2014 Maryland Baseball Preview

by John Vittas (@JohnVittas3)

It's hard to deny the ascent of Maryland Terrapins baseball over the past few years. Heading into 2014, the Terps have positioned themselves to take the next big step into the thick of ACC contenders.

One thing to note, Maryland baseball finished with a losing record in 23 of the past 29 seasons. However, they've put up back-to-back winning campaigns and double-digit ACC win totals for the first time since 1971-72. On the heels of four straight nationally recognized recruiting classes, this year's team could be one of the most talented in school history.

Photo: Gene Sweeney Jr., Baltimore Sun

Although the majority of the 2013 contributors do return this year, John Szefc's Terrapins will have to weather the losses of some key players. Last year's ace, Jimmy Reed, was drafted in the sixth round by the St. Louis Cardinals. Reed went 6-4 as the Friday starter, posting a 2.34 ERA and out-dueling some of the nation's best arms.

Three-year starter Jordan Hagel also graduated last year. Hagel, who registered the highest OPS of any offensive player in 2013, leaves behind a vacancy in right field.

The Terps will also have to replace seven players who transferred out of the program. 3B KJ Hockaday (Tennessee Wesleyan), UT Greg Olenski (Delaware), OF Matt Bosse (SC-Aiken), 1B Tim Kiene (Tennessee Wesleyan), OF Kyle Moore, LHP Cam Hatch and C Alex Ramsay have all left College Park. With the exception of Moore, the transfers were recruited by previous head coach Eric Bakich, who resigned as Terps skipper after the 2012 season, leaving for the Michigan job.

Heading into the Terps' crucial opening series against No. 23 Florida, many of the Opening Day decisions have already been made:

Catcher

Starter: Kevin Martir (So.)
Backup: Nick Cieri (Fr.)

Photo: Charlie DeBoyace (Diamondback)

The injury to freshman John Mazza and the departures of Alex Ramsay and Alex Yee leave the Terps incredibly short-handed behind the plate. Martir (pictured) will be in the everyday lineup after batting .279 in 50 games as a true freshman. His leadership skills continue to grow, and his bat will be relied upon heavily in 2014.
Cieri is an above average backup. Highly regarded coming out of high school in New Jersey, Cieri was drafted in 32nd round by the San Francisco Giants. He should spell Martir behind the plate at least once a week, and may get at bats as the designated hitter.

Infield

1B: LaMonte Wade (So.)
2B: Brandon Lowe (R-Fr.)
SS: Blake Schmit (Sr.)
3B: Jose Cuas (So.)

Injured: 2B Kyle Convissar (Sr.), 1B Matt Oniffrey (Fr.)

Backups: Mike Rescigno (Fr.), Krysthian Leal (Jr.), Patrick Hisle (Fr.)

For the second straight preseason, the Terps have lost their second baseman. Last year, it was freshman Brandon Lowe, who tore his ACL on the final rep of practice before Opening Day. This year, Lowe is the beneficiary of another costly keystone injury. Senior leader Kyle Convissar tore a ligament in his foot and will miss at least four weeks to start the season. Convissar's injury opens the door for Lowe, who is said to be a defensive wizard.
Speaking of strong defense, former JUCO transfer Blake Schmit (pictured) returns to anchor shortstop. Schmit admirably replaced Brewers-farmhand Alfredo Rodriguez in 2013, batting .277 and routinely dazzling crowds with extraordinary defensive plays.

Photo: Charlie DeBoyace (Diamondback)

The departure of Hockaday opens the door for sophomore Jose Cuas. Cuas started 37 games in 2013, but struggled. One of the best pro prospects on the team, Cuas was drafted by the Blue Jays in 2012. His power, athleticism and potential is noticable, and Coach Szefc could not resist the temptation of giving him a shot.
Wade returns for his second season as the starting first baseman. Undersized for the position, the Maryland native led the team in RBIs (38) in 2013, and is strong defensively. Having  played outfield for much of his career, moving Wade to right in 2014 was an option. If the corner outfielders struggle offensively, Rescigno could bump Wade to the outfield.
Leal, a transfer from Chipola College, and Hisle, a freshman from nearby Bethesda, both had good showings in the fall and could earn some time off the bench.
Oniffrey and Cieri can also play first, but Oniffrey will miss significant time after breaking his thumb.
With an unstable infield, expect players to shift around, and nine different players could eventually start if the first four don't pin down their opportunities.

