52. CAL POLY

2008 RECORD. Overall: 24-32. Conference: 8-16 / 7th in Big West.

Coach: Larry Lee (186-154, 7^th season).

First Game, 2009: Feb. 20 vs. No. 9 Rice.

 

OVERVIEW: Cal Poly had high hopes for the 2008 season, but injuries and inconsistent performance caused the Mustangs to fall far short of expectations. Despite losing 3B Brent Morel (.368-8-60) and OF Logan Schafer (.365-9-49), the team’s top two hitters who were both among the first 100 players drafted last June, the outlook remains bright for 2009. Four Cal Poly players drafted in 2008—RHP Kevin Castner, LHP Jared Eskew, RHP D.J. Mauldin and OF Luke Yoder—returned to school, and junior 3B Adam Buschini and sophomore LHP Matt Leonard are back after missing the 2008 season because of injury. Yoder and 1B Wes Dorrell, both juniors, will anchor the offense, while ace RHP Steve Fischback returns to lead a very deep pitching staff. Castner, a 10^th-round pick of the Texas Rangers, could be a key at the back end of the bullpen. He has a first-round quality arm but injuries and an inability to throw consistent strikes have stalled his development.

 

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP

C: Justin Hensley, Sr. (.162-0-5).

1B: Wes Dorrell (4), Jr. (.304-5-54).

2B: Matt Jensen, Fr. (Mariners/11^th round).

3B: Adam Buschini, Jr. (Injured in 2008; .294-4-29 in 2007).

SS: Kyle Smith, Jr. (.250-2-27).

LF: Luke Yoder (3), Jr. (.345-8-33, 11 SB).

CF: Ryan Lee (1), Sr. (.357-0-21, *13 SB).

RF: Adam Melker, Jr. (.314-1-17).

DH: D.J. Gentile, So. (.163-0-2).

1/Starter: Steve Fischback, Jr. (*5-4, 4.55, *85 IP/*79 SO).

2/Starter: Jared Eskew, Sr. (*5-4, 4.11, 70 IP/50 SO).

3/Starter: Matt Leonard, So. (Injured in 2008; 3-5, 5.85 in 2007).

Closer: Kevin Castner, Jr. (1-2, 5.46, 1 SV, 29 IP/40 SO).

 

BEST TOOLS

Best Athlete: Ryan Lee.

Best Overall Hitter: Ryan Lee.

Best Power Hitter: Wes Dorrell.

Best Strike-Zone Discipline: Wes Dorrell.

Fastest Base Runner (60 time): Ryan Lee.

Best Base Runner: Ryan Lee.

Best Defender: Kyle Smith.

Best Infield Arm: Kyle Smith.

Best Outfield Arm: Ryan Lee.

Best Fastball (velocity): Kevin Castner (96 mph).

Best Breaking Ball: Jared Eskew.

Best Changeup: Mason Radeke.

Best Command: Steve Fischback.

 

TOP FRESHMAN PROSPECT: Matt Jensen, 2b-rhp. Jensen turned down the Seattle Mariners’ 11^th-round offer last June to attend Cal Poly, and has moved right into the starting lineup. He also has a chance to contribute on the mound as a two-way prospect. Scouts were split on his future worth leading up to the draft, but a slight majority seemed to favor him more as an everyday player. He has a strong, compact body with average power at the plate, and solid hands with above-average arm strength in the field. He also has been clocked at 89-91 mph off the mound with good snap to his curveball.

TOP SOPHOMORE PROSPECT: Matt Leonard, lhp. Leonard returns to the rotation after missing the 2008 season due to Tommy John surgery. He was the Mustangs’ Saturday starter for much of his freshman season.

TOP JUNIOR PROSPECT: Steve Fischback, rhp. Fischback has two potentially-dominating pitches in a fastball that has been clocked consistently at 90-93 mph and peaks at 94, and an 81-84 mph power slider with late, downer action. He also shows a feel for a changeup, giving him a solid three-pitch mix needed to settle in as a starter at the professional level. If he can improve on the modest success he enjoyed as a sophomore, he could edge towards the first round of the draft in June.

TOP SENIOR PROSPECT: Jared Eskew, lhp. Eskew’s raw stuff doesn’t measure up to most of the other arms on the Cal Poly staff. His fastball typically ranges from 84-87 mph and touches 90, and his curve and changeup are also average offerings, at best. Eskew relies mostly on feel and finesse for his success. He was drafted in the 48^th round last June by the Baltimore Orioles after an indifferent 2008 season at Cal Poly, and projects as a lefthanded set-up man or specialist the pro level.

--DAVID RAWNSLEY