The official site provides an update on our players in summer ball; the latest is here: https://tulanegreenwave.com/news/20...te-tulane-baseball-in-the-summer-leagues.aspx
But I’d like to add some info to that review.
As a group our guys are hitting .313 and our pitchers have a 4.10 ERA.
Brendan Power is now down to .147 at bat and has been moved from 2nd base to 3rd base, where, after playing errorless ball (26 chances) at 2nd, has made 3 errors in 19 chances at 3rd (.842). It’s a small sample and fielding average isn’t a great indicator of defense, but it’s not a positive sign for him to replace Hoese, or anyone else, in the lineup.
Collin Burns is a left handed hitting infielder who hit .217 (10 for 46) as a freshman at Tulane. With the departure of Gozzo, the shortstop job appears to be his for the taking. So far this summer, he’s 18 for 57 at the plate (.316) and made three errors in 55 chances at short (.945). While the latter isn’t great (Gozzo fielded .953, .963, and.969 in his three years), it’s a small sample and is not necessarily a good indicator of his defense. That he’s been kept at shortstop (Gozzo was moved to second base last summer) suggests he’s doing OK. We'll see.
David Bengood is killing the ball and his average is now up to .377 with 5 HR’s in 53 at bats. More important, for whatever summer ball indicates, he has only struck out 8 times (every 6.7 times), much better than the 42 Ks in 129 at bats (every 3rd time) he registered during our season. He’s also been working in the infield. He started at 3rd base originally but apparently wasn’t “cutting it.” He only had 6 chances but committed one error. Since moving to 2nd base, he’s only made one error in 37 chances (.973). Whatever, we’ll need his bat in the lineup. Where he’ll play is still the issue.
Ethan Groff was one of our more important recruits last year as an infielder, but ended up redshirting and moving to the outfield. This summer he’s been playing centerfield and started out hitting 11 for 32 (.343). Since then, he’s gone 4 for 33 (.121), resulting in his current .231 average. The coaching staff has been high on him so we’ll see.
Hudson Haskin is probably our best returning player but had a rough start this summer. He started 3 for 26 but kept his #3 spot in the batting order, so I’m guessing he was looking good in batting oractice and intra-squad games. Since then he’s gone 11 for 24 to bring his average up to .280. He’s also been playing centerfield and I don’t think we have anything to worry about here.
Frankie Newman had a great year at Tulane and, if Bedgood is “killing the ball,” there is no adequate description of Newman at the plate. He’s now 30 for 60 (.500) with one HR. But, the key question is where he’ll play next season. He’s only caught in 6 of his 16 games this summer while DHing 9 times. He also played first base one game. He played errorless ball at 1st in that game but his catching continues to be questionable. In six games, he hasn’t made an error but has been charged with three passed balls and only threw out three of 11 base stealers. One of the incoming three catchers could challenge him at catcher, but we’ll need to keep his bat in the lineup somewhere.
Of those position players not playing, Logan Stevens started the summer in the West Coast League but after going 4 for 20 in six games, left his team. No idea what’s up. Kobi Owen was originally listed on the roster of the Sanford Mainers in the New England League but never appeared and is no longer listed. Again, I have no idea of his current status. I’ve seen nothing of Luke Glancy, Stephan Sepich, Michael Statten, or Ty Johnson. Again, not knowing anything specific, it wouldn’t surprise me if two or more of these six players do not return.
Our pitchers also provide a lot of “good news/bad news.” Two pitchers selected in the MLB draft have until July 12 to make their choice of signing an MLB contract or returning to/coming to Tulane.
Brendan Cellucci has thrown two innings twice in the Cape Cod League and his performance probably doesn’t sway his decision or potential bonus one way or the other. He’s allowed 4 hits and 2 walks in 4 innings with 2 earned runs (4.50 ERA). He’s got a little over two weeks to impress/decide what to do. As a returning junior he has more leverage than most, but moving up from the 12th round may be tough.
Donovan Benoit, the JC transfer, has similar leverage as Cellucci, with two years of eligibility remaining and, being only a 36th round draft choice, may have more potential to “move up” in another year. In the Cape Cod League he’s appeared in 4 games for 5 2/3 innings allowing no runs, 2 hits, and no walks, while striking out six. Despite being sparse, those are really good numbers. Hope he can do that and more for the Wave and go high in the 2020 draft.
