40.
INDIANA
2008 RECORD. Overall:
28-28.
Conference: 15-17 / 6th in Big 10.
Coach: Tracy Smith (72-99, 4th
season).
First Game, 2009: Feb. 20 vs.
West Virginia
at
Dunedin, Fla.
(Big East-Big Ten Challenge).
OVERVIEW: With only one NCAA tournament win
in school history and no appearances in post-season play since 1996,
Indiana
has a chance to make school history this year. The Hoosiers have been quietly assembling
a legitimate baseball program in Tracy Smith’s four-year watch and this is the season
it should all begin coming together. The team returns junior C Josh Phegley, a potential
first-rounder, and every regular but one from an offense that topped the Big Ten
with a .339 average. Led by junior LHP Matt Bashore, another potential early-round
pick, every key arm is also back—though the challenge will be to improve on a staff
6.22 ERA. The key addition to the roster, SS-RHP Jake Downing, should upgrade the
team in two areas—at shortstop and closer.
PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP
C: Josh Phegley (3), Jr. (*.438-*15-*80).
1B: Jarrud Sabourin, So. (.383-5-53).
2B: Tyler Rogers, Jr. (.316-3-30).
3B: Ethan Wilson, So. (.292-2-23).
SS: Jake Dunning, Jr. (.341-3-37, 17
SB at
Florida
CC).
LF: Kipp Schutz (4), So. (.317-6-48).
CF: Evan Crawford (1), Jr. (.335-1-30,
18 SB).
RF: Chris Hervey, Sr. (.373-2-36, 13
SB).
DH: Michael Earley, Jr. (.318-4-21).
1/Starter: Matt Bashore,
Jr. (*7-3, 3.59, *83 IP/*86 SO).
2/Starter: Eric Arnett,
Jr. (4-5, 5.45, 66 IP/37 SO).
3/Starter: Blake Monar,
Fr. (Yankees/26th round).
Closer: Jake Dunning, Jr. (0-1, 4.00, 2
SV at
Florida
CC).
BEST TOOLS
Best Athlete: Evan Crawford.
Best Overall Hitter:
Josh Phegley.
Best Power Hitter:
Josh Phegley.
Best Strike-Zone Discipline:
Josh
Phegley.
Fastest Base Runner (60 time):
Evan Crawford (6.45 seconds).
Best Base Runner:
Evan Crawford.
Best Defender: Evan Crawford.
Best Infield Arm:
Jake Dunning.
Best Outfield Arm:
Evan Crawford.
Best Fastball (velocity):
Erik
Arnett (94 mph).
Best Breaking Ball:
Matt Bashore.
Best Changeup: Blake Monar.
Best Command: Eric Arnett.
TOP FRESHMAN PROSPECT:
Blake Monar, lhp. The Hoosiers landed a big one when Monar, a prominent
Indiana high school product, passed up a 26th-round offer from the New
York Yankees in last year’s draft—though they may have him for only two years as
he will eligible for the draft again in 2010. Monar isn’t overpowering with a fastball
in the high-80s, though he spots it effectively. His best
pitch is a mid-70s curveball that has hard, sharp biting action, and his competitive
approach is another strength.
TOP SOPHOMORE PROSPECT: Kipp Schutz,
of.
A 26th-round pick of the Baltimore Orioles in 2006, Schutz is eligible
for this year’s draft as a sophomore after suffering a season-ending shoulder injury
early in his freshman year, forcing him to red-shirt. He will have plenty of opportunity
this spring to showcase his advanced hitting skills to scouts, batting behind top
prospect Josh Phegley. He has good pop from the left side of the plate, but lacks
consistency in his approach.
TOP JUNIOR PROSPECT: Josh Phegley,
c.
It will be difficult for Phegley to top his impressive 2008 season at the plate.
He proved he can hit for power and average. Phegley finds a way to get the job done
defensively, in part because he isn’t afraid to get dirty, but scouts will take
a wait-and-see approach to determine whether the above-average arm strength he has
exhibited in the past has been compromised after he was shut down last summer to
rest a sore shoulder.
TOP SENIOR PROSPECT:
Chris Hervey, of.
Indiana
doesn’t have a prominent senior on its roster from a draft perspective, but Hervey
is a solid college performer whose .373 average was 11th-best in the
Big Ten a year ago.
--JEFF SIMPSON