69. SOUTH FLORIDA

2008 RECORD. Overall: 31-27. Conference: 14-13 / 6^th in Big East.

Coach: Lelo Prado (65-53, 3^rd season at South Florida ; 632-451 overall in 19 seasons).

First Game, 2009: Feb. 20 vs. Michigan at Dunedin, Fla. (Big East-Big Ten Challenge).

 

OVERVIEW: With seven regulars and all but one top arm returning, South Florida will certainly look to improve on last year’s record, but challenging Louisville (head coach Lelo Prado’s previous coaching assignment) for the top spot in the Big East may be too steep a task. Sophomore OF Nick Lockwood, who transferred to USF after red-shirting as a freshman at Florida in 2007, made an immediate splash for the Bulls a year ago by hitting .415, and will hit in the 3-hole. Several other freshmen broke in with a bang for the Bulls in 2008, as well, and the pitching staff will be dominated by sophomores.

 

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP

C: Trey Manz, Sr. (.230-1-26).

1B: Brandon Smith, Sr. (.288-2-22).

2B: Peter Brotons, Jr. (.324-2-18 at Daytona State, Fla. , JC).

3B: Jonathan Koscso, So. (.276-0-24).

SS: Sam Mende, Fr. (Yankees/40^th round).

LF: Mike Consolmagno (1), Sr. (.284-0-7).

CF: Ryan Lockwood (3), So. (*.415-0-37, *12 SB).

RF: Chris Rey, Jr. (.272-6-35).

DH: Stephen Hunt (4), So. (.331-3-38).

1/Starter: Randy Fontanez, So. (*5-3, 3.54, *81 IP/*58 SO).

2/Starter: Derrick Stultz, So. (4-3, *3.08, 64 IP/53 SO).

3/Starter: Shawn Sanford, Jr. (5-5, 5.21, *11 SV, 47 IP/46 SO).

Closer: Andrew Salguiero, Jr. (Did not play in 2008; 2-1, 4.50 at Louisville in 2007).

 

BEST TOOLS

Best Athlete: Ryan Lockwood.

Best Overall Hitter: Ryan Lockwood.

Best Power Hitter: Stephen Hunt.

Best Strike-Zone Discipline: Ryan Lockwood.

Fastest Base Runner (60 time): Mike Consolmagno (6.6 seconds).

Best Base Runner: Mike Consolmagno.

Best Defender: Sam Mende.

Best Infield Arm: Sam Mende.

Best Outfield Arm: Mike Consolmagno.

Best Fastball (velocity): Derrick Stultz (95 mph).

Best Breaking Ball: Stephen Hunt.

Best Changeup: Randy Fontanez.

Best Command: Randy Fontanez.

 

TOP FRESHMAN PROSPECT: Sam Mende, ss. A 40^th-round pick of the New York Yankees, Mende joins the South Florida program after breaking nearly every offensive record at perennial power Clearwater Central Catholic High in nearby Clearwater . Mende is a very advanced player in terms of his knowledge and feel for the game, and is a well above-average defender. He should hit for average as a freshman, but his power may be slower to evolve.

TOP SOPHOMORE PROSPECT: Derick Stultz, rhp / Ryan Lockwood, of. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Stultz has the size and arm strength to be an early-round candidate for the 2010 draft, but he’s essentially a one-pitch pitcher at this stage—though the one pitch is a fastball that peaks at 95 mph. His secondary stuff needs refining, and he also needs to throw strikes more consistently. By comparison, Lockwood has a much-lower upside but is much farther along the development path. He’s an advanced, selective hitter, capable of staying back on pitches and driving balls to the gaps that are to his liking. At 5-foot-10 and 175 pounds, Lockwood’s raw power is limited, but it didn’t take him long to make his mark at the plate at South Florida and he brings a 30-game hitting streak into 2009 after his ’08 season ended prematurely on May 10 against St. John’s when he broke his hand.

TOP JUNIOR PROSPECT: Shawn Sanford, rhp. After serving as the Bulls closer his first two years and recording 22 saves, Sanford steps into the rotation in 2009. He has an above-average fastball, but his 6-foot, 195-pound frame and two-pitch mix are better suited for a relief role. He’ll at least be forced to develop and use a changeup more in a starting role.

TOP SENIOR PROSPECT: Brandon Smith, 1b. The Bulls have only three seniors on the roster, none of whom is considered a top prospect. OF Mike Consolmagno, a fifth-year senior, may make the most impact this year as he’ll return to his leadoff role after posting .462 and .507 on-base averages the last two years. His speed and arm strength are solid tools, but Consolmagno is still waiting to hit his first collegiate home run. Smith started the 2008 season at third base and is the front-runner to play first this season—a remarkable feat in its own right as Smith was sidelined in late April a year ago with a blood clot in his arm that required five surgeries and a nine-day stay in intensive care.

--JEFF SIMPSON