Justin Campbell is a returning pitcher most expect to be a major contributor. As he was last season, Campbell has been inconsistent so far this summer. In his last start (Jun 22) he went three innings, allowing 4 hits and 5 walks in route to 4 earned runs which balooned his ERA to 6.10.
Grant Segar has pitched well this summer and may have a chance to compete next year. He’s averaging 6+ innings through three starts with a 3.93 ERA.
Krishna Raj is being depended on to come back strong next season and looked good in his first couple of starts this summer (9 2/3 innings with 2 earned runs, 3 hits, 4 walks, and 8 K’s). In his last two starts he’s allowed 8 earned runs and 14 hits in 8 innings, not so good. He also walked five. Needs to do better.
Landon Boeneke has appeared in six games so far this summer with a 3.77 ERA in 14 2/3 innings. The good news is he’s only walked three but he’s been “lit up” for 19 hits.
Josh Bates has taken up this summer pretty much how he finished the year at Tulane. In his first game, Bates threw one inning, walked three, threw a wild pitch and struck out two. He didn’t allow any hits and didn’t allow any earned runs although his wild pitch tallied an unearned run after he walked the bases loaded. In his last two appearances, covering only one inning, he’s continued his hitless streak but walked one more, hit two, and allowed an earned run, giving him a 4.50 ERA in his two innings of pitching with 4 walks and two hit batsmen.
Connor Pellerin has had a similar numbers thus far as Bates. In 2 1/3 innings, he’s not allowed any earned runs, only allowed one hit, but walked 5 while striking out 5. His first appearance was particularly troubling when he faced four batters, striking out one and walking the bases loaded before his relief “bailed” him out. Both Bates and Pellerin have great stuff but need to somehow harness it to be effective.
None of our three seniors (Keegan Gillies, Trent Johnson, or Robert Price) are pitching this summer. Neither is returning junior, C.J. Whelan, who appeared in 18 games last season for the Wave.
Anyhow, summer stats are interesting but not necessarily reflective of how a player will perform during the regular college season. Wood bats, generally lesser competition, and a variety of other factors can give a very poor prediction of future success. But, it is what it is.
Roll Wave!!!
But I’d like to add some info to that review.
As a group our guys are hitting .313 and our pitchers have a 4.10 ERA.
Brendan Power is now down to .147 at bat and has been moved from 2nd base to 3rd base, where, after playing errorless ball (26 chances) at 2nd, has made 3 errors in 19 chances at 3rd (.842). It’s a small sample and fielding average isn’t a great indicator of defense, but it’s not a positive sign for him to replace Hoese, or anyone else, in the lineup.
Collin Burns is a left handed hitting infielder who hit .217 (10 for 46) as a freshman at Tulane. With the departure of Gozzo, the shortstop job appears to be his for the taking. So far this summer, he’s 18 for 57 at the plate (.316) and made three errors in 55 chances at short (.945). While the latter isn’t great (Gozzo fielded .953, .963, and.969 in his three years), it’s a small sample and is not necessarily a good indicator of his defense. That he’s been kept at shortstop (Gozzo was moved to second base last summer) suggests he’s doing OK. We'll see.
David Bengood is killing the ball and his average is now up to .377 with 5 HR’s in 53 at bats. More important, for whatever summer ball indicates, he has only struck out 8 times (every 6.7 times), much better than the 42 Ks in 129 at bats (every 3rd time) he registered during our season. He’s also been working in the infield. He started at 3rd base originally but apparently wasn’t “cutting it.” He only had 6 chances but committed one error. Since moving to 2nd base, he’s only made one error in 37 chances (.973). Whatever, we’ll need his bat in the lineup. Where he’ll play is still the issue.
Ethan Groff was one of our more important recruits last year as an infielder, but ended up redshirting and moving to the outfield. This summer he’s been playing centerfield and started out hitting 11 for 32 (.343). Since then, he’s gone 4 for 33 (.121), resulting in his current .231 average. The coaching staff has been high on him so we’ll see.
Hudson Haskin is probably our best returning player but had a rough start this summer. He started 3 for 26 but kept his #3 spot in the batting order, so I’m guessing he was looking good in batting oractice and intra-squad games. Since then he’s gone 11 for 24 to bring his average up to .280. He’s also been playing centerfield and I don’t think we have anything to worry about here.