Outfield

LF: Andrew Amaro (Jr.)
CF: Charlie White (R-Jr.)
RF: Anthony Papio (So.)

DH: Michael Montville (R-Jr.)

Backups: Tim Lewis (Jr.), Bradley Keith (Fr.)

With Hagel, Olenski and Bosse gone, many opportunities exist in the outfield.
Two-time New Hampshire Gatorade Player of the Year Michael Montville is still recovering from arm surgery, and will only be available to DH at the start of the season. If Montville is able to play the outfield this spring, it is likely he will replace Amaro in left. Montville is a career .237 hitter, but has as much power as anyone on the Maryland team.
White (pictured) is the biggest name on the Maryland squad. With a team-high .350 average and league-leading 39 stolen bases in 2013, White turned down a contract offer from the Yankees to return to College Park. He can absolutely fly, and is as good a defensive centerfielder as there is. College Sports Madness named him a preseason All-American, after finishing fourth in the nation in steals last year. An Illinois native, White could return to College Park for his fifth year of eligibility when the Terps move to the Big Ten next year.

Photo: umterps.com

Papio batted .245 over 39 starts last year, and features a good combination of power and athleticism.
Amaro won the final starting spot over Mike Rescigno, and will enjoy a starting role for the first time in his career. He too, can fly. Originally an infielder, he served the offense primarily as a pinch-runner the past two seasons.

Pitching

Projected Roles

Friday: RHP Jake Stinnett (Sr.)
Saturday: RHP Mike Shawaryn (Fr.)
Sunday: LHP Jake Drossner (So.)

Mid-Week: LHP Zach Morris (R-So.)
Mid-Week: LHP Alex Robinson (So.)

Closer: RHP Kevin Mooney (So.)
Set-Up: LHP Ben Brewster (Sr.)
Set-Up: RHP Jared Price (So.)
Set-Up: LHP Tayler Stiles (Fr.)

Other Arms: RHP Brandon Casas (So.), RHP Bobby Ruse (Jr.), RHP Mike Rescigno (Fr.), LHP LaMonte Wade (So.), RHP Chase Brewis (Fr.), LHP Robert Galligan (So.), LHP Jamie Pashuck (Jr.), RHP Andrew Green (Fr.), RHP Ryan Selmer (RHP)
Injured: RHP Brady Kirkpatrick (Sr.)

The story here is Shawaryn (pictured). The true-freshman has leap-frogged the entire staff and parked himself comfortably in the weekend rotation. At 6-4, 210, the New Jersey prep star is the full package, having turned down a contract offer from the Kansas City Royals.
Stinnett turned down the Pirates to anchor the Maryland rotation, and will lead a formidable 1-2 punch. Stinnett and Shawaryn have a chance to be very high picks in future MLB drafts.

Photo: Ron Cortes (philly.com)

Six other pitchers were battling for the final three spots in the rotation. It appears sophomores Jake Drossner, Zach Morris and Alex Robinson have won them, although it isn't clear who will pitch on Sundays and who will start during the week.
After a lackluster 2013, Drossner proved himself in the Cape Cod League, posting a 1.46 ERA against the nation's best college hitters.
Robinson made 13 starts for the Terps as a freshman, but has struggled with control and won't pitch on the weekend to start the year.
Morris, a former weekend starter for Cincinnati, becomes eligible after sitting out last year.
Price will start against Florida on Sunday, but will likely spend much of the season in the bullpen.

