COLLEGE BASEBALL 2008

SAMPLE PREVIEW: ARIZONA

1. ARIZONA
2007 RECORD. Overall: 42-17 (advanced to NCAA regional). Conference: 15-9 (2^nd, Pacific-10).
Coach: Andy Lopez (210-140, 6 years).
First Game, 2008: Feb. 22 at Georgia.

OVERVIEW: The Wildcats were pointing to 2008 when they recruited the likes of ace RHPs Preston Guilmet and Ryan Perry, OFs T.J. Steele and Jon Gaston, and DH Brad Glenn—even as the Wildcats were a sub-.500 club when those players were freshmen. All those players are now well-heeled juniors and the heart of this year’s No. 1-ranked club. Guilmet’s rise from a 3-7, 4.80 record in 2006 to a 12-2, 1.87 mark in 2007, and Steele’s and Perry’s maturity into potential first-round picks in June are symbolic of the improvement this group has shown. The Wildcats also have done an admirable job filling in the pieces around their vaunted 2006 recruiting class, and return seven of their eight top hitters along with the eight pitchers who worked the most innings for a Wildcats team that improved from 27 wins two years ago to 43 in 2007. So deep and talented is Arizona that it is possible the team could have as many as 10 players drafted in the top 10-12 rounds in June.

X-Factor: While junior LHPs Eric Berger and Daniel Schlereth (3-1, 2.68, 8 SV), and junior RHP Mike Colla (3-3, 5.20) may play only supplemental roles for the Wildcats this season on a deep pitching staff, all three have excellent credentials and could be selected in the top three or four rounds of this year’s draft. Berger (3-4, 4.42 in 2006) missed the 2007 season while undergoing Tommy John surgery yet was still drafted in the ninth round last June, while Colla and Schlereth both have fastballs that have touched 95 mph.

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP
C: Dwight Childs, So. (.232-0-23).
1B: C.J. Ziegler (3), Sr. (.355-13-63, 23 2B).
2B: Colt Sedbrook, Sr. (.335-1-24).
3B: Dillon Baird (4), So. (.358-10-52 at Yavapai, Ariz., JC).
SS: Robert Abel (1), So. (.264-0-22).
LF: Diallo Fon, So. (.300-2-13).
CF: T.J. Steele, Jr., (.323-7-47, 21 SB).
RF: Jon Gaston, Jr. (.319-6-33).
DH: Brad Glenn, Jr. (.333-10-62).
1/Starter: Preston Guilmet/R, Jr. (12-2, 1.87, 135 IP/146 SO).
2/Starter: David Coulon/L, Sr. (4-3, 4.98).
3/Starter: Ryan Perry/R, Jr. (0-2, 6.35, 34 IP/35 SO).
Closer: Jason Stoffel/R, So. (5-0, 1.87, 5 SV, 43 IP/55 SO).
Projected leadoff hitter (1), No. 3 hitter (3) and cleanup hitter (4) noted as appropriate

BEST TOOLS
Best Athlete: T.J. Steele.
Best Overall Hitter: Dillon Baird.
Best Power Hitter: Brad Glenn.
Best Strike-Zone Discipline: C.J. Ziegler.
Fastest Base Runner (60 time): T.J. Steele (6.41 seconds).
Best Base Runner: Robert Abel.
Best Defender: Dwight Childs, c.
Best Infield Arm: Colt Sedbrook, 2b.
Best Outfield Arm: Jon Gaston.
Best Fastball (velocity): Ryan Perry (99 mph).
Best Breaking Ball: Preston Guilmet.
Best Changeup: Daniel Schlereth.
Best Command: Preston Guilmet.

TOP FRESHMAN PROSPECT: Matt Presley, 3b-of. Presley, a 24^th-round pick of the Boston Red Sox in last year’s draft out of a Colorado high school, may have the best bat speed on the entire Wildcat roster but as a freshman on a deep, well-rounded team he’ll probably have to pay his dues. He’s expected to step in for Gaston in right field in 2009.

TOP SOPHOMORE PROSPECT: Dillon Baird, 3b. The only newcomer expected to play a meaningful role on this year’s Wildcats roster, Baird led the Arizona junior college ranks in home runs in 2007 as a freshman. He has a good, balanced approach to hitting from the left side and excellent power to all fields in his powerful 6-foot-3, 215-pound frame.

TOP JUNIOR PROSPECT: Ryan Perry, rhp. Perry nearly lost his life in a motorcycle accident after his freshman year at Arizona and took time to respond to his injuries as a sophomore. It all came together for him last summer in the Cape Cod League, when he dominated hitters with a fastball that was a steady 95-97 mph and peaked at 99, and a dynamic slider—both pitches delivered with an easy, effortless delivery.

TOP SENIOR PROSPECT: David Coulon, lhp. Coulon can flash three plus pitches—a curve, change and fastball that touches 90-91 mph—and is unhittable at times, but his undoing has been a lack of command. He walked a team-high 40 in 69 innings in 2007, when he was drafted in the 42^nd round by the Colorado Rockies. Scouts believe this will be the year he puts it all together.