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FALL PROFILE: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
2011 record: 42-21 (NCAA Regional)
Final 2011 PG ranking: No. 13
Top returning players: UTI Jake Davies, OF Kyle Wren, OF Sam Dove, OF Brandon Thomas, DH Daniel Palka, SS Mott Hyde, C Zane Evans, UTI DeAndre Smelter, P Buck Farmer, P Matt Grimes, P Luke Bard, P Dusty Isaacs,
Notable departures:P Jed Bradley, P Mark Pope, 1B Matt Skole, SS Jacob Esch, P Kevin Jacob
Areas of concern: The Yellow Jackets are in very good shape entering fall workouts, but there are some concerns. For instance, the Jackets have two excellent starting pitchers to replace in Mark Pope and Jed Bradley. Buck Farmer will evolve into the staff ace, but the rest of the weekend rotation is wide open as fall workouts continue. At the plate, the Jackets must replace power hitters Matt Skole and Jacob Esch, who combined for 16 of the team’s 48 home runs last season. Tech won’t skip a beat, and could be even better in 2012, should some pitchers rise to the occasion.
What we think: The Jackets were relatively young at the plate last season, and another year of experience will help this unit adequately build off their .303 batting average last season. The Jackets welcome back several talented hitters, including power hitter Daniel Palka, who is having a great fall and is coming off a campaign in which he batted .297 with 12 home runs and 52 RBIs. The Jackets certainly have some question marks on the mound after ace pitcher Buck Farmer, but sophomore Matt Grimes has the ability to be a dominant weekend starter. The Jackets also have high hopes for DeAndre Smelter, who could evolve into a starter in the spring, in addition to Dusty Isaacs, who’s coming off a strong summer. The Jackets’ national title hopes in 2012 hinge on the development of the weekend rotation.
What they’re saying:“People thought we were young last year. But we might even be younger this year with the losses of veterans such as Jed Bradley, Mark Pope, Jacob Esch and Matt Skole. We’re a team mostly comprised of freshmen and sophomores. I feel like we have the talent to do something special. Now we just need to get the guys in the right positions and roles this fall.” – Georgia Tech coach Danny Hall.
CB TICKET: More inside scoop on Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech typically is known more for its ultra-productive offensive lineups than its pitching staffs, but the 2011 campaign was a mild exception.
The Yellow Jackets once again had a productive offense. They finished the campaign with a .303 batting average and smacked 48 home runs. But on the mound, the Jackets had one of the nation’s best weekend rotations with Mark Pope, Jed Bradley and then-sophomore Buck Farmer rounding out the rotation.
Farmer, a talented right-hander, finished last season with a 2.91 ERA in 108 1/3 innings. Meanwhile, Pope and Bradley put together solid campaigns, and were drafted – and signed – in the fifth and first rounds, respectively.
Having Farmer back in the mix this fall is a huge positive for the Yellow Jackets, but the big question as fall workouts progress is the rest of the rotation without impressive talents Pope and Bradley.
Replacing the talented duo won’t be easy, and it’s a question that must be answered should the Yellow Jackets reach their 2012 goal of getting back to the College World Series for the first time since 2006.
“The big thing we need to figure out right now is who goes out there and replaces the innings logged by Bradley and Pope,” Georgia Tech coach Danny Hall said. “We have a pretty good idea on who will have two of the spots, but the Sunday role is very much up in the air this fall.”
Farmer has a strong hold on the Friday ace role for now, while the Yellow Jackets fully expect highly touted sophomore right-hander Matt Grimes to evolve into a very solid Saturday starter.
Grimes served as midweek starter last season, starting 12 games and making 15 appearances and tallying a 4.15 ERA in 73 2/3 innings. He also raised some eyebrows in Atlanta Regional action when he tossed 6 2/3 innings of strong relief work after co-ace Mark Pope left the Austin Peay contest with an injury.
“Grimes has a chance to be an absolute beast in the spring,” Hall said. “I thought he came in and pitched really well in some big games last season. I also think he did a solid job at the Cape Cod League over the summer. I think he’s ready to hold his own.”
The No. 3 spot in the weekend rotation isn’t so clear-cut. The Yellow Jackets have some options that include junior right-hander Luke Bard, sophomore right-hander DeAndre Smelter and sophomore right-hander Dusty Isaacs, who’s coming off a good summer.
The Jackets have faith in Bard as a starting pitcher, but aren’t sure if they want to move him out of the bullpen. Bard made 25 appearances – one start – and tallied a solid 2.72 ERA and eight saves in 49 2/3 innings. The closer role becomes an uncertain position should the Jackets move Bard to the rotation.
“What to do with Bard is a big question for us. Bard wants to start and we kind of like him as a closer. So we have to figure out what is best for the team,” he said. “I told Bard we can’t take him out of the closer role unless I know for sure someone stable is there to pitch the ninth inning. That’s such a critical part of the game, so we want to make sure there’s not a dilemma there.”
Isaacs blossomed over the summer and is coming off a collegiate campaign where he tallied a 2.72 ERA in 36 1/3 innings. Meanwhile, Smelter arrived at Georgia Tech with high acclaim and tallied a 0.52 ERA in 14 appearances and 17 1/3 innings last season.
“Isaacs had a great summer and has really, really good upside,” he said. “As for Smelter, he has shown some flashes, but we have to get him back to where he was his junior year of high school. He showed some impressive flashes at times last season, but that velocity needs to be better.”
While the starting rotation is the question on the mound, power production is the only potential area of concern at the plate.
The Yellow Jackets finished last season with 48 home runs as a team, and must find a way to replace sluggers Matt Skole and Jacob Esch, who finished last season with batting averages of .348 and .319, respectively. It’s also worth noting the duo hit 33 percent of Tech’s 2011 home runs.
“Last season, we knew we had a powerful guy like Skole hitting in the middle of the lineup,” Hall said. “I’m hoping we can get the offense to be very productive. I feel like we have the talent to make that possible.”
The Jackets welcome back sophomore slugger Daniel Palka, who finished last season with 12 home runs and 52 RBIs. They also welcome back outfielder Kyle Wren, who surprised many last season with a campaign that finished with a solid .340 average.
“Palka really got my attention at the Cape Cod League over the summer. He hit so well and his power just continues,” he said. “It’s nothing against him, but at this stage in his career, he has more power than Mark Teixeira did at this point. Meanwhile, Wren just has to get stronger. He’s not the biggest guy, but he definitely can get stronger.”
Georgia Tech also hopes for ample production from highly touted outfielder Brandon Thomas, a rising prospect for the 2012 MLB draft. Thomas, a tremendous athlete, hit .307 with three home runs and 29 RBIs last season.
“Brandon is a specimen, but he needs to be better. He has a ton of physical tools and a big-league body. He can really run and he’s a switch hitter,” he said. “I still, for now, view him as a guy that everyone looks at as a good player, but as a player who has the potential to be great. He hasn’t quite fully blossomed yet. Maybe he will.”
In terms of newcomers, the Yellow Jackets have high hopes for freshmen Charles Sheffield and A.J. Murray – two players expected to provide an immediate impact.
“I think they are the two strongest freshman hitters we have right now,” he said. “I could see both of them getting some significant playing time from the start.”
The Yellow Jackets certainly have some holes to fill between now and the spring, but they’re in better shape than many teams around the country. They return a productive offensive, a solid closer and a legitimate ace pitcher.
Now comes the process of solidifying the other two starting spots.
Kendall Rogers is the college baseball managing editor for Perfect Game USA and can be reached at kendall@perfectgame.org