Jan. 26, 2001
With 19 returning lettermen and a second consecutive nationally-ranked recruiting class, the San Diego State baseball program is poised to defend its Mountain West Conference title and work toward its first postseason berth in 10 years.
Last year's young team gained plenty of experience all around as only five Aztecs started more than 40 of the team's 62 contests. However, those five were starters who have moved on either through graduation or the pro draft. Included in that group are last season's top hitter in outfielder Billy Montgomery, SDSU's career home run record holder in Paul Lockhart, and three-year starting catcher Brandon Rogers.
To make up for those personnel losses, the baseball coaching staff signed a recruiting class that has been ranked fifth in the nation by Baseball America and 12th by Collegiate Baseball. This comes on the heels of the program's 2000 class that Collegiate Baseball hailed as eighth-best in the country.
"We have some excellent new faces at every position on the diamond," said head coach Jim Dietz. "There's going to be high-level competition throughout the team for starting roles and playing time. Four of our freshmen were drafted last year and a total of 13 of our athletes have been drafted at some point of their careers. Our infield, outfield and pitching have a lot of pro prospects, and we should be strong from top to bottom."
PITCHING
The strength of the 2001 Aztec squad appears to be in the pitching department where 12 of 13 hurlers return from a staff that led the conference in earned run average a year ago.
"Pitching will be one of the strong points of our squad," said Dietz. "I'm really pleased with the improvement of the staff just since last spring. The returnees have proven themselves, and we have some new arms that will really help us. Eight members of the staff have been drafted in the past, and that's an indication of the quality we have in this area."
| Pitcher Rory Shortell |
Leading the veterans are sophomore Chris Hartshorn (7-4, 3.68) and senior Ben Julianel (4-3, 4.58), both penciled in as starters for the upcoming campaign. Joining them is Rory Shortell (6-6, 3 saves, 5.73), a freshman honorable mention All-American last season who split time between infield duty and the mound.
Other candidates to assume regular starting roles this spring include Rob Harrand and Mike Moat. Harrand is a redshirt freshman from Canada who sat out the 2000 season at San Diego State. A draft pick of the Los Angeles Dodgers out of high school, he showed excellent potential before being sidelined with an injury. Moat is a true freshman who was an all-state hurler in Colorado and an 11th-round pick of the Texas Rangers last June.
Among those who could see spot duty as starters are veterans Marcos Mendoza (1-0, 4.05) and John Skinner (1-6, 5.52, 2 saves). Joining that duo are freshman Daryl Harang and junior college transfer Erik Fiedler. Harang, a local product out of Patrick Henry High School, was an all-CIF selection as a senior. Fiedler, from Butte JC, has also played in the outfield and is an excellent hitter.
"Harang and Fiedler could both play in the outfield or as a designated hitter if needed," noted Dietz. "Daryl will probably do more pitching than playing in the field. He's a very talented hitter, but as a pitcher he has some great stuff. Erik is an outstanding outfielder and a good hitter with good speed. These two provide us with an extra dimension as two-way players."
The Aztec relief corps is bolstered by the return of Chris Dunwell (2-1, 4.34) and Royce Ring (2-2. 6.07) along with Skinner and Mendoza. Dunwell, who was the team's most effective reliever over the last few weeks of the season, earned all-tournament honors at the conference championship event in Las Vegas last May. Ring compiled a 1.42 ERA over his final four appearances of the 2000 campaign (6.1 innings).
"Dunwell could be used as a closer or a starter, but will most likely come out of the pen," said Dietz. "Ring had a good fall, throwing better than he did last season. Marcos Mendoza showed real improvement in the fall. His summer experience in Bellingham (Washington) really helped him, and he's a much better pitcher than he was a year ago. Skinner has also really improved with his development of a better breaking pitch and change-up.
"We have 16 quality pitchers on our staff with a good balance between left and right-handers. I really like what I've seen here and we have a number of options on how we can come at people with our starters and relievers. Our staff is still a young one that's only going to get better."
CATCHING
The catching position was an area of concern after the loss of three-year starter Brandon Rogers to the pro draft last summer. Rogers had started well over 80 percent of SDSU's games since 1998, hitting .317 with 15 doubles and eight home runs last season.
The heir apparent seems to be senior Ben Rosenthal (.300, 13 RBI), whose one season behind the plate at SDSU makes him the top veteran at this position. He is joined by junior Brian Manfred, who returns to catching duties after being utilized on the pitching staff last spring. Senior Jacob Minter (.328, 8 doubles) is also available if called upon.
Freshmen Josh Hill and Jason Stewart could also see playing time behind the plate. Hill was an all-league performer at El Capitan High School in Lakeside, where he hit six home runs as a senior and also saw action on the mound. He showed some power in the fall and could figure in the mix this spring.
Stewart was a two-time all-county and all-league selection at El Camino High in Oceanside. He was the team's MVP his final two seasons and had a 17-game hitting streak during his senior season.
"It looks like Rosenthal, Manfred and Hill are the front runners at catcher," commented Dietz. "The nice part about this trio is that two of them (Rosenthal and Hill) hit left-handed, something most schools don't have. Minter could see time, but he'll probably see most of his action at the DH spot."
INFIELD
In the infield, only a pair of part-time starters return in Carlo Cota (2B) and Taber Lee (SS). However, it appears that the depth among the infielders has created a battle for starting spots at each position.
