University of Tennessee Athletics
2001 Tennessee Baseball Outlook
December 20, 2000 | Baseball
These same images and goals await the Tennessee Volunteers when they hit the diamond to begin the 2001 campaign. The Orange and White return a solid core of characters to fill the roster and a stable veteran coaching staff that knows what sacrifices must be made to play at a championship level.
Head coach Rod Delmonico and his ballyhooed assistants have the task of putting the pieces of the puzzle together while building another championship squad that returns the Vols to their place in the national spotlight.
With veterans at almost every position, some top pitching prospects and an influx of talent that turned down a chance to go pro, the Vols seem to have the right mixture to conger up the right chemistry to compete day-in and day-out in the nation's top baseball conference.
They also return as the top base stealing team in the nation. With four players returning that recorded at least 20 steals, including two with 50-plus, the league record of 215 steals set by this bunch last season may be in jeopardy once again.
So it is with great enthusiasm and renewed vigor that the Vols enter the season looking to make a run at the conference title and a spot in postseason play.
"We don't have a lot of power," said head coach Rod Delmonico. "But what we do have is a lot of speed and guys that can use all parts of the park.
"We also beefed up the preseason portion of the schedule a bit because I think we have a mature team that can handle it.
"I'm excited about the upcoming season because we have a good mix of veterans that know what it takes to win and young players that are loaded with talent."
FIRST BASE
The Vols have the luxury of returning two veterans at first base in last year's starter Ryan Case and three-year letterman Jeff Christensen, who has split time during his career between designated hitter, the outfield and first base.Although not what you would consider the prototypical first baseman, Case showed he was more than capable at flashing some leather as he led all first basemen in the SEC in fielding percentage at .991, making just five errors in 540 chances.
The senior's ability to scoop the ball out of the dirt and stretch out for the bang-bang play helped save quite a few errors that would have otherwise been called. With his solid glove in place, the Vols are looking for a little more offensive production that could lead to an all-conference selection from the cornerman that hit .252 with two home runs and 42 RBI in 2000.
Not to be taken lightly is fellow senior Jeff Christensen who garnered second team All-SEC honors as the designated hitter in 2000 after batting .354 with a team-high 11 home runs, 54 RBI and 21 stolen bases. After putting up solid numbers as a junior, and playing error-free as a full-time first baseman for New Market in the Shenandoah Valley league during the summer, Christensen knows that his time to shine is now.
Lending depth is freshman Dennis Gomez who figures in at right field as well.
"I like our depth at first base," said Delmonico. "We have two very capable players who give us versatility. We'll start with Christensen and have Case as the backup. Gomez gives us another lefthander if Christensen is the DH or in right field."
SECOND BASE
Returning to start at second base for the third straight year is two-time All-America and team co-captain Chris Burke. After have a successful summer of 2000 campaign on the Team USA National team, Burke looks to continue his solid play while trying to lead the Vols to postseason play for the first time since 1997.Traveling with the American's put Burke in the national spotlight, a forum in which he excelled, batting .376, while stealing 19 bases in the 33-game schedule as the squad won the Gold Medal as the Honkbal Tournament in The Netherlands.
Burke, who led the Vols in nearly every hitting category last season, was one of four players in the SEC to bat over .400 as he ended at .401. He also finished second behind teammate Stevie Daniel with 56 stolen bases and ranks fourth all-time at Tennessee with 75 steals. In addition, he is in the top 10 in numerous offensive categories and is primed to take over the top spot in a few of those.
Backing up at both second and shortstop is senior Kris Bennett who will battle for the starting third base job. Redshirt freshman Hunter Rigsby, who will also backup at second base, shortstop and third base. "Chris is one of the best second basemen in the country," said Delmonico. "He proved it by playing well against some of the toughest competition the world has to offer last summer on Team USA. As one of the team captains I expect him to be a guiding force this season."
THIRD BASE
It's not very often that the No. 9 hitter in the lineup leads a team in runs batted in, but that's exactly what returning senior third baseman Kris Bennett did for the Vols last season.Bennett, who was second with 78 hits, held a .326 average and stole 20 bases. He was also a solid contributor with the glove, finishing fourth among league third basemen in fielding percentage. He could also see some playing time at shortstop and outfield this season.
Entering the picture at third is junior college transfer Matt Sternberg who earned all-state honors while leading the conference with a .412 batting average at Okaloosa-Walton Community College in Niceville, Fla.
Competition will be fierce at the hot corner with two able-bodied personnel at the hot corner.
"We like Sternberg at third, but Bennett is very capable there as well," said Delmonico. "Bennett gives us a lot of options with his ability to play any of the middle infield spots, third base and the outfield. Sternberg offers us more power which is something we lacked last year."
SHORTSTOP
Being strong up the middle is a staple of any good team, and for the third straight year, Tennessee is blessed to have veterans Chris Burke at second and shortstop Stevie Daniel returning.A freshman All-America in 1999, Daniel brings his school record setting 58 stolen bases back with the hopes of breaking the league mark of 67 steals. Blessed with the quickness of gazelle and 88 career steals, he has a shot a breaking the SEC record for stolen bases of 145 held by former Vol Mike Basse.
With a good hitting eye and above average speed, Daniel's defensive improvement will be the key if the Vols are to succeed.