Mooney, Brewster and Price will headline one of the best bullpens in the ACC. Returning as the closer after a dominant freshman year in 2013, Mooney saved nine games, posted a 2.18 ERA and allowed just 30 hits in 41 innings a year ago. He is one of two ACC closers to be named to the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Watch List.
Brewster emerged as an unorthodoxed, yet effective reliever late in 2013. His deceptive motion and blistering heater will earn him a much larger role in 2014.
Price is the hardest thrower on the team, having touched 96 consistently in the offseason. If he can improve his command from last year, he can be unhittable.
Stiles is a true freshman who pitched well against D-I talent in the Ripken League this summer.

Casas and Ruse will also shoulder some of the bullpen load. Casas had a strong freshman year in 2013 and Ruse went 4-0 with a 3.93 ERA out of the pen.
Brewis, Wade and Rescigno have also shown potential this winter.

Preseason Superlatives

Team MVP: CF Charlie White
Best Pitcher: RHP Jake Stinnett
Freshman of the Year: RHP Mike Shawaryn

Offense
Best Pure Hitter: Kevin Martir
Best Power Hitter: Michael Montville
Most Speed: Charlie White (Amaro for Honorable Mention)

Defense
Best Infielder: Blake Schmit
Best Outfielder: Charlie White
Best Arm: Kevin Martir
Most Athletic: Jose Cuas

Pitching
Biggest Fastball: Jared Price
Best Command: Kevin Mooney

Schedule

ACC Home Series:
No. 17 North Carolina (Mar. 14-16)
No. 5 NC State (Mar. 21-23)
No. 13 Clemson (Mar. 28-30)
Georgia Tech (Apr. 18-20)
Notre Dame (May 2-4)

ACC Road Series: 
at No. 6 Florida State (Mar. 7-9)
at Wake Forest (Apr. 4-6)
at Virginia Tech (Apr. 11-13)
at Boston College (Apr. 25-27)
at Pittsburgh (May 9-11)

Non-Conference Opponents: 
Florida (Feb. 14-16 in Gainesville)
Rider (Feb. 18 at home)
Bryant (Feb 21-24; 4 games)
James Madison (Feb. 25 at JMU, Apr. 29 at home)
UMass (Feb. 28-Mar. 2; 4 games)
VCU (Mar. 4 in Richmond, Apr. 1 at home)
Delaware (Mar. 11 at home, Mar. 18 at UD)
UMBC (Mar. 19)
George Mason (Mar. 25 in Fairfax, Apr. 8 at home)
Towson (Apr. 15, May 7; both games at Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen)
Navy (Apr. 16 at home)
West Virginia (Apr. 22 at WVU, May 13 at home)

Game to Watch

Friday, March 21 vs. NC State (7pm.)

Projected No. 1 pick Carlos Rodon will take on Stinnett in College Park. The Wolfpack's shortstop Trea Turner also figures to be a top-5 selection.

In Conclusion

Without a doubt, the pitching staff is the strength of the team, with the offense being the question for the Terps. Their defense up-the-middle is as good as it gets, with White, Schmit, Lowe and Martir all qualifying as elite.

Conference Breakdown

Baseball America ranked six ACC teams in their top-25 poll:
1. Virginia
5. NC State
6. Florida State
13. Clemson
16. Miami
17. North Carolina

Georgia Tech is ranked in different polls. Notre Dame, Pittsburgh and defending-ACC champ Virginia Tech received votes, which should motivate Maryland players.

Season Outlook

A reasonable goal for the Terps is a .500 ACC record, which should put them in the ACC and NCAA Tournaments.
Unlike previous years, Maryland has bulked up their non-conference schedule, especially early on. The Terps open their season at No. 20 Florida and return home to play Bryant the following weekend, a team that went 45-18-1 last year.
They avoid two in-conference foes in top-ranked Virginia and No. 16 Miami. Their ACC schedule gets easier as the season progresses, as their first four series are against ranked opponents, with their final six coming against unranked teams.

Maryland Draft Preview - The Eligible Sophomores & What to Expect Tomorrow

by John Vittas


Charlie White, CF
RS SO         Naperville, IL

The Report: White is a dynamic centerfielder and has the ability to take over a game purely with his legs. Featuring plus speed, White finished top-5 in the nation with 39 stolen bases. He routinely disrupts a pitcher's rhythm when he reaches base, which he did in nearly 45% of his plate appearances.