Frankie Newman had a great year at Tulane and, if Bedgood is “killing the ball,” there is no adequate description of Newman at the plate. He’s now 30 for 60 (.500) with one HR. But, the key question is where he’ll play next season. He’s only caught in 6 of his 16 games this summer while DHing 9 times. He also played first base one game. He played errorless ball at 1st in that game but his catching continues to be questionable. In six games, he hasn’t made an error but has been charged with three passed balls and only threw out three of 11 base stealers. One of the incoming three catchers could challenge him at catcher, but we’ll need to keep his bat in the lineup somewhere.
Of those position players not playing, Logan Stevens started the summer in the West Coast League but after going 4 for 20 in six games, left his team. No idea what’s up. Kobi Owen was originally listed on the roster of the Sanford Mainers in the New England League but never appeared and is no longer listed. Again, I have no idea of his current status. I’ve seen nothing of Luke Glancy, Stephan Sepich, Michael Statten, or Ty Johnson. Again, not knowing anything specific, it wouldn’t surprise me if two or more of these six players do not return.
Our pitchers also provide a lot of “good news/bad news.” Two pitchers selected in the MLB draft have until July 12 to make their choice of signing an MLB contract or returning to/coming to Tulane.
Brendan Cellucci has thrown two innings twice in the Cape Cod League and his performance probably doesn’t sway his decision or potential bonus one way or the other. He’s allowed 4 hits and 2 walks in 4 innings with 2 earned runs (4.50 ERA). He’s got a little over two weeks to impress/decide what to do. As a returning junior he has more leverage than most, but moving up from the 12th round may be tough.
Donovan Benoit, the JC transfer, has similar leverage as Cellucci, with two years of eligibility remaining and, being only a 36th round draft choice, may have more potential to “move up” in another year. In the Cape Cod League he’s appeared in 4 games for 5 2/3 innings allowing no runs, 2 hits, and no walks, while striking out six. Despite being sparse, those are really good numbers. Hope he can do that and more for the Wave and go high in the 2020 draft.
Justin Campbell is a returning pitcher most expect to be a major contributor. As he was last season, Campbell has been inconsistent so far this summer. In his last start (Jun 22) he went three innings, allowing 4 hits and 5 walks in route to 4 earned runs which balooned his ERA to 6.10.
Grant Segar has pitched well this summer and may have a chance to compete next year. He’s averaging 6+ innings through three starts with a 3.93 ERA.
Krishna Raj is being depended on to come back strong next season and looked good in his first couple of starts this summer (9 2/3 innings with 2 earned runs, 3 hits, 4 walks, and 8 K’s). In his last two starts he’s allowed 8 earned runs and 14 hits in 8 innings, not so good. He also walked five. Needs to do better.
Landon Boeneke has appeared in six games so far this summer with a 3.77 ERA in 14 2/3 innings. The good news is he’s only walked three but he’s been “lit up” for 19 hits.
Josh Bates has taken up this summer pretty much how he finished the year at Tulane. In his first game, Bates threw one inning, walked three, threw a wild pitch and struck out two. He didn’t allow any hits and didn’t allow any earned runs although his wild pitch tallied an unearned run after he walked the bases loaded. In his last two appearances, covering only one inning, he’s continued his hitless streak but walked one more, hit two, and allowed an earned run, giving him a 4.50 ERA in his two innings of pitching with 4 walks and two hit batsmen.
Connor Pellerin has had a similar numbers thus far as Bates. In 2 1/3 innings, he’s not allowed any earned runs, only allowed one hit, but walked 5 while striking out 5. His first appearance was particularly troubling when he faced four batters, striking out one and walking the bases loaded before his relief “bailed” him out. Both Bates and Pellerin have great stuff but need to somehow harness it to be effective.
None of our three seniors (Keegan Gillies, Trent Johnson, or Robert Price) are pitching this summer. Neither is returning junior, C.J. Whelan, who appeared in 18 games last season for the Wave.
Anyhow, summer stats are interesting but not necessarily reflective of how a player will perform during the regular college season. Wood bats, generally lesser competition, and a variety of other factors can give a very poor prediction of future success. But, it is what it is.
Roll Wave!!!
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