62. WICHITA STATE

2008 RECORD. Overall: 48-17 (Advanced to NCAA super-regional). Conference: 19-5 / 1^st in Missouri Valley Conference.

Coach: Gene Stephenson (1,653-550, 32^nd season).

First Game, 2009: Feb. 20 vs Temple at Fort Myers, Fla.

 

OVERVIEW: The venerable Gene Stephenson will field one of his youngest and most inexperienced teams ever this spring as the Shockers return only two starters from a team that advanced within a game of the College World Series. No team in the nation may have lost more talent, and the departure of SS Dusty Coleman (.314-8-71), who unexpectedly signed as a draft-eligible sophomore late in the summer, was a crushing blow. In all, 11 players moved on to pro ball. The Shockers pitching staff will be particularly young as RHP Jordan Cooper, and LHPs Charlie Lowell and Brian Flynn, all freshmen, are expected to occupy three of the first four starting jobs. But they all have the talent and polish to contribute immediately, and Wichita State has already signed a premium group of pitchers for 2010. If the Shockers are able to continue their long run of success in 2009, it will likely be linked to a big year from junior 1B/RHP Clinton McKeever, who will contribute both offensively and from the mound in addition to providing valuable veteran leadership.

 

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP

C: Cody Lassley, Jr. (.209-0-10).

1B: Clint McKeever (4), Jr. (.328-5-39).

2B: Will Baez (3), Jr. (.435-22-78 at Western Oklahoma JC).

3B: Chris O’Brien, Fr. (HS—Tulsa, Okla.).

SS: Taylor Brown, So. (.227-0-2) / Tyler Grimes, Fr. (Tigers/43^rd round).

LF: Mitch Caster, So. (.267-1-5).

CF: Kevin Hall (1), So. (.320-0-11).

RF: Ryan Jones, Jr. (.326-2-43, 16 SB).

DH: Josh Rosecrans, Fr. (Rangers/50^th round).

1/Starter: Tim Kelley, So. (4-4, 4.85, 52 IP/34 SO).

2/Starter: Jordan Cooper, Fr. (Red Sox/17^th round).

3/Starter: Charlie Lowell, Fr. (Rangers/27^th round).

Closer: Clint McKeever, Jr. (0-0, 1.86, 0 SV, 9 IP/10 SO).

 

BEST TOOLS

Best Athlete: Ryan Jones.

Best Overall Hitter: Will Baez.

Best Power Hitter: Clint McKeever.

Best Strike-Zone Discipline: Chris O’Brien.

Fastest Base Runner (60 time): Will Baez (6.6 seconds).

Best Base Runner: Ryan Jones.

Best Defender: Taylor Brown.

Best Infield Arm: Tyler Grimes.

Best Outfield Arm: Ryan Jones.

Best Fastball (velocity): Charlie Lowell (93 mph).

Best Breaking Ball: Josh Smith.

Best Changeup: Tim Kelley.

Best Command: Tim Kelley.

 

TOP FRESHMAN PROSPECT: Jordan Cooper, rhp. Cooper is the next in line of what has been a constant flow of quality, polished righthanded pitchers for the Shockers. A Kansas high school product who will be draft-eligible as a sophomore in 2010, Cooper is unusually polished for a freshman and can throw his 88-92 mph fastball, curveball and changeup for strikes. Not only is Cooper is expected to be an early-round selection, but fellow freshmen pitchers Brian Flynn and Charlie Lowell should be as well, only a year later.

TOP SOPHOMORE PROSPECT: Tim Kelley, rhp. Kelley, a nephew of former Shocker All-Americans Charlie O’Brien and Eric Sonberg, will be by far WSU’s most experienced pitcher. As a red-shirt freshman in 2008, he made 11 starts—almost all in a mid-week role. The 6-foot-6, 215-pound Kelley works mostly in the upper 80s and, like all Wichita State starters, will throw strikes with all his pitches.

TOP JUNIOR PROSPECT: Will Baez, 2b / Ryan Jones, of. Baez put up huge numbers at the junior-college level last year, hitting .435-22-78 with 40 stolen bases, and will be asked to hit in the No.-3 hole right away for Wichita State . He’s a 6.6 runner with impressive pop in his bat for a middle infielder. Jones is the Shockers most dependable returning hitter. He’s also a solid defender with 6.7 speed in the 60.

TOP SENIOR PROSPECT: Clint McKeever, 1b-rhp. Wichita State ’s roster was so decimated by the draft that it had only three potential seniors available this year—and LHP Logan Hoch (2-1, 5.16) and RHP Tyler Fleming (3-1, 4.00) quickly were lost for the season with injuries. The other senior, red-shirt LHP Max Hutson, missed last season with Tommy John surgery. So we’ve defaulted to McKeever, a fourth-year junior and Wichita State ’s most experienced player. He will fill a valuable dual role of clean-up hitter and closer. The 6-foot-3, 240-pound Oklahoma native should improve on his power numbers in 2009 and brings an 88-90 mph fastball and good slider to the mound.

--DAVID RAWNSLEY