"The biggest improvement I've seen this fall is in the infield, especially in the area of defense," commented Dietz. "We've made some sensational plays in the field and the defensive play at each infield position looks much better."
| Second baseman Carlo Cota |
At first base, returnee Darrell Bowles (.303) and transfer Cody Haven (Western Oregon) appear to have the inside track. Freshman Rielly Embrey has also been impressive in early workouts and may get a chance at some playing time as well.
"It's going to be a battle at first base," noted Dietz. "Bowles looks much improved after a summer in the Alaska League while Haven played at Clarinda (Iowa). And Embrey really came on in the fall to make an impact at the position."
The loss of senior all-league second baseman Matt Ricardy has opened the door for Carlo Cota (.308) who played well over the final third of the 2000 season. He will be challenged by freshman Ryan Wilson as well as a couple of other players who could potentially move over from third base or shortstop.
"Cota is really playing well right now," said Dietz. "He finished last season strong and has become confident at the position. Carlo has the inside track because of his experience. He's a good hitter and is very sure-handed with a strong arm.
"The big surprise has been the play of freshman Ryan Wilson. He's very solid defensively and can play second, third or short. He's probably got the best throwing arm in the infield, and if he gets to a ball he's going to throw you out."
At shortstop, the incumbent is soph Taber Lee, but he will get competition for time from a pair of freshmen who have shown the potential to excel. Wilson could get a chance here while Garrett Changnon has also been impressive.
"Taber missed fall ball which may put him a bit behind," said Dietz. "At least he's been through a season with us and knows what to expect at this level. Wilson was a second baseman in high school, but he has the ability to make the plays at short. Garrett Changnon has also been a nice find. He made every play in the book during the fall and possesses good range with a quick release."
The starting role at third base could go to either Pilar Amaya, a switch hitter with power from Southwestern JC, or Chad Corona, a freshman who was a 16th-round pick of the Cubs. Veteran Garrett Cook is another candidate who could play either at third or first.
"Amaya is a local kid who switch-hits and we know what he can do," commented Dietz. "He's got a nice swing with some power, and he's going to be a pretty exciting player. He's a very gifted player who could play anywhere in the infield.
"Corona did very well in the fall both in the field and at the plate, and could play either at third or at shortstop this spring. He has some power and looks pretty good defensively. Garrett Cook (.339. 25 RBIs) is also available after a fine freshman season.
"There are really a number of battles going on in the infield for starting roles. Most years, we'd have to figure out who's going to be at each position, and then hope nobody went down with an injury. Right now I could play any one of these guys with no noticeable drop-off."
OUTFIELD
Talent and depth are the hallmarks of the outfield where the starters from left to right could include Anthony Gwynn (son of Tony and draft pick of the Braves), Chad Redfern (MVP of the conference tournament) and Rah-Miel Mitchell (transfer from Hawai'i who attended Sweetwater HS in National City).
"Gwynn (a center fielder in high school) may be in left field if for no other reason than we have too much talent," noted Dietz. "Most years we'd be happy to have him in center, but we have a good one there in Chad Redfern. Mitchell has a strong arm, can hit, and possesses some speed."
Also expected to see playing time are veterans Ben Leuthard, who has the best arm of the group, along with junior Sean Pierce (.310), and senior Andy Litteral (.333, 13 SB). Garrett Cook could also be in the mix here after spending some time in left field as a freshman last year.
"Ben Leuthard really improved over the course of fall practice and his arm makes him a strong candidate for playing time in left or right," said Dietz. "Litteral and Pierce were injured in the fall, but they will contribute this season. Walk-on freshman Landon Burt has also shown himself to be a good hitter and could get a chance to play.
"This is about as talented an outfield as I've seen here. The nice thing is that they're young, with only one senior among them."
SUMMARY
The 2001 edition of Aztec baseball appears to have the ingredients for another successful campaign as the program attempts to build upon the momentum it gained at the end of its 2000 season. Pitching and defense appear to be the team's strengths while much of the offense will be new to this level of competition. It remains to be seen if the 21 new faces on the SDSU roster can successfully make the transition to Division I baseball.
The schedule will be another challenging one for the Aztecs as they face seven teams listed on Collegiate Baseball's "Fabulous 40." Included in that group are USC (#2), Miami (#9), Oklahoma (#15), The Citadel (#27), Oklahoma State (#35), Pepperdine (#37) and Minnesota (#39). The Aztecs will also host the annual San Diego Classic at Tony Gwynn Stadium featuring Texas Tech, Oregon State and University of San Diego.
"We have good depth and talent on this squad, and the hardest part will be coming up with a 25-man roster," said Dietz. "I can use just about any combination in the infield and we'll be stronger than a year ago defensively. We'll be much better ability-wise in the outfield, and that's hard to say after you lose guys like Montgomery and Lockhart. Pitching will be a real asset.
"The nice thing is that we don't have to force feed any of our freshmen like we did last year. We have enough veterans that we can bring the new players along at the right pace and get them adjusted to this level of competition."
"The top end of the freshman class are among some of our finest athletes. But it's the upperclassmen who are a little bit more seasoned, a little bit stronger, and have been through it so they understand what to expect over the course of a season. It's a combination that could make this one of our better teams of the past decade."