I think we have finalized our roster at this point. I believe we have no more likely roster additions. So this is how I think it looks:
I think this is how we break down defensively. I think UK has a bit of a problem in the OF with depth. I have marked the freshmen in red because I imagine that many of them will redshirt. I think we might see a few get some plate appearances, more if there are injuries, but it is hard for me to pick which ones might be used in backup/PH roles. We have 13 or 14 (if you include Cotto) position players that have been on a college roster before. I expect those 13 or 14 to take the majority of the plate appearances, but, if history serves as some proof, a freshman or two could be added for spot work and might get 20-30 at bats. I think Howe could possibly be one of these, as he can play both IF and OF, and he seems to have a big bat.
Pitching staff is much more difficult to predict, IMO.
I put Bosma in at Saturday because I am just wildly guessing that UK might like to mix up the weekend by having a lefty sandwiched between a couple of righties. However, I think Williams could get that spot, and I think that Bosma/Williams could also take the spot from Lee depending on how everyone does in the fall. I think, most likely, those three are battling for 2 spots. Everyone else is on the outside looking in. Whichever person loses this battle likely moves to the bullpen as a long reliever. Right now I just have that penciled in as Williams. Nothing against him, but I just have a hard time moving a weekend starter off of that role when they already have it and, as mentioned, I am giving the lefty the nod for the RLR weekend. Still, the staff has a tendency to surprise when it comes to some weekend selections, and they aren't above shaking things up. I have almost all the guys listed at Saturday, because I think that is where the real competition is. Again, I think Lee could lose his spot, but if he does it is likely to either Bosma/Williams and he isn't likely to lose it to say Hagenow or Harney.
I think there are a lot of options for the midweek, but no clear winners other than maybe Hagenow. I personally don't like this strategy as much, but it seems like the staff does this. I prefer freshmen in the midweek spot... those that you know will step into a weekend role next year. I'd rather see those sophomores pitching on the weekend, but want in one hand.
It wouldn't surprise me to see Harney start again, but I think they really liked him as a closer and I think he's the clear favorite for that. However, he was very good as a starter for UK, so I think they at least have to give him a real shot at starting on the weekend again. If that happens it could shake up the closer role. Guilfoil, I believe, was a closer for Lipscomb (or at least at one point was) and so, he could fill in that role. Rigsby had a weird year last year, so he could bounce back and be a competitor in that spot. Not sure what they will do with Cotto, but I slated him as a possible closer given his 98mph heat.
I think we see a ton of Harper again out of the bullpen and I think Degen is a long reliever. I think, if Guilfoil doesn't close, then you'll see him play a similar role to Cole Daniels a few years ago... basically as UK's shutdown man. Doesn't really pitch a ton of innings, but he often comes in to shut the door in high stress situations. I could see Cotto basically being the 2022 version of Holt Jones. Hard thrower that comes in and just eats up a ton of innings. Similarly, could happen with whoever doesn't start on the weekend. An interesting aspect is that UK will have just 2 bullpen lefties (if Bosma starts and until Hazelwood is better), Cotto and Byers. This being the case, it could possible change some roles, but I feel like this staff is less likely to play matchups and more likely to play with the confidence they have in certain arms.
I think all freshmen are likely to redshirt. You might see someone like Howe, who could play both ways, get some innings since he could already be playing in the field at random times, but none of the newcomers necessarily jump out at me as being someone who I can assuredly say will play a significant role. Travis Smith is injured and likely won't play at all in 2022.
Also just want to note that Mason Hazelwood is so far down on my starter list because he will only be coming back from injury in something like early March, so I doubt he works his way back to a starter role and is likely out of the pen.
| Catcher | Alonzo Rubalcaba (Sr) | Kirk Liebert (Sr) | Devin Burkes (rFr) | ||
| First Base | Jacob Plastiak (Sr) | Reuben Church (So) | Mag Cotto (So) | Tanner Kim (Fr) | |
| Second Base | Daniel Harris (Sr) | Chase Estep (Jr) | Nolan McCarthy (rFr) | Michael Dallas (Fr) | Julian Searce (Fr) |
| Third Base | Chase Estep (Jr) | Reuben Church (So) | Jacob Plastiak (Sr) | Christian Howe (Fr) | |
| Shortstop | Ryan Ritter (Jr) | Daniel Harris (Sr) | Nolan McCarthy (rFr) | Lauden Brooks (Fr) | Emilien Pitre (Fr) |
| Right Field | Adam Fogel (Sr) | Oraj Anu (Sr) | James McCoy (Fr) | Christian Howe (Fr) | |
| Centerfield | John Thrasher (Sr) | ||||
| Left Field | Hunter Jump (Sr) | Oraj Anu (Sr) | James McCoy (Fr) | Christian Howe (Fr) | |
| Designated Hitter | Oraj Anu (Sr) | Reuben Church (So) |
I think this is how we break down defensively. I think UK has a bit of a problem in the OF with depth. I have marked the freshmen in red because I imagine that many of them will redshirt. I think we might see a few get some plate appearances, more if there are injuries, but it is hard for me to pick which ones might be used in backup/PH roles. We have 13 or 14 (if you include Cotto) position players that have been on a college roster before. I expect those 13 or 14 to take the majority of the plate appearances, but, if history serves as some proof, a freshman or two could be added for spot work and might get 20-30 at bats. I think Howe could possibly be one of these, as he can play both IF and OF, and he seems to have a big bat.
