59. WASHINGTON

2008 RECORD. Overall: 33-22. Conference: 11-13 / 6^th in Pac-10.

Coach: Joe Ross (559-369, 17^th season).

First Game, 2009: Feb. 20 at No. 30 Fresno State .

 

OVERVIEW: The 2009 Washington baseball season will have a bit of a “what if” connotation to it, regardless of its eventual success on the field. The Huskies will be missing two potential starters in C Max Kwan and 2B Brad Boyer (.303-6-30), both red-shirting due to Tommy John surgery. In addition, junior RHP Cam Nobles (6-4, 3.74) broke his arm during the fall though may return early in the season, and junior OF Sean Meehan (.323-4-15) may be lost most of the season after injuring the labrum in his non-throwing shoulder. Add to that the specter of football standout Jake Locker, one of the most-talented baseball players in the country, not playing again this spring--despite playing last summer in the West Coast League. The Huskies aren’t without their strengths, though. Senior RF Kyle Conley is one of the most explosive power hitters in the Pac-10 and sophomore 1B Troy Scott could join him at that level. Senior RHPs Jason Erickson and Jorden Merry are proven starters and converted 3B Brian Pearl could evolve into a top-round pick after making big strides as a closer in the fall.

 

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP

C: Pierce Rankin, So. (.180-1-5).

1B: Troy Scott (3), So. (.260-7-36).

2B: Julien Pollard, So. (.257-1-5); Doug Cherry, Jr.. (.255-1-6).

3B: Aaron Russell, Jr. (.351-1-9).

SS: David Bentrott (1), So. (.254-1-10).

LF: Jake Rife, Sr. (.267-1-12).

CF: Brendan Gardner-Young, So. (.182-0-2).

RF: Kyle Conley (4), Jr. (.337-*19-*57).

DH: Ty Rasmussen, Jr. (.291-3-19).

1/Starter: Jason Erickson, Sr. (3-3, *3.55, 45 IP/35 SO).

2/Starter: Jorden Merry, Sr. (*8-2, 3.61, 82 IP/69 SO).

3/Starter: Tyler Cheney, Sr. (1-2, 4.70, 23 IP/19 SO).

Closer: Brian Pearl, Jr. (1-0, 1.93, 2 SV, 9 IP/7 SO).

 

BEST TOOLS

Best Athlete: Caleb Brown.

Best Overall Hitter: Troy Scott.

Best Power Hitter: Kyle Conley.

Best Strike-Zone Discipline: Troy Scott.

Fastest Base Runner (60 time): Jake Rife (6.4 seconds).

Best Base Runner: Brendan Gardner-Young.

Best Defender: David Bentrott.

Best Infield Arm: David Bentrott.

Best Outfield Arm: Sean Meehan.

Best Fastball (velocity): Brian Pearl (97 mph).

Best Breaking Ball: Brian Pearl.

Best Changeup: Ben Guidos.

Best Command: Jason Erickson.

 

TOP FRESHMAN PROSPECT: Andrew Kittredge, rhp. Kittredge, a 45^th-round pick of the Seattle Mariners out of a Washington high school, is polished for a freshman and will be counted on as a mid-week starter to begin the season. He pitches in the 89-91 mph area with a hard curveball that’s a potential plus pitch when he stays on top of it.

TOP SOPHOMORE PROSPECT: Troy Scott, 1b. Scott is still growing into his 6-foot-5, 205-pound frame and just starting to scratch his light-tower power potential. Unlike many young power hitters, Scott has good bat-head skills and keeps his swing short and under control much of the time.

TOP JUNIOR PROSPECT: Brian Pearl, rhp / Kyle Conley, of. Pearl started 63 games at third base in his first two years with the Huskies, while throwing only 11 innings. But he converted to pitching full-time in the fall to take advantage of his lightning-quick arm, and his fastball jumped up to 97 mph. He has smooth, easy mechanics for a conversion player. Conley, a 16^th-round pick of the Los Angeles Doders in 2008, is a fourth-year junior who red-shirted in 2007 after surgery on his left (non-throwing) shoulder. Though he has a history of being streaky at the plate, he’s an advanced hitter with plus power to all fields. Conley moves very well for a 6-foot-4, 210-pound athlete and can play both right and left fields.

TOP SENIOR PROSPECT: Jason Erickson, rhp. Erickson doesn’t have elite-level stuff or fall into the category of tall, projectable righthander, but is a polished college pitcher, can throw four pitches for strikes and knows how to compete. His fastball generally resides in the 89-90 mph range, but he can get 92 when he needs it. Erickson not only hides his fastball well to create deception, but the pitch is particularly effective against wood because of the heavy sinking action he derives from his three-quarters arm angle, leading to a lot of ground-ball outs.

--DAVID RAWNSLEY