68. HOUSTON

2008 RECORD. Overall: 42-24 (Advanced to NCAA regionals). Conference: 14-10 / 4^th in Conference USA .

Coach: Rayner Noble (499-357, 15^th season).

First Game, 2009: Feb. 20 vs Kansas State .

 

OVERVIEW: Houston will be short of experience on offense with the loss of the team’s top four hitters, and six freshmen/sophomores plus a JC transfer in the starting lineup. The Cougars will rely on a talented pitching staff to carry them in 2009. LHP Wes Musick, a fourth-year junior, received top-round attention from scouts last spring before deciding to return in the Friday night role. Sophomore RHP Jared Ray and freshman RHP Michael Goodnight both have the ability to be top-level prospects/performers. Sophomore RHP-OF Chase Dempsey, the team’s best overall athlete, was one of the top freshman relievers in the country last year and should get plenty of at-bats this year, as well, in the DH role.

 

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP

C: Chris Wallace (3), Jr. (.318-1-34).

1B: T.J. Stuckey (4), So. (.000-0-0).

2B: Codey Morehouse, Fr. (HS--Houston).

3B: David Murphy, Fr. (Did not play in 2008).

SS: Blake Kelso, So. (.288-3-35).

LF: Caleb Ramsey, So. (.244-0-12).

CF: Zak Presley (1), Jr. (.310-1-30).

RF: William Kankel, Jr. (.344-16-64 at Seminole State, Okla. , CC).

DH: Chase Dempsey, So. (.195-1-4).

1/Starter: Wes Musick, Jr. (*8-4, 4.35, *97 IP/*87 SO).

2/Starter: Jared Ray, So. (4-2, 6.18, 71 IP/58 SO).

3/Starter: Ty Stuckey, So. (3-4, 6.54, 63 IP/54 SO).

Closer: Chase Dempsey, So. (*8-3, *2.53, *11 SV, 64 IP/49 SO).

 

BEST TOOLS

Best Athlete: Chase Dempsey.

Best Overall Hitter: Blake Kelso.

Best Power Hitter: Chris Wallace.

Best Strike-Zone Discipline: Blake Kelso.

Fastest Base Runner (60 time): Zack Presley (6.7 seconds).

Best Base Runner: Zak Presley.

Best Defender: Blake Kelso.

Best Infield Arm: Codey Morehouse.

Best Outfield Arm: William Kankel.

Best Fastball (velocity): Michael Goodnight (94 mph).

Best Breaking Ball: Wes Musick.

Best Changeup: Chase Dempsey.

Best Command: Chris Wright.

 

TOP FRESHMAN PROSPECT: Michael Goodnight, rhp. The athletic, 6-foot-4, 215-pound Goodnight was regularly up to 94 mph during the fall and has made significant progress with his curveball and changeup since giving up football (he was a Division I quarterback prospect) to concentrate on pitching. A 27^th-round pick of the Cleveland Indians in last year’s draft, Goodnight will start the season as a mid-week starter for the Cougars—and should move quickly into a more prominent role as his time in college may be short as he is eligible for the draft again in 2010.

TOP SOPHOMORE PROSPECT: Jared Ray, rhp. Ray showed his advanced raw stuff in a complete-game win against Texas A&M in the 2008 regionals, and looks to build on that performance as a sophomore. His fastball tops out at 93 mph and there is still some projection to his velocity. His curve, slider and change are also solid pitches.

TOP JUNIOR PROSPECT: Wes Musick, lhp. Musick is a fourth-year junior as he red-shirted in 2006 after undergoing both Tommy John and knee surgery, but has been the Cougars lead starter the past two seasons. He’s a three-pitch southpaw with a fastball that is in the 88-91 mph range, a hard curveball that is his strikeout pitch and a nice changeup.

TOP SENIOR PROSPECT: Chris Wright, rhp. Houston only has two seniors on its roster, and neither Wright (1-0, 4.59) or LHP Jummy Raviele (2-1, 6.38) is considered a prospect. Both will serve as set-up men to closer Chase Dempsey.

--DAVID RAWNSLEY