The Good: White's speed will make heads turn. He is as good a bunter as you will ever see and uses his speed to track down balls in centerfield that seem impossible to get to. He's an excellent slap hitter and sprays the ball to all fields for a high average (.350). On top of all that, Charlie is tough to strike out (17 Ks in 214 ABs) and possesses an above average arm.

Maryland OF Charlie White

Photo by: orangeandwhite.com

The Bad: Many scouts will not roll the dice on White's style of play. Without any power potential, teams must bank on the fact that he can hit for a high average all the way up to the Major Leagues. Additionally, this was Charlie's first season as an everyday starter.

The Bottom Line: With the excitement he brings to the leadoff spot and the numbers he put up in an elite conference, it stands to reason that White will get picked. The question is, will he sign?

The Prediction: All the high-ceiling high school guys will go before him, but I bet someone pulls the trigger on White in the second half of the draft. For the right price, they might get themselves a steal, as Charlie will likely dominate the lower levels of pro ball.

Chances to Get Picked: 80%

Alex Ramsay, C
RS SO         Severna Park, MD

The Report: In VERY limited action, Ramsay has looked great swinging the bat and seems to have athleticism on top of a very smooth stroke.

The Bottom Line: Ramsay has been in the program for three years but has never gotten a chance at regular playing time. With Jack Cleary graduating, Ramsay should finally get some significant ABs in 2014. Despite being a bench player for three seasons, I think there's some potential within the Severna Park native.



What To Expect Later this Week (MLB Draft - June 6-8)

The over/under for Terps being picked this year is 3.5. Jake Stinnett and Jimmy Reed are locks, but after that there is much uncertainty, as there always is with baseball drafts. Charlie White is likely to be picked too, but after that, it is a complete crapshoot. Based on production, Jordan Hagel and Kyle Convissar both have a good chance to go in the late rounds. Other dark horses include Blake Schmit, Tim Kiene and Michael Montville, all guys who have immense upside but have not put together more than a full season of at bats with the Terps.

If they get 4 guys picked this year, they should be thrilled.
But look out Terps fans, that number could rise close to double digits in the years to come.

Maryland Draft Preview - The Juniors

by John Vittas, Jonathan Lewis & 2 others

Tim Kiene, 1B

JR      South Windsor, CT

The Report: Kiene battled injuries throughout the 2013 season and only played 8 games. With freshman LaMonte Wade taking a stranglehold on first base, it appears Kiene’s only chance to play next year is as the designated hitter, which won’t help his draft stock.

The Good: Kiene is a massive man with massive power. His swing is smooth and he almost always hits the ball hard. A .270 average in the Cape Cod League last year will encourage scouts to give him a chance.

The Bad: Kiene is average defensively and strikes out a lot. As mentioned above, his playing time is very much in question next year.

The Bottom Line: Tim is a typical power hitter with a world of potential but may have to transfer to find a position on the infield. If he gets picked, he’ll likely sign.

Photo: power-showcase.com

Prediction: With only 25 at bats this year, it stands to reason that Kiene will not even be considered. However, if scouts liked what they saw at the Cape last summer, they could take a chance on Kiene in the late rounds.

         Chances to get picked: 20-30%

Michael Montville, OF

JR      Portsmouth, NH

The Report: Montville won Gatorade Player of the Year in New Hampshire not once, but twice. So you know he’s a talent. But for now, a professional career is likely on hold as he missed most of the 2013 season with elbow problems, making just 10 starts.

The Good: Michael has legit power. He has a good frame (6-2 / 200) to be a corner outfielder and has the kind of bat you want from that position. He’s solid on defense too, featuring a plus arm.

The Bad: Montville has a big swing and strikes out way too much. He’ll need to develop a better two-strike approach.

The Bottom Line: Montville’s career average is in the .230’s. Shortening up to raise the average and striking out less is imperative for scouts to see him as a pro hitter.

