Saluki Baseball Season Preview

02/11/2020 | 6:00:00 | Baseball

The Saluki Baseball team opens the Lance Rhodes era on Friday at Jackson State. The 2020 Salukis return 15 letterwinners from last year's 26-win team. SIU brings back all its starting pitching to complement one of the nation's most aggressive offensive teams.

"This is an older group," SIU head coach Lance Rhodes said. "They have learned our system quickly. They have made huge strides over the last few weeks. I feel that we're ready to compete right now."

STARTING PITCHING

All 55 starts from the 2019 season are returning in 2020. Mason Hiser (14 starts), Blake Begner (13), Dylan Givens (11), Brad Harrison (8) and Matthew Steidl (8) accounted for 54 of those 55 starts, and they are all in contention for starting roles in 2020. Hiser, who redshirted in 2018 after suffering an early-season arm injury, came on strong at the end of 2019, posting a 2.65 ERA over his final three starts.

Harrison, who was All-MVC in 2018, was the team's 2019 opening day starter and battled through arm fatigue to post a 3.05 ERA. Givens, who came on as a starter late in the 2018 season, showed flashes last year, including a 0 earned run performance at Memphis. Steidl was outstanding as a freshman last year, posting a 3.38 ERA through his first 11 appearances. Begner led the team in wins with six, including two wins over Missouri State as a starting pitcher. Left-hander Kyle Back (Homen, Wis.) also has a chance to start for SIU after going 7-2 with a 3.19 ERA and 80 strikeouts in 67 innings at McHenry County College. All of them give SIU depth for solid long relief roles out of the bullpen, as well.

"We have veterans. That's the theme of the roster, which is good," Rhodes said. "These guys have experience and are learning to know what it takes to win. We have six guys that potentially could fit into a starter role. Some of those guys will fill into a long relief role, with the opportunity to move back into a starter role later in the season."

RELIEF PITCHING

Junior Trey McDaniel returns to lead the SIU bullpen. McDaniel saved 14 games last year, which ranked seventh nationally, This year, McDaniel's role is redefined from closer to stopper, and he could see action earlier in games as needed. Corey Mitson and Noah Farmer return after combining for 47.2 innings of experience last year, and the rest of the bullpen is comprised of exciting newcomers.

SIU has three exciting freshmen arms, led by Marion, Ill., native Mitchell Jackson, who was taken the in the 2019 MLB Draft but chose to come to SIU. Two more Illinois natives, RHP Kyle Dixon (Carlinville, Ill.) and LHP Ryne Singsank (Elk Grove Village, Ill.) join Jackson as the future of SIU's pitching staff. Transfer arms LHP Michael Fossali (Elgin College) and RHP Bennett Shoptaw (University of Tennessee) give SIU immediate bullpen help and versatility from both sides. Adam Bunnell will redshirt due to NCAA transfer rules.

"Trey McDaniel has proven that he can close games," Rhodes said. "This year, we're labeling him a 'stopper' instead of closer, because we might use him in the sixth and seventh innings as much as we use him in the ninth. We're trying to extend him out to the point he could pitch three innings on any one day if we need him to. Mitchell Jackson and Matthew Steidl are really versatile arms that can be back-end type pitchers, but they can also eat up innings. We also have a lot of matchup-type guys that give us different looks, different arm angles, and different velos.

"We have a combination of pitchers that give us different looks, but also throw strikes. That's the biggest thing for us on the mound. We have to have a collective group of pitchers that will pound the strike zone. If the other team is going to beat us, they're going to have to have a day where they put together really good at-bats, instead of us giving them opportunities from free passes."

OUTFIELD

SIU's deepest position group is in the outfield, where juniors J.T. Weber and Grey Epps have both moved for the 2020 season. Weber and Epps combined for 97 starts on SIU's infield last year, and Weber was the team's third-leading hitter. The Salukis also return veterans Addison Fugitt (113 career starts) and Brad Hudson (32 career starts) to go along with Evan Martin, who redshirted last season.

SIU stole 144 bases last season, a school record which ranked SIU among the nation's top-five fastest teams; 39 of those steals came from SIU's returning outfielders, including 17 from Fugitt, who is 33-for-34 in his career stealing bases. SIU adds two junior college transfers to the outfield, as well: Andrew Olszewski and Nick McAlister. Rhodes described McAlister's speed as "game changing" and expects him to be a factor both on the bases and defensively in center field.

"When you have that speed in the outfield, they should have it covered foul line to foul line," Rhodes said. "A lot of the outfield play will be determined by who is hitting well at the time. The speed out there is very similar."

INFIELD

The Salukis are led up the middle by seniors Ian Walters and Nick Neville, with Epps ready to step in on the infield, as well. Walters, who played primarily third base and hit in the middle of the order for the Salukis last year, has moved to second base. Neville started 19 games at South Carolina last year before grad transferring to SIU.

On the corners, SIU has depth and flexibility: At first base, left-hander Philip Archer and right-hander Jake Gray; at third base, switch-hitting freshman Sam Hojnar and left-handed bat Kyle O'Brien. Behind the plate, senior Austin Ulick (56 career starts) leads the way, entering his third year in the program. He is joined by newcomers Tony Rask and Lucas Danielewicz. Gray also has catching experience, if needed.

"Again, it's an older group," Rhodes said. "We will have two seniors up the middle with Nick Neville and Ian Walters. On the corners, we have a combination of players that give us flexibility from both sides of the plate."

Offensively, SIU has been one of America's fastest teams (SIU has stolen 370 bases since 2017, the most in the MVC by 167). This year's offense looks to meld the program's exciting, aggressive base running with power in the middle of the order and an improved approach to bring up last year's .231 team batting average.

"If you're looking at our huge strength offensively, it's our speed," Rhodes said. "We have high-end speed all around the field. We're going to cause a lot of havoc when our guys get on base. The biggest thing this year is hitting at a higher level. When you look at the structure of our offense, the outfield is more power-based, and the infield is more about manufacturing runs. But you do have options at the corner infield spots, like Phil Archer, who have thump in their bats. I really believe that our offense will be dramatically improved from what everyone outside expects."

SIU opens the 2020 season on February 14 at Jackson State. SIU's home opener is March 6-8 vs. Northern Illinois. The Salukis also host Illinois March 13-15 at Itchy Jones Stadium. Alumni weekend is set for April 24-26 vs. Valparaiso. SIU will officially retire Itchy Jones' legendary #1 jersey on Saturday, April 25. SIU hosts the MVC Tournament from May 19-23 at Itchy Jones Stadium, with the tournament's winner given an automatic berth to the 2020 NCAA Tournament.