Diversity and Depth Fuel Huskies' Lineup

The season is rapidly approaching for the Husky Baseball team and the expectations are as high as they have been recently for the program. After making their second NCAA Regional appearance in three years and boasting the second-best winning percentage among Pac-12 teams during that same span, national college baseball pundits are expecting big things from the Huskies in 2017.

Washington is ranked as high in the preseason polls as 12^th by Baseball America and was picked by Pac-12 coaches to finish fourth in the conference. The Huskies return seven starters in the field, plus two starters on the hill, and the newcomers have been ranked among the nation's best. Coach Lindsay Meggs and Pitching Coach/Associate Head Coach Jason Kelly and Hitting Coach Donegal Fergus recently helped break down the Huskies and explain why expectations are so high.

Today, a preview of the Huskies' hitters and position players.

When Lindsay Meggs looks back at his first seven seasons at Washington, he can comfortably say he has the program in the best shape it has been during his tenure. He thought it would take four years to get a new ballpark built, which it did. He had to consistently recruit players that met the core values of what he envisioned for the UW program, which he is doing. Now, in his eighth season, Meggs is excited to put all the pieces together and have what could be the most complete season ever on the field.

What excites Meggs and his coaching staff so much about this season is the mix of talent on the roster. Up and down the lineup and pitching staff, there is so much untapped potential waiting to be unleashed.

Yesterday, the pitching staff was broken down. There is a lot of youth and talent on that side of the locker room. Offensively, there is a lot of young talented prospects dotting the roster, but there is also an abundance of returning, skilled upperclassmen hungry to carry the Huskies to their first trip past a NCAA Regional. The Huskies return seven starters in the field and players that accounted for 82 percent of the official at bats are back for 2017.

Whether it's power, contact, speed, defense, experience, youth, long ball, small ball, left-handed, right-handed – you name it – the Huskies will be able to do it in 2017.

Hitting Coach Donegal Fergus summed up the Huