Feb. 16, 2016
WHAT'S ON TAP THIS WEEK IN AZTEC BASEBALL
San Diego State opens its 2016 season with three a three-game series against Oregon this weekend. The opener of that series is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 19, when the Aztecs host the Ducks for a 6:00 p.m. contest. The teams will also meet in single games on Saturday (Feb. 20) and Sunday (Feb. 21) at 1:00 p.m. and noon respectively. The series will mark the first meeting between SDSU and Oregon since the 1973 season.
AZTECS ON THE AIR
The Friday contest against Oregon this weekend will have live video streaming on the Mountain Digital Network. Saturday's and Sunday's games will also be broadcast live on KCR Radio, San Diego State's campus station. A total of 11 of SDSU's 30 home games this season will be streamed live on the Mountain Digital Network. In addition, 7 contests will be broadcast live on ESPN 1700 in San Diego with the remaining 16 carried live on KCR.
FOR OPENERS
San Diego State has a record of 49-27-1 in season openers since 1936. Since attaining Division I status in 1969, the Aztecs are 28-16 in their annual debuts. SDSU has won only six of its last 18 season debuts. The Aztecs, however, have won five of their last nine season openers including victories over Cal Poly (2007), University of San Diego (2008 and 2013), Bethune-Cookman (2009) and Valparaiso (2015). When opening the season at home, SDSU has an all-time record of 29-12-1 and the Aztecs are 14-10 as a Division I school when beginning the year away.
WEEKEND ROTATION
SDSU's pitching rotation for the opening weekend will have left-hander Marcus Reyes starting the season opener on Friday. Reyes is coming off a sophomore season in which he went 7-3 with a 4.20 earned run average. He recorded 100 strikeouts in 105.1 innings en route to first-team all-league honors. Junior right-hander Cody Thompson (4-4, 4.32) will get the start on Saturday with junior lefty Brett Seeburger (1-0, 7.39) getting the nod in Sunday's series finale.
NEW COACHES
The Aztecs have added a pair of new coaches to their staff for the 2016 season: Pitching Coach Sam Peraza and Volunteer Assistant Joey Centanni. Peraza arrives at SDSU after two seasons at Florida International. He also had previous experience at Cal State Northridge, Cal State Los Angeles and Eastern Oklahoma State. He is a 2002 graduate of San Diego State, where he pitched during the 2002 season. Centanni played four seasons as a pitcher and first baseman at Pacific, graduating in 2009. After college, he spent one season in the Baltimore Orioles organization before an injury ended his playing career. He later served as an associate scout for the Orioles in the San Diego area and coach locally at Francis Parker High School.
VETERAN HONOREES
Five players who earned individual honors a year ago return for the 2016 season. Second baseman Alan Trejo was named to the all-tournament team at the 2015 NCAA Regional at Lake Elsinore, Calif. Pitcher Jacob Erickson, outfielder Spencer Thornton and designated hitter Justin Wylie earned all-tourney recognition at the 2015 Mountain West Conference Tournament. Outfielder Chase Calabuig was named a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American and a second-team all-Mountain West selection.
PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE
Outfielder Chase Calabuig has been tabbed to the Preseason All-Mountain West team in a vote of the league's coaches. Calabuig batted .305 with eight doubles and 25 RBI las season en route to second-team all-conference honors at the end of the 2015 campaign. He was also named a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball magazine.
COLLEGE SPORTS MADNESS ALL-MW
College Sports Madness also named Calabuig to its All-Mountain West first team while four other Aztecs earned second-team honors. That quartet included outfielder Spencer Thornton and third baseman Andrew Brown along with pitchers Marcus Reyes and Cody Thompson.
DRAFTED AZTECS
Three current members of the SDSU squad have been drafted by Major League clubs. That trio includes junior catcher CJ Saylor (33rd rd. in 2012, Los Angeles Dodgers) along with sophomore outfielder Denz'l Chapman (32nd rd. in 2014, Oakland A's) and freshman first baseman Jordan Verdon (24th rd. in 2015, New York Mets).