67. DALLAS BAPTIST

2008 RECORD. Overall: 37-19 (Advanced to NCAA regionals). Conference: None.

Coach: Dan Heefner (37-19, 2^nd year).

First Game, 2009: Feb. 20 vs Binghamton .

 

OVERVIEW: Dallas Baptist returns a veteran starting lineup from a team that was a No. 2 seed, as an independent, in last year’s NCAA tournament. The Patriots are especially strong up the middle. Senior Brandon Bantz was one of the best defensive catchers in the Cape Cod League last summer and will direct a relatively-young pitching staff. Junior SS Ryan Goins and junior CF Ryan Enos give the Patriots the luxury of having their two top offensive threats also play key defensive positions. In all, seven regulars return. RHP Jordan Meaker (7-1, 4.19), the team’s best starter, and ace closer Tyson Bagley (4-2, 2.56, 11 SV) were lost to the draft, but junior RHP Victor Black has superior raw stuff than either, but will need to match performance (1-6, 4.97 as a sophomore) to potential, and his improvement could be the key to the DBU season. Sophomore RHP Chris Haney could be a dominant closer in the mold of the 6-foot-8, 250-pound Bagley, though the two pitchers are nearly a foot difference in size.

 

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP

C: Brandon Bantz, Sr. (.319-4-31).

1B: Trevor Head (4), Sr. (.329-*16-55).

2B: Austin Knight, Jr. (.290-1-37).

3B: Travis Meiners, Jr. (.359-19-75 at Des Moines Area, Iowa , CC).

SS: Ryan Goins (3), Jr. (.357-10-44).

LF: Clay Kelly, Sr. (.294-0-18, 15 SB).

CF: Ryan Enos (1), Jr. (.360-3-44, 16 SB).

RF: Jason Krizan, So. (.288-3-18).

DH: Ryan Thompson, So. (.279-1-14).

1/Starter: Victor Black, Jr. (1-6, 4.97, 70 IP/56 SO).

2/Starter: Chris McMullen, Sr. (4-1, 3.49, 39 IP/17 SO).

3/Starter: Jared Stafford, So. (4-0, 4.27, 46 IP/27 SO).

Closer: Chris Haney, So. (6-5, 2.64, 3 SV, 47 IP/47 SO).

 

BEST TOOLS

Best Athlete: Travis Meiners.

Best Overall Hitter: Ryan Goins.

Best Power Hitter: Trevor Head.

Best Strike-Zone Discipline: Austin Knight.

Fastest Base Runner (60 time): Travis Meiners (6.6 seconds).

Best Base Runner: Ryan Enos.

Best Defender: Ryan Goins.

Best Infield Arm: Ryan Goins.

Best Outfield Arm: Jason Krizan.

Best Fastball (velocity): Victor Black (97 mph).

Best Breaking Ball: Victor Black.

Best Changeup: Jared Stafford.

Best Command: Jared Stafford.

 

TOP FRESHMAN PROSPECT: Chris Taylor, rhp. At a lanky 6-foot-3 and 180 pounds, Taylor projects well and has a lively fastball that is already touching 90 mph, and solid off-speed stuff.

TOP SOPHOMORE PROSPECT: Chris Haney, rhp. Haney will move into the closer’s role this year after excelling as the Patriots set-up man as a freshman. Despite being only 5-foot-10, Haney is ultra competitive and has power stuff with an 89-93 mph fastball and a sharp slider.

TOP JUNIOR PROSPECT: Victor Black, rhp. Black’s raw stuff, including a fastball that tops out at 97 mph and a mid-80s slider, puts him among college baseball’s elite pitching prospects. Better command and consistency are needed for Black to become a potentially high-round pick in June, but he showed progress in both areas in the fall—particularly on scout day.

TOP SENIOR PROSPECT: Brandon Bantz, c. Bantz is a very strong defensive catcher who excels at receiving, blocking, throwing and handling a pitching staff. He led Cape Cod League catchers in throwing out runners last summer. His bat is good enough that he should be a solid senior-sign type draft in June.

--DAVID RAWNSLEY