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College  | Story  | 1/17/2017

College Top 25: Team Capsules

Patrick Ebert      Mike Rooney      Jheremy Brown      Matt Czechanski     
Photo: LSU Athletics




Preseason College Top 25 | Preseason All-American Team | 2017 College Baseball Preview Index

The first three capsules are available for free. To read the remaining breakdowns of the Top 25 teams for the 2017 college baseball season you will need a College Baseball Ticket (CBT) subscription to view. To learn more about the College Baseball Ticket, Perfect Game's other subscription packages and to sign up today, please visit this link.

Prospect number in parenthesis is player's rank in Perfect Game's most recent ranking of the top 250 prospects eligible for the 2017 draft.


1. Texas Christian
Luken Baker (TCU Athletics)
Head Coach: Jim Schlossnagle
Conference: Big 12
2016 record: 49-18 (15-9 Big 12)
2016 finish: College World Series

Top returning hitters: DH Luken Baker (.379-11-62), 3B Elliott Barzilli (.339-7-48), CF Nolan Brown (.302-1-30 in 2015), C Evan Skoug (.301-9-51), 2B Cam Warner (.300-6-43), SS Ryan Merrill (.298-1-25), RF Austen Wade (.286-1-27), LF Josh Watson (.280-11-44), 1B Connor Wanhanen (.231-0-23)

Top returning pitchers: RHP Jared Janczak (7-4, 2.61, 82.2 IP, 80:26), RHP Brian Howard (3.19, 10-2, 98.2 IP, 93:30), RHP Mitchell Traver (1-3, 3.26, 30.1 IP, 28:10), RHP Durbin Feltman (3-0, 1.56, 34.2 IP, 49:11, 9 SV), LHP Ryan Burnett (3-1, 1.97, 32 IP, 31:6), LHP Drew Gooch (0-0, 2.01, 22.1 IP, 17:7), LHP Dalton Horton (8-0, 2.58, 59.1 IP, 27:17)

Top newcomers: LHP Nick Lodolo, RHP Charles King, LHP Dion Henderson, RHP Trey Morris, RHP Cal Coughlin

Top 2017 prospects: C Evan Skoug (51), RHP Brian Howard, RHP Mitchell Traver, 3B Elliott Barzilli, LHP Ryan Burnett

Why they're here: Returning talent from CWS squad. TCU boasts 22 players that were on last year's College World Series team that are returning for the 2017 season. The most significant player they lost was Dane Steinhagen, but they get a huge boost with the return of Nolan Brown, who missed the 2016 due to injury and will serve as the team's leadoff catalyst and center fielder. Brown along with Friday ace Brian Howard, projected Sunday starter Mitchell Traver and the entire infield alignment are seniors giving this team an incredible amount of experience in addition to production.

Difference maker: Sensational sophomores. While Luken Baker isn't expected to pitch this season he enjoyed a huge season at the plate as a freshman – which includes a two home run game in Omaha – and should continue to provide numerous key blasts over the course of the 2017 season. Durbin Feltman was equally dominant serving as the team's closer allowing just 15 hits and 11 walks in 34 2/3 innings of work while striking out 49. Jared Janczak, the team's projected Saturday starter, went 7-4 with a 2.61 ERA a year ago and secured a key starting role down the stretch. Baker and Feltman represent two of the team's five Preseason All-Americans.

Fun fact: TCU has made the Final Four each of the last two seasons, losing to eventual 2015 runner-up Vanderbilt and the eventual 2016 champions Coastal Carolina as they look to return to Omaha for the fourth consecutive year.