Lending depth will be Hunter Rigsby and Kris Bennett.
"Stevie needs to continue to get on base for us to be successful," said Delmonico. "With his speed and expected improvement with the glove, we could have two All-Americas in the infield."
CATCHER
For the fourth consecutive year, the Vols will have a new backstop when the season begins. Junior Hal Bibee, Jr. , and sophomore Brandon Crowe, who doubles as a pitcher, will be joined by two true freshmen in Javi Herrera and Jeremy Kemp.Bibee has severed as a backup the past two seasons and looks to stake his claim as the starter for 2001. He brings 15 starts at catcher in two years.
Crowe appeared at catcher in eight games, making four starts, as a true freshman last season.
Bruce Basham, who was a four-year regular from 1977-80, and Shawn McDonnell, who started in 1989, are only two true freshmen have started at catcher since 1963.
With that in mind, it wouldn't be a surprise to see the highly talented Herrera, who was a 42nd round draft pick of the Boston Red Sox, or Kemp push hard for the starting job.
"Javi Herrera is our No. 1 catcher," said Delmonico. "He is an excellent receiver and can handle our pitchers. Of course, we have some quality depth and limited experience behind the plate with Bibee and Crowe. But I like the way we shape up there."
OUTFIELD
The outfield is a position where the Vols may be as deep as any team in the country. With one full-time starter returning and two platoon players moving into the starting lineup, the Vols should not lose a step. Another interesting aspect of the six outfielders is that five bat left-handed.Veteran two-way athlete Justin Parker, who started in right field the past two years, returns for his senior campaign. With a career average of .308, 17 home runs, 112 RBI and a pitching record of 4-2 with a 6.54 ERA, the left-hander is also expected to see more time on mound, thus opening the door for a platoon system in right field.
Junior Brandon Hopkins, who split time in left field last year with Ryan Moffett, moves to center while Moffett stays in left.
Hopkins (.322-3 HR, 19 RBI), who battled through a stress fracture all season while establishing career highs in nearly every hitting category, returns healthy and looks to have a strong hold in left. Moffett (.316-6 HR, 30 RBI), who was relegated to a platoon role in left field last year, takes over in center field and is expected to return to the form that earned him Big South Conference Rookie of the Year honors in 1999 while at UNC Asheville.
Two true freshmen, Dennis Gomez and Brett Stambolian, along a medical redshirt junior, Adam Smith, will all lend depth in the outfield.
"The outfield will be interesting this season with our regular right fielder the last two years, Justin Parker, seeing more time on the mound. That opens up a slot to platoon with Gomez and Christensen. Hopkins will start in center and Moffett has the inside edge in left with Bennett and Smith also vying for time. Moffett can also play center along with Stambolian."
PITCHERS
With the departure of fourth winningest pitcher in school history, along with four other senior pitchers and junior, the Vols must replace over 50 percent of their wins, innings pitched and strikeouts from 2000.Leading the way is senior co-captain Devon Nicholson (2-1, 5.34 ERA) who did not pitch until late March last year after undergoing right shoulder surgery in 1999. Gifted with leadership ability and a proven battler on the hill, Nicholson is saddled with trying to build chemistry on a staff that includes seven freshmen.
High expectations are also expected from junior Wyatt Allen (4-3, 4.19 ERA) who was rated as one of the top 10 prospects in the Cape Cod League last summer. With a fastball clocked in the mid-90s, Allen must harness the power in his gifted right arm and concentrate on the art of getting batters out in order to be a successful cog in the pitching rotation.
Sophomore Brandon Crowe, who led the team with three saves while going 2-4 with a 3.69 ERA, missed the second half of the season due to illness. He returns healthy to solidify the bullpen while seeing action as a midweek or weekend spot starter.
Junior Brian Gates, who suffered with a sore shoulder last year, is healthy and looks to regain his status as a weekend starter after fashioning a 4-2 mark with a 4.95 ERA.
Senior lefthander Joe Bertolino, who went 4-3 with a 3.80 ERA, made seven starts while logging the fourth-most innings on the staff.
Fellow senior Will Curtiss posted a career-best 2.87 ERA last year, brings the ability to work middle relief and see action as a closer.
But perhaps the biggest impact will be felt with the addition of seven freshmen hurlers. Patrick Hicklin and Matt Samuels were both drafted in 2000 by Los Angeles and the Chicago Cubs respectively in the 29th and 34th rounds but chose school over the minor leagues.
Also coming in with solid credentials are Brian St. Jean, who was rated as one of the top pitchers in Massachusetts, and Matt Powell, who was the top-rated high school pitcher in South Carolina.
Newport, Tenn., native Beau Massey and Knoxville, Tenn., native Dusty Johnson add an East Tennessee flavor to the staff, while Erik Filsinger is the projected closer hailing from the Memphis area in West Tennessee.
"Nicholson is a battler on the hill and if he can be 100 percent he is the No. 1 pitcher," said Delmonico. "Gates has recovered from arthroscopic surgery last summer and has a shot to be the No. 2 guy, while Allen is a solid No. 3. Crowe and Bertolino are also capable of working themselves into one of the top three slots.
"Parker, Hicklen and Powell can all be midweek guys along with Bertolino.
"Filsinger is the closer out of the pen, while Bertolino can be a setup man along with Curtiss and St. Jean."
