starter: Donnie Roach,
Fr. (Angels/40th round).
Closer: Jason Stoffel,
Jr. (4-2, 3.00, *13 SV, 48 IP / 79 SO).
BEST TOOLS
Best Athlete: Bobby Coyle.
Best Overall Hitter: Bobby
Coyle.
Best Power Hitter: Dillon
Baird / Matt Presley.
Best Strike-Zone Discipline:
Mike Weldon.
Fastest Base Runner (60 time):
Bryce Ortega (6.5 seconds).
Best Base Runner: Bryce
Ortega.
Best Defender: Dwight Childs.
Best Infield Arm: Mike
Weldon.
Best Outfield Arm: Steve
Selsky.
Best Fastball (velocity):
Jason Stoffel (98 mph).
Best Breaking Ball:
Preston
Guilmet /
Jason Stoffel.
Best Changeup: Jason Stoffel.
Best Command: Jason Stoffel.
TOP FRESHMAN PROSPECT: Jett Bandy, c.
The 6-foot-4, 210-pound Bandy won’t bump holdover Dwight Childs, possibly the nation’s
best defensive catcher, from his starting job, but he’s a solid, sure-handed receiver
with a plus arm in his own right. He should find significant playing time still,
particularly since he has significant power potential, is capable of playing on
either infield corner and was the most-improved Wildcat in fall competition.
TOP SOPHOMORE PROSPECT:
Matt Presley, of. Presley, a
Colorado
high-school product, got just 10 at-bats as a freshman for the Wildcats and just
needs playing time for his considerable talent to rise to the surface. He’s got
electric bat speed, can run and has adapted well to a move to the outfield.
TOP JUNIOR PROSPECT: Jason Stoffel, rhp. How good a closer is Stoffel?
Arizona
had two pitchers (RHP Ryan Perry and LHP Daniel Schlereth) drafted in the first
round a year ago, and both were used as set-up men to get to Stoffel. With a fastball
that sits at 92-95 mph and has touched 98, and a curve and changeup that are plus
pitches, Stoffel has the raw stuff to be a first-rounder himself, and his nasty
mound presence makes him ideally suited to close—both now and in the big leagues.
TOP SENIOR PROSPECT: Brad Glenn, 3b /
Preston
Guilmet, rhp. Both Glenn (17th round) and Guilmet (22nd
round) were
Oakland
A’s draft picks a year ago, and their senior leadership will be critical for a team
that was otherwise hit hard by the draft. Guilmet slipped noticeably in 2008 from
a 12-2, 1.87 ledger as a sophomore as his fastball was a tick slower and his secondary
stuff wasn’t as crisp or consistent, but he pitched more to his old form in fall
ball. He can be effective even with a fastball that peaks at 87-88 mph because all
his pitches have sink and change planes, and he creates good deception in his unorthodox
delivery. The powerful Glenn recovered from a slow start in 2008 to be a force at
the plate down the stretch for the Wildcats, but he suffered a setback in the fall
when he put his hand through a glass table and missed all of fall competition.
--ALLAN SIMPSON