2014 SEC Baseball Thread

[theboardref]

Baseball America SEC Preview

TOP 20 PROSPECTS, 2014 DRAFT
1. Tyler Beede, rhp, Vanderbilt
2. Aaron Nola, rhp, Louisiana State
3. Grayson Greiner, c, South Carolina
4. Chris Oliver, rhp, Arkansas
5. Brian Anderson, 2b, Arkansas
6. Brandon Woodruff, rhp, Mississippi State
7. Joey Pankake, 3b, South Carolina
8. Daniel Mengden, rhp, Texas A&M
9. Spencer Turnbull, rhp, Alabama
10. Jacob Lindgren, lhp, Mississippi State
11. Mark Laird, of, Louisiana State
12. A.J. Reed, lhp/1b, Kentucky
13. Jalen Beeks, lhp, Arkansas
14. Hunter Cole, of, Georgia
15. Chris Ellis, rhp, Mississippi
16. Chandler Shepherd, rhp, Kentucky
17. Jared Miller, lhp, Vanderbilt
18. Austin Cousino, of, Kentucky
19. Adam Ravenelle, rhp, Vanderbilt
20. Karsten Whitson, rhp, Florida


TOP 10 PROSPECTS, 2015 DRAFT
1. Alex Bregman, ss, Louisiana State
2. Kyle Cody, rhp, Kentucky
3. Carson Fulmer, rhp, Vanderbilt
4. Walker Buehler, rhp, Vanderbilt
5. A.J. Simcox, ss, Tennessee
6. Eric Hanhold, rhp, Florida
7. Mikey White, ss, Alabama
8. Colin Poche, lhp, Arkansas
9. Richie Martin, ss, Florida
10. Ray Castillo, rhp, Alabama

Team to Beat: South Carolina.

Balanced, experienced Gamecocks get nod over Mississippi State, LSU and Vanderbilt in tightly packed SEC.

Player of the Year: Alex Bregman, ss, Louisiana State.

Last year’s national Freshman of the Year is a five-tool talent with rare leadership skills and uncanny instincts in all facets of the game.

Pitcher of the Year: Aaron Nola, rhp, Louisiana State.

No pitcher in the 2014 draft class has better command than Nola, whose careerstrikeout-to-walk ratio is 8.5-to-1.

Freshman of the Year: Keegan Thompson, 1b/rhp, Auburn.

A USA Baseball alumnus with a big-game track record, Thompson will bring big power to the middle of the lineup and swing-and-miss stuff to the weekend rotation.

Top 25 Teams: (7) South Carolina, (8) Mississippi State, (9) Louisiana State, (10) Vanderbilt, (21) Alabama, (23) Florida, (24) Texas A&M, (25) Arkansas.

Other Projected Regional Teams

Kentucky: A year ago, the Wildcats started 22-6 and won their first three SEC series before losing their mojo, going 8-19 the rest of the way. They must prove their toughness, but their talent is intriguing. Kyle Cody looks like an ace in the making with a huge frame and a fastball that reaches 96 mph. A.J. Reed and Chandler Shepherd join him in a potentially excellent rotation. UK needs multi-talented Austin Cousino to bounce back from a sophomore slump to help the slugging Reed (13 HR last year) carry the offense. Juco transfer Spencer Jack faces a tall task replacing closer Trevor Gott.

Notable Storylines: The SEC sent nine teams to regionals and should send nine or even 10 again this year, because it is the deepest conference once again. Ole Miss should defend at a high level, with three premium runners in the outfield, a senior catcher, three upperclassmen in the infield and a slick-fielding freshman at short (Errol Robinson). The Rebels need a big senior year from Preston Overbey and a big freshman campaign from Colby Bortles to give the lineup punch. Question marks abound on the mound, where talented Jr. RHPs Chris Ellis (Friday starter) and Hawtin Buchanan (closer) need to translate their potential into production . . . Dave Serrano has recruited well in his first two years at Tennessee, which could make a postseason run if talented sophomores A.J. Simcox, Vincent Jackson and Christin Stewart mature into offensive forces as hoped. Two more sophomores, RHP Andrew Lee and LHP Drake Owenby, have flashed swing-and-miss stuff on the mound. Serrano’s son, Fr. RHP Kyle Serrano, gives UT even more pitching upside, thanks to a fastball that has reached 95 and feel for a wipeout curve . . . New coaches at Auburn (Sunny Golloway) and Georgia (Scott Stricklin) inherit ranked recruiting classes, which could accelerate the rebuilding process. Polished, competitive two-way talent Keegan Thompson looks like a can’t-miss star for Auburn, while OF Anfernee Grier has electrifying athleticism and RHP Kevin Davis should be another key building block on the mound. Georgia’s top two recruits—ultra-fast Stephen Wrenn and hard-throwing RHP Robert Tyler—should make instant impacts in the center field and closer roles, respectively.

 

[theboardref]

Everyone else has a thread, I wanted one too haha.

 

[Red_Alert]

 

[SEC Official]

Go Gators! We are having a couple of "off" years while we rebuild... but top 25 ain't bad!

 

[ktg8trgrl]

Go Gators! We are having a couple of "off" years while we rebuild... but top 25 ain't bad!

That's because 3 years ago our starting 9 players were drafted.. sucks to start over with most freshmen and a few sophomores

 

[24seven]

Gamecocks just finished 5th straight shutout.
Record 7-0
Haven't allowed a run in 51 innings.
Outscored opponents by 51 (57-6) in just 7 games
Averaging a run an inning (we haven't had to bat in the 9th yet)

BOOM!
I know it's a long season, but I like the way it's starting.

 

[Red_Alert]

 

[HammerDown]

Go Vandy.

 

[theboardref]

South Carolina always a threat. LSU not looking too shabby either. About to be 7-0 on the year, best set of starting pitchers for the Tigers I've seen in a long time.

 

[The Derski]

Gamecocks just finished 5th straight shutout.
Record 7-0
Haven't allowed a run in 51 innings.
Outscored opponents by 51 (57-6) in just 7 games
Averaging a run an inning (we haven't had to bat in the 9th yet)

BOOM!
I know it's a long season, but I like the way it's starting.

 

[bamafan4evr12]

Alabama still young but I like where the program is headed. Should be a good year for this team.

 

[UTVolCountry]

Tennessee took 2 of 3 at Arizona State. They play at MTSU tomorrow. I hate when my two favorite teams play each other.

 

[Edisto_Tiger]

Alabama still young but I like where the program is headed. Should be a good year for this team.

I grew up with one of ya'lls pitcher's daddy, Tucker Hawley.

 

[24seven]

Gamecocks now 15-0, with 8 shutouts.

I like this.

 

[Edisto_Tiger]

Gamecocks now 15-0, with 8 shutouts.

I like this.

and #1 in the country, you cock. In all 4 polls I believe too.

 

[24seven]

and #1 in the country, you cock. In all 4 polls I believe too.

Conference play starts with #11 Ole Miss this weekend.
Seems like we already beat a #11 though...

 

[UTVolCountry]

EDISTO DON'T FEED THE TROLLS BRO

 

[Edisto_Tiger]

EDISTO DON'T FEED THE TROLLS BRO

I know, right.

 

[UTVolCountry]

Tennessee opens up SEC play tonight at Missouri

 

[Golden Spur]

Two out pinch hit homer in the 9th to tie it up, on a sprained ankle. Shades of Kirk Gibson. Gamecocks take the series.