7. BAYLOR

2008 RECORD. Overall: 32-26. Conference: 11-16 / 6th in Big 12.

Coach: Steve Smith (522-337, 15^th season).

First Game, 2009: Feb. 20 vs. Pacific

 

OVERVIEW: On paper, Baylor measures up with any team in the country and the Bears will be one of, if not the most-scouted teams in the country with their abundance of juniors and draft-eligible sophomores. That talent base didn’t perform up to expectations in 2008, when ineffectual hitting kept the Bears from an NCAA playoff berth. The starting pitching could be downright intimidating with junior RHP Kendal Volz and red-shirt sophomore RHPs Shawn Tolleson and Craig Fritsch all pegged as potential-first round drafts with plus fastballs. RHP Willie Kempf, another junior, assumes the closer role after being Baylor’s most effective starter in 2008. While the offense has balance (five players with between 43 and 47 RBIs in 2008 return), it needs someone like RF Aaron Miller and/or 1B Dustin Dickerson, players with major run-producing potential, to step forward.

 

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP

C: Gregg Glime, Jr. (.209-0-16).

1B: Dustin Dickerson, Jr. (.313-4-43).

2B: Joey Hainsfurther, Fr. (Giants/43^rd round).

3B: Shaver Hansen (3), Jr. (*.326-6-*47).

SS: Raynor Campbell, Jr. (.311-4-26).

LF: Ben Booker, Sr. (.286-7-44, *11 SB).

CF: Brooks Pinckard (1), Fr. (Red-shirt in 2008).

RF: Aaron Miller (4), Jr. (.295-*12-45).

DH: Adam Hornung, Sr. (.320-8-43).

1/Starter: Kendal Volz, Jr. (3-6, 4.20, 70 IP/*85 SO).

2/Starter: Shawn Tolleson, So. (*6-4, 5.04, *78 IP/63 SO).

3/Starter: Craig Fritsch, So. (3-4, 4.80, 3 SV, 54 IP/49 SO).

Closer: Willie Kempf, Jr. (*6-2, *3.69, 2 SV, 68 IP/48 SO).

 

BEST TOOLS

Best Athlete: Brooks Pinkard.

Best Overall Hitter: Raynor Campbell.

Best Power Hitter: Aaron Miller.

Best Strike-Zone Discipline: Dustin Dickerson.

Fastest Base Runner (60 time): Brooks Pinckard (6.5 seconds).

Best Base Runner: Ben Booker.

Best Defender: Shaver Hansen.

Best Infield Arm: Raynor Campbell.

Best Outfield Arm: Aaron Miller.

Best Fastball (velocity): Kendall Volz (96 mph).

Best Breaking Ball: Willie Kempf.

Best Changeup: Shawn Tolleson.

Best Command: Kendal Volz.

 

TOP FRESHMAN PROSPECT: Brooks Pinckard, of/rhp. The highly-athletic Pinckard was red-shirted as a freshman, although in retrospect he may have been able to contribute to a Baylor team that narrowly missed the 2008 NCAA playoffs. As the fastest player on the roster, he’ll lead off for the Bears and may also bring his 92-93 mph fastball to the mound out of the bullpen from time to time, when not in center field.

TOP SOPHOMORE PROSPECT: Craig Fritsch, rhp / Shawn Tolleson, rhp. Both the 6-foot-4, 180-pound Fritsch and 6-foot-2, 225-pound Tolleson are red-shirt sophomores; Tolleson having undergone Tommy John surgery as a high-school senior and Fritsch simply not pitching as a true freshman because he wasn’t needed. Both are power pitchers with electric stuff, and project as early as the end of the first round in this year’s draft.

TOP JUNIOR PROSPECT: Kendal Volz, rhp The intimidating 6-foot-5, 225-pound Volz could move close to the top of the 2009 draft class with a strong spring, as his raw stuff (93-96 mph fastball, plus slider, plus changeup) ranks with any pitcher in the college ranks not named Stephen Strasburg. Volz will be the Friday starter for the Bears, though he didn’t give up a run in 14 appearances, while saving eight games as a closer last summer for USA ’s Baseball college national team.

TOP SENIOR PROSPECT: Ben Booker, of. Booker has been a three-year starter for Baylor after being an Aflac All-American out of high school. He’s a plus runner in an athletic, 6-foot-3, 200-frame but scouts are still waiting for him to fully tap into his power potential.

--DAVID RAWNSLEY