| Friday | Cole Stupp (Jr) | ||||
| Saturday | Tyler Bosma (Sr) | Darren Williams (rSr) | Sean Harney (Sr) | Ryan Hagenow (So) | Mason Hazelwood (Sr) |
| Sunday | Zack Lee (Jr) | Darren Williams (rSr) | Tyler Bosma (Sr) | ||
| Midweek | Ryan Hagenow (So) | Wyatt Hudepohl (So) | Darren Williams (rSr) | ||
| Closer | Sean Harney (Sr) | Tyler Guilfoil (Sr) | Mag Cotto (So) | Hunter Rigsby (Sr) | |
| Bullpen | Daniel Harper (Sr) | Tyler Guilfoil (Sr) | Austin Strickland (So) | Mag Cotto (So) | Alex Degen (Sr) |
| Seth Logue (So) | Mason Hazelwood (Sr) | Darren Williams (rSr) | Hunter Rigsby (Sr) | Evan Byers (rFr) | |
| Tyler Burchett (rJr) | |||||
| Freshmen | Colby Frieda | Reed Gannon (LHP) | Mason Moore | Jackson Nove (LHP) | Travis Smith |
| Christian Howe |
Pitching staff is much more difficult to predict, IMO.
I put Bosma in at Saturday because I am just wildly guessing that UK might like to mix up the weekend by having a lefty sandwiched between a couple of righties. However, I think Williams could get that spot, and I think that Bosma/Williams could also take the spot from Lee depending on how everyone does in the fall. I think, most likely, those three are battling for 2 spots. Everyone else is on the outside looking in. Whichever person loses this battle likely moves to the bullpen as a long reliever. Right now I just have that penciled in as Williams. Nothing against him, but I just have a hard time moving a weekend starter off of that role when they already have it and, as mentioned, I am giving the lefty the nod for the RLR weekend. Still, the staff has a tendency to surprise when it comes to some weekend selections, and they aren't above shaking things up. I have almost all the guys listed at Saturday, because I think that is where the real competition is. Again, I think Lee could lose his spot, but if he does it is likely to either Bosma/Williams and he isn't likely to lose it to say Hagenow or Harney.
I think there are a lot of options for the midweek, but no clear winners other than maybe Hagenow. I personally don't like this strategy as much, but it seems like the staff does this. I prefer freshmen in the midweek spot... those that you know will step into a weekend role next year. I'd rather see those sophomores pitching on the weekend, but want in one hand.
It wouldn't surprise me to see Harney start again, but I think they really liked him as a closer and I think he's the clear favorite for that. However, he was very good as a starter for UK, so I think they at least have to give him a real shot at starting on the weekend again. If that happens it could shake up the closer role. Guilfoil, I believe, was a closer for Lipscomb (or at least at one point was) and so, he could fill in that role. Rigsby had a weird year last year, so he could bounce back and be a competitor in that spot. Not sure what they will do with Cotto, but I slated him as a possible closer given his 98mph heat.
I think we see a ton of Harper again out of the bullpen and I think Degen is a long reliever. I think, if Guilfoil doesn't close, then you'll see him play a similar role to Cole Daniels a few years ago... basically as UK's shutdown man. Doesn't really pitch a ton of innings, but he often comes in to shut the door in high stress situations. I could see Cotto basically being the 2022 version of Holt Jones. Hard thrower that comes in and just eats up a ton of innings. Similarly, could happen with whoever doesn't start on the weekend. An interesting aspect is that UK will have just 2 bullpen lefties (if Bosma starts and until Hazelwood is better), Cotto and Byers. This being the case, it could possible change some roles, but I feel like this staff is less likely to play matchups and more likely to play with the confidence they have in certain arms.
I think all freshmen are likely to redshirt. You might see someone like Howe, who could play both ways, get some innings since he could already be playing in the field at random times, but none of the newcomers necessarily jump out at me as being someone who I can assuredly say will play a significant role. Travis Smith is injured and likely won't play at all in 2022.
Also just want to note that Mason Hazelwood is so far down on my starter list because he will only be coming back from injury in something like early March, so I doubt he works his way back to a starter role and is likely out of the pen.
