Following the completion of the “offseason position battle” series we will post a lineup project for each of the five division one schools this week. The lineups are based on the position battle posts and are my projection with a little background research of what the Opening Day lineup might look like. Note that while some positions were not included in the offseason battle series because they had an incumbent starter those starters can still change. We will also include weekend rotations, midweek starters and closers for good measure. In the next-to-last projection we will look at the University of Kentucky.
Lineup
- C — Luke Maile
- 1B — Michael Williams
- 2B — Matt Reida
- 3B — Thomas McCarthy
- SS — Taylor Black
- LF — Chad Wright
- CF — Brian Adams
- RF — Neiko Johnson
- DH — Braden Kapteyn
Weekend rotation
- RHP Jordan Cooper
- LHP Taylor Black
- RHP Alex Meyer
Midweek starting pitchers
- LHP Corey Littrell
- RHP Tyler Dunaway
Closer
- RHP Braden Kapteyn
*Note that both Maile and Williams will catch for UK, with the one who isn’t catching in a given game seeing time at first base. Kapteyn is probably UK’s best defensive first baseman, but by starting him at designated hitter head coach Gary Henderson gains the flexibility of warming Kapteyn up in the bullpen while the Cats play defense.