6. CAL STATE FULLERTON

2008 RECORD. Overall: 41-22 (Advanced to NCAA super-regional). Conference: 16-8 / 1st in Big West.

Coach: Dave Serrano (41-22, 2nd season, 155-88 record overall in four seasons).

First Game, 2009: Feb. 20 vs. No. 48 Texas Christian.

 

OVERVIEW: Cal State Fullerton returns a veteran lineup, headed by senior 1B Jared Clark, junior OF Josh Fellhauer and a dynamic sophomore tandem on the left side of the infield in SS Christian Colon and 3B Gary Brown. The Titans pitching staff is relatively inexperienced but may actually be more physically-gifted than any staff in recent memory. Any one of sophomore Daniel Renken, or juniors Kyle Witten and Michael Morrison, all righthanders, has the combination of size and power arms to become the ace of the Titans staff. If all three step forward, Fullerton will be hard to beat.

 

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP

C: Dustin Garneau, Sr. (.246-4-24).

1B: Jared Clark (4), Sr. (.294-*9-53, *24 2B).

2B: Joe Scott, Sr. (.289-0-11).

3B: Gary Brown (1), So. (.292-5-27, *25 SB).

SS: Christian Colon, So. (.329-4-39, 13 SB).

LF: Jeff Newman, Sr. (.277-0-12).

CF: Josh Fellhauer (3), Jr. (.335-7-40, 20 2B, 17 SB).

RF: Khris Davis, Jr. (.269-4-19).

DH: Corey Jones, Jr. (.302-1-33).

1/Starter: Daniel Renken, So. (5-5, 4.11, 80 IP/81 SO).

2/Starter: Kyle Witten, Jr. (12-2, 3.15 at Bakersfield, Calif. , JC).

3/Starter: Michael Morrison, Jr. (2-2, 4.14, 55 IP/54 SO).

Closer: Tyler Pill, Fr. (Rockies/38th round).

 

BEST TOOLS

Best Athlete: Gary Brown.

Best Overall Hitter: Christian Colon.

Best Power Hitter: Jared Clark.

Best Strike-Zone Discipline: Christian Colon.

Fastest Base Runner (60 time): Gary Brown (6.5).

Best Base Runner: Josh Fellhauer.

Best Defender: Joe Scott.

Best Infield Arm: Gary Brown.

Best Outfield Arm: Josh Fellhauer.

Best Fastball (velocity): Michael Morrison/Kyle Witten (94 mph).

Best Breaking Ball: Tyler Pill.

Best Changeup: Daniel Renken.

Best Command: Ryan Ackland.

 

TOP FRESHMAN PROSPECT: Tyler Pill, rhp/of. Pill is slated to start the year for the Titans as a closer, and could end up playing both ways as a freshman as he is a gap-to-gap hitter with occasional power. He can touch 91 mph with his fastball, and his curveball and changeup profile him as a future starter.

TOP SOPHOMORE PROSPECT: Christian Colon, ss / Gary Brown, 3b. Colon and Brown are very different players but equally-good prospects. Colon is an extremely polished player both offensively and defensively, although his raw tools don’t stand out. Brown is a potential 5-tool athlete with present plus speed and arm strength, and lots of juice in his bat.

TOP JUNIOR PROSPECT: Michael Morrison, rhp. Morrison has always had top-prospect stuff, including a fastball that touches 94 mph and a hard downer curveball. But he didn’t take off as a prospect until being utilized as a starter last summer, and the Fullerton staff says that he made huge strides during the fall in understanding how to pitch and command his stuff in that role.

TOP SENIOR PROSPECT: Jared Clark, 1b. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound Clark started to realize his offensive potential as a junior when he finally started shortening his swing. He has big power to all fields and is considered a good defensive first baseman.

--DAVID RAWNSLEY