Mike Albaladejo makes a throw from the second base position on Friday, the first day of baseball's preseason camp. (OwlAccess.com photo)
Camp questions
FAU baseball opened is 2012 preseason camp on Friday. Here are five questions the Owls will try to answer in the coming weeks.
Originally published on
1/27/2012
by
Chuck King
FAU baseball opened camp today. The Owls have new faces in plenty of spaces, and some familiar souls in new roles. With that in mind, here are five questions the FAU coach John McCormack will try to answer during the 2012 preseason camp. The Owls open the season on Feb. 17 at Alabama.
What will the rotation look like?
FAU lost Saturday starter Paul Davis to the MLB draft and Sunday starter R. J. Alvarez is heading to the bullpen. Ryan Garton returns for his senior season and enters camp as the Friday starter. Manatee Community College transfer Jeremy Strawn had a strong fall and is the likely Saturday starter. That leaves Kevin Alexander and Bo Logan, both of whom are returning from Tommy John surgery, Jake Myers and freshman Austin Gomber to battle for the Sunday and midweek spots.
Who will play shortstop?
Nick DelGuidice occupied that spot seemingly forever. The Owls signed three possible replacements for DelGuidice, but this battle will likely come down to Wellington graduate Mitch Morales, who was selected in the 42nd round by Washington, and Pembroke Pines-Flanagan graduate Ricky Santiago, who is the reigning Class 6A Player of the Year. The Owls will be hoping one of these two players will take charge of the position.
Who's on second?
This is where the infield really gets fun. FAU coach John McCormack wanted to give two-and-a-half year starting catcher Mike Albaladejo a break in the fall, and wanted to get Mike Spano more work behind the plate, so he moved Albaladejo to second for a while. McCormack liked what he saw from Albaladejo, who had played second base during the last two collegiate summer leagues, and Spano improved tremendously behind the plate. Could Albaladejo actually be the opening day second baseman? If the season started today, it sounds like he would be.
What will the batting order lineup look like?
McCormack thinks Geoff Jimenez improved enough offensively in the offseason to merit a starting spot in left field. If the speedy Jimenez continues to show the ability to get on base he'll lead off. Nathan Pittman, probably the second fastest player on the team behind Jimenez, will be in center and bat second. McCormack thinks having two fast players at the top of the order will put pressure on defenses, setting the table for the likes of right fielder Alex Hudak, first baseman Mark Nelson, designated hitter Corey Keller and Spano.
Who has the most to prove?
Spano has yet to demonstrate he can handle the daily rigors of catching. The Owls need a consistent power bat to replace Dan Scheffler. Nelson had a big fall in 2010, but disappeared in the 2011 season. But at least he has Division I experience at the position he'll inherit. South Florida Community College transfer Kyle Newton has always played shortstop, but if all goes as expected the Owls will ask him to be their everyday third baseman. McCormack believes Newton has a good enough bat to keep him in the line-up, and a strong arm will allow him to make the kinds of plays the Owls couldn't in past years. Still, it's an adjustment, and there may be some rough spots.