Prediction: Michael has not yet played a full college season in his career, starting 76 games over three seasons. He’ll have to put it all together for a full season to have a chance. But if he does, his stock could skyrocket given his natural ability.

Ben Brewster, LHP

JR      Baltimore, MD

The Report: The results have always been positive for Ben Brewster. He has a unique delivery in which he slides his entire body at the plate before releasing the ball. He uses a three-quarters arm slot and essentially pitches from 55 feet because of his motion. With the unorthodoxed look and fastball velocity in the upper-80s, many hitters have a tough time catching up to his heater.

The Good: He stuck out nine batters in six innings and only allowed one earned run.

The Bad: He only pitched six innings.

The Bottom Line: Brewster has gradually bulked up over the past five years and progressively added velocity. He is a very intelligent young man and knows how to pitch, all of which was explained in this article published by DriveLineBaseball.com: http://www.drivelinebaseball.com/2011/03/05/interview-with-umd-pitcher-ben-brewster/

Prediction: Scouts really don’t know what he is, or whether his delivery is even legal. But if Brewster’s workload increases in 2014 and the good results continue, he’ll have a chance to go pro. He is a prototypical left-handed specialist at the next level.

         Chance to get picked this year: 0%

         Next Year: 10-30%

Blake Schmit, SS

JR      Eden Prairie, MN

The Report: Schmit is a defensive wizard. This panel unanimously names him the best defensive shortstop we’ve ever seen. The Minnesota native is a highlight reel waiting to happen every time he steps on the diamond. He has infinite range to either side, a good arm and is as athletic as any player in the country. Despite transferring from junior college, Schmit carried himself like he belonged right from day one, becoming the everyday shortstop.

The Good: Obviously his defense is what jumps out, but Blake can hit, too. He goes the other way when necessary and has some pop to the pull side. He’s still adjusting to the ACC level of pitching, but a .277 average in his first season at Maryland is awfully promising. Once he makes more consistent solid contact, he has the potential to hit for more power as well.

The Bad: Schmit had trouble catching up to hard fastballs at times.

The Bottom Line: Teams may wait to see him duplicate his first ACC season before giving him a chance. His ceiling is as high as anyone on the Terps roster as he has the ability to be a legitimate professional shortstop.

Prediction: Someone may try and steal him away from Maryland in the late rounds by paying him overslot, but chances are he’ll stay in College Park one more year and could be a blue-chip prospect this time next year.

         Chance to get picked: 20-30%

         Next year: 60-80%

To see what Schmit can do on defense, check out these videos: Schmit's Spectacular Playing JUCO in Iowa
Blake's Diving Catch against Miami in 2013

Schmit explains his decision to become a Terp

Chase Tokunaga, LHP

JR      Wailuku, HI

The Report: Tokunaga struggled in limited action after transferring to Maryland from Feather River College. With a fastball around 80 mph., he’ll have to rely on deception to have any success at the D-I level.

Jake Stinnett, RHP

JR      Vista, CA

The Report: Stinnett has more pro potential than anyone on the Maryland roster. He began the year as the team’s closer because of his big fastball and mental makeup, but was moved into the rotation mid-season. He blossomed as a starter and became one of the ACC’s best, lowering his ERA from 8.10 to 2.83 by season’s end. On top of his plus-stuff, Stinnett’s motion is extremely simple and easy to repeat. He has a good head on his shoulders too, posting a 4.47 cumulative GPA in high school.

The Good: Stinnett’s fastball-slider combo is pretty much Big League ready, with the heater touching 93 and a big power slider that’s proven to be unhittable at the college level. His command is always on-point and he pounds the strike zone, having walked only 24 batters in 63 innings. At 6-4, 202 pounds, his projectability is immense and many professional coaches would kill to get their hands on a talent like Stinnett.

The Bad: Stinnett has literally half a season of starting pitching under his belt in college. He was recruited to play infield and worked sparingly as a reliever in his first two years in College Park. He’s battled bouts with inconsistency too, having failed to reach the fourth inning in two of his starts this year.

