30. FRESNO STATE

2008 RECORD. Overall: 47-31 (Won College World Series). Conference: 21-11 / 1^st in Western Athletic Conference.

Coach: Mike Batesole (219-136, 7^th year).

First Game, 2009: Feb. 20 vs. No. 59 Washington .

 

OVERVIEW: The Bulldogs had a magical season in 2008, capping it off by defeating Georgia to win their first College World Series. They overcame a sluggish 8-12 start to the season that forced them to win the WAC tournament championship to even qualify for a regional—and, even then, only as a No. 4 seed. What made their title run even more unlikely is that they also lost their top starting pitcher, RHP Tanner Scheppers (8-2, 2.93), to a shoulder injury just prior to NCAA tournament play and were forced to rely on an overachieving pitching staff to not only overcome the long odds of reaching Omaha—but win, as well. The team’s 31 losses were eight more than the previous high (Stanford, 1988) by a championship team. While it might seem harsh to rank the defending national champion as low as No. 30, only one of the team’s six top pitchers, senior RHP Holden Sprague, returns in 2009, and that will pose the biggest obstacle to any notion of a Fresno State repeat. Junior 3B Tommy Mendoca, the CWS most valuable player, and junior 1B Alan Ahmady, the team’s top hitter, lead an offense that should be plenty competitive.

 

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP

C: Danny Grubb, Sr. (.181-0-12).

1B: Alan Ahmady (4), Jr. (*.386-13-*92).

2B: Gavin Hedstrom, Sr. (.305-7-35).

3B: Tom Mendonca (3), Jr. (.285-*19-70).

SS: Danny Muno (1), So. (.332-3-30, 10 SB).

LF: Brennan Gowens, Fr. (HS—Fresno, Calif.).

CF: Trent Soares, So. (.190-1-12).

RF: Steve Detwiler, Jr. (.256-10-53).

DH: Jordan Ribera, So. (.217-5-16).

1/Starter: Holden Sprague, Sr. (6-2, 3.59, 87 IP/55 SO).

2/Starter: Sean Bonesteele, Jr. (2-2, 6.31, 25 IP/10 SO).

3/Starter: Derek Benny, Fr. (Athletics/45^th round).

Closer: Jake Floethe, So. (1-1, 8.64, 0 SV, 25 IP/20 SO).

 

BEST TOOLS

Best Athlete: Danny Muno.

Best Overall Hitter: Danny Muno.

Best Power Hitter: Tommy Mendonca.

Best Strike-Zone Discipline: Danny Muno.

Fastest Base Runner (60 time): Danny Muno (6.7 seconds).

Best Base Runner: Danny Muno.

Best Defender: Tommy Mendonca.

Best Infield Arm: Tommy Mendonca.

Best Outfield Arm: Steve Detwiler.

Best Fastball (velocity): Derek Benny (92 mph).

Best Breaking Ball: Jake Floethe.

Best Changeup: Sean Bonesteele.

Best Command: Holden Sprague.

 

TOP FRESHMAN PROSPECT: Derek Benny, rhp / Josh Poytress, lhp. The Bulldogs have no experienced arms with proven track records of success to turn to, but it should be only a matter of time before Benny and Poytress, the team’s top two recruits, are ready to step to the forefront. The 6-foot-5, 200-pound Benny throws a heavy, two-seam fastball in the 88-92 mph range and has a solid curveball/changeup combination. Poytress missed most of his senior year of high school with a strained ligament in his elbow, so is a little further behind in his development. But he has three pitches that all show present-average major-league quality and he has a pretty advanced ability to use them. His fastball touches 90 mph, but his two out-pitches are a very hard, sharp upper-70s curveball and a diving split-finger changeup.

TOP SOPHOMORE PROSPECT: Danny Muno, ss. Muno wasn’t even supposed to be Fresno State ’s starting shortstop entering the 2008 season, but ended up starting 73 games at the position and was named the WAC freshman of the year. His performance in the field was erratic as he committed 26 errors, but he was an offensive catalyst in his leadoff role, combining plus speed on the bases with developing power from the left side.

TOP JUNIOR PROSPECT: Tom Mendonca, 3b. Mendonca has huge lefthanded power and hit 19 home runs in 2008 after a slow start. But that power came with lots of empty swings, and Mendonca fanned a college-record 97 times. Inconsistent contact is the only real flaw in his game as he is an excellent defensive third baseman with a powerful arm.

TOP SENIOR PROSPECT: Gavin Hedstrom, 2b. The highly-versatile player started in center field for the Bulldogs as a junior, but will move to second base as a senior. At 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds, Hedstrom is very strong for a middle infielder and has some untapped power potential.

--DAVID RAWNSLEY