2. Louisiana State
Jared Poche (LSU)
Head Coach: Paul Mainieri
Conference: Southeastern 
2015 record: 45-21 (19-11 SEC)
2015 finish: Baton Rouge Super Regional

Top returning hitters: 2B Cole Freeman (.329-1-27), CF Antonie Duplantis (.327-2-39), SS Kramer Robertson (.324-2-39), DH/OF Bryce Jordan (.293-5-33), RF Greg Deichmann (.288-11-57), LF Beau Jordan (.286-4-39), C Mike Papierski (.242-3-20)

Top returning pitchers: RHP Hunter Newman (1-1, 8 SV, 2.13 ERA, 28 IP, 40:15), LHP Jared Poche' (9-4, 3.35 ERA, 102 IP, 87:37), RHP Doug Norman (1-1, 3.41, 31.2 IP, 21:18), RHP Alex Lange (8-4, 3.79 ERA, 111.2 IP, 125:49), RHP Russell Reynolds (3-0, 4.08, 35.1 IP, 23:10)

Top newcomers: 3B Josh Smith, RHP Zach Hess, RHP Eric Walker, RHP Todd Peterson, 1B Jake Slaughter, RHP Hunter Kiel

Top 2017 prospects: RHP Alex Lange (40), RHP Hunter Kiel, SS Kramer Robertson, OF Greg Deichmann, LHP Jared Poche'

Why they’re here: Depth and talent up and down their roster. LSU will bring back their top two starters from a season ago including likely first rounder Alex Lange who possess an explosive fastball to go along with a hammer curveball. Jared Poche' is an experienced SEC arm who returns for his senior year. They return their up-the-middle combo in Kramer Robertson and Cole Freeman, three of their top four hitters and almost their entire lineup from a season ago. They also add a plethora of impact freshman arms to go along with junior college transfer Hunter Kiel who has a big fastball that will work around triple digits.

Difference maker: Alex Lange. The Tigers will rely on Lange to show the dominant arsenal he displayed as a freshman and get back to that level of consistency. He was up and down a season ago, but with the quality of talent the SEC has on Friday nights, Lange will be called upon to match them pitch for pitch. 

Fun fact: LSU has led college baseball in average attendance for every season dating back to 1985. The fans in Baton Rouge have notoriously made it a hostile and jam-packed environment for every home game. The Tigers will need the support once again this year in a loaded SEC. 


3. Florida State
Cal Raleigh (Larry Novey)
Head Coach: Mike Martin
Conference: Atlantic Coast
2016 record: 41-22 (16-10 ACC)
2016 finish: Gainesville Super Regional

Top returning hitters: LF Jackson Lueck (.379-4-35), SS Taylor Walls (.355-6-46), 3B Dylan Busby (.323-14-55), C Cal Raleigh (.301-10-50), 1B/DH Quincy Nieporte (.300-5-38)

Top returning pitchers:LHP Alec Byrd (1-0, 2.20 ERA, 32.2 IP, 32:10), LHP Tyler Holton (3-4, 2.79 ERA, 67.2 IP, 84:33), RHP Drew Carlton (8-3, 3.94 ERA, 93.2 IP, 76:23), RHP Cole Sands (6-7, 4.13 ERA, 69.2 IP, 50:33)

Top newcomers:1B/3B Drew Mendoza, CF J.C. Flowers, IF Nick Derr, RF Rhett Aplin

Top 2017 prospects:3B Dylan Busby (132), SS Taylor Walls, RHP Drew Carlton

Why they’re here:Because they’re Florida State. This isn’t a given of course as several other mitigating factors are considered, but without fail Florida State appears to be in the thick of things each and every season. Just one win away from advancing to the College World Series last June, the Seminoles return a very key core of position players with Taylor Walls, Dylan Busby and Cal Raleigh, and in the process has added a couple of the conference’s most hyped freshmen. The pitching will be an area to monitor but if history serves as any indication we’ll see the Seminoles fighting to the very end.

Difference maker:Invaluable depth. With what amounts to more than 65 games to go all the way and capture a National Championship, depth is an asset that almost all past champions had at their disposal. Though there are a few key pieces that will be filled with underclassmen on offense, the Seminoles have experience up and down the lineup, and most importantly in the bullpen, who know the demands of a long and grueling season.

Fun fact:Last season marked Florida State’s 39th consecutive season of reaching the 40-win plateau, the last 37 of which No. 11 has been at the helm for. With such an illustrious career, Mike Martin is set to surpass the 1,900 win mark this season and will trail only legendary Texas skipper Augie Garrido for most career wins. 


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