36.
VIRGINIA
2008 RECORD. Overall:
39-23
(Advanced to NCAA regional). Conference: 15-15 / 4th in ACC (Coastal).
Coach: Brian O’Connor (216-89, 6th
season).
First Game, 2009:
Feb. 20
vs. Bucknell.
OVERVIEW: With a projected starting lineup
that includes seven freshmen and sophomores,
Virginia
will be one of the younger teams in the country. Yet, for all their youth, the Cavaliers
are talented and there is no reason they shouldn’t make a run at a post-season berth—if
not an ACC title.
Virginia
will lean heavily on veterans like senior RHP Andrew Carraway, junior closer Matt
Packer and junior SS Tyler Cannon, but in the end the most valuable Cavalier might
be freshman Danny Hultzen, who will start at first base and take a regular turn
in the rotation.
PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP
C: Franco Valdes, Jr. (.232-2-21).
1B: Danny Hultzen, Fr. (Diamondbacks/10th
round).
2B: Phil Gosselin (3), So. (.305-3-20).
3B: Steven Proscia, Fr. (Twins/39th
round).
SS: Tyler Cannon, Jr. (.252-1-32; 14
SB).
LF: David Coleman, So. (.288-0-21, 10
SB).
CF: Jarrett Parker, So. (.264-0-16;
14 SB).
RF: Dan Grovatt (4), So. (.324-3-46,
10 SB).
DH: John Barr (1), So. (.325-0-19).
1/Starter: Andrew Carraway,
Sr. (4-3, 4.06; 75 IP/87 SO).
2/Starter: Neal Davis,
Jr. (4-0, 1.58, 40 IP/39 SO).
3/Starter: Danny Hultzen,
Fr. (Diamondbacks/10th round).
Closer: Matt Packer, Jr. (*6-3, *1.14, 2
SV, 71 IP/58 SO).
BEST TOOLS
Best Athlete: Tyler Cannon.
Best Overall Hitter:
Dan Grovatt.
Best Power Hitter:
Phil Gosselin.
Best Strike-Zone Discipline:
David
Coleman.
Fastest Base Runner (60 time):
Jarrett Parker (6.7 seconds).
Best Base Runner:
Tyler
Cannon.
Best Defender: Tyler Cannon.
Best Infield Arm:
Tyler
Cannon.
Best Outfield Arm:
Dan Grovatt.
Best Fastball (velocity):
Danny
Hultzen (93 mph).
Best Breaking Ball:
Matt Packer.
Best Changeup: Neal Davis.
Best Command: Andew Carraway.
TOP FRESHMAN PROSPECT: Danny Hultzen,
lhp-1b.
Hultzen, a
Washington, D.C.
, prep product, was a name that shot up draft boards so quickly last spring that
there was a point where he was mentioned as a potential first-rounder. But Hultzen
just as quickly quashed all that speculation when he indicated he was unsignable,
no matter what the cost. Hultzen is a legit two-way player at the college level,
but his upside for pro purposes is clearly on the mound. He has a very good feel
for pitching, a loose, easy arm action and a fastball that sits in the 89-93 mph
range. His off-speed pitches are more of a work in progress, but he has all the
makings of being a first-rounder in 2011.
TOP SOPHOMORE PROSPECT: Jarrett
Parker, of.
At 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds, with 6.7-speed in the 60, Parker is one of the more
intriguing physical specimens in his draft class. He gained 20 pounds last summer
and will be expected to improve significantly on his power production after producing
no homers (and just seven extra-base hits in 148 at-bats) as a freshman.
TOP JUNIOR PROSPECT:
Tyler
Cannon, ss.
Cannon spent most of his freshman season at shortstop, and returns to the position
after moving to third as a sophomore. He has the athletic ability to play a variety
of positions, but seems ideally-suited for shortstop and has an opportunity to become
a high-level defender with good arm strength and quickness that should translate
well to the next level. A switch-hitter, Cannon has shown flashes with the bat but
will need to become more consistent at the plate to move into an elite round in
the draft in June.
TOP SENIOR PROSPECT: Andrew Carraway,
rhp. Jacob Thompson held
down the top spot in the Cavaliers rotation the past three years, but now it’s the
steadily-improving Carraway’s turn to take a stab at the Friday job. He appears
well-suited for the assignment as he has a solid four-pitch mix with a fastball
in the 88-92 range, and great pitchability.
--JEFF SIMPSON