Photo: diamondbackonline.com

The Bottom Line: Stinnett’s command and mental makeup should eliminate any concerns about his inexperience. His upside is tremendous, and scouts have taken notice in 2013. Even with all the freshman talent that has arrived in College Park, it was Stinnett who the scouts came out to see. He WILL be picked and could garner some high prospect grades once he’s there.

Prediction: Jake could drop because of his signability. He could certainly return to Maryland for one more year and anchor a strong but young staff in 2014, a la Jimmy Reed. Because of that, I bet MLB teams stay away from him in the early rounds and pick him in the rounds 8-16 region. But if he was a senior this year, he could go as early as round 3.

                  100% Chance to Get Picked

                  Rounds 5-20

Jamie Pashuck, LHP

JR      Christiana, PA

The Report: Pashuck has had success over the past two years as a reliever. With a repertoire that lacks ACC-caliber stuff, it’ll be difficult to for him to attract professional attention. But if his workload increases next year and he continues to get outs, you never know.

Brady Kirkpatrick, RHP

JR      Eugene, OR

The Report: Kirkpatrick has had a roller coaster career at Maryland, as his performance has wavered from legitimate ace to last in the pecking order of relievers. His stuff remains solid, with his success reliant upon his ability to locate. His fastball is 87-88 and he throws a curveball and changeup as well.

The Good: When he’s on, Kirkpatrick rolls. He’s at his best when pitching to contact and pounding the perimeter of the zone, which keeps his pitch count very low. When he’s on, he can throw all three pitches for strikes and controls the pace of the game. Also, Brady’s motion is extremely repeatable and his mechanics never seem to be an issue. He is even-keeled on the mound and many young pitchers on the staff look up to him as a role model.

The Bad: Kirkpatrick has floundered in the final few weeks of the season each of the past two years, which raises questions about his durability and focus. His results didn’t just decline, they plummeted as he failed to reach the third inning of his starts before moving to the bullpen, where he battled bouts of wildness.

Photo: marylandfb.blogspot.com

The Bottom Line: When he has all three pitches working, he’s one of the most effective pitchers in the conference and can be an absolute innings eater. However, Kirkpatrick will need to find some consistency before any team considers him.

Prediction: None of Kirkpatrick’s pitches would be considered plus-offerings in the pro ranks, so the results will need to be there in order for a club to give him a chance.

         Chance to get picked this year: 0%

         Next Year: 5-10%

Kyle Convissar, 2B

JR      Severna Park, MD

The Report: Convissar is a consummate professional with one of the best brains in the game. A perennial all-academic performer, the Severna Park native has the methodical style of hitting you’d expect from such an intelligent individual. His .325/.427/.427 line is one of the best in the ACC. He is a very complete hitter and has improved his numbers in each of his three years in College Park.

The Good: Convissar sprays the ball to all fields with authority. He takes the ball where it’s pitched and never tries to do too much. He’s a tough out every time up: he works the count, fouls off innumerable pitches and is very tough to strike out. He has some pop too, stoking 13 extra-base-hits this season and several doubles off the wall.

The Bad: Convissar doesn’t really have a position. He’s played exclusively second base with the Terps and done so adequately. However, he is a bigger body and only average athletically, so he may project better at third base or a corner outfield spot. His arm is good enough to play any of those positions.

Photo: diamondbackonline.com

The Bottom Line: Convissar’s production and intangibles are good enough to be a pro right now. However, his herky-jerky style of play may scare some scouts away.

Prediction:  Kyle can be a doubles machine at the next level. He has proven he can hit the finest pitching, and combined with his baseball IQ, he should get a chance, even if it’s not this year.

         Chances to get picked: 50-60%

         This year: 30-40%

Terps Baseball Transitions into the John Szefc Era

by John Vittas

Had a chance to catch up with members of the Maryland baseball team last week. The team is off to a 9-3 start and just cracked the top 30 in the nation.

The 90 second feature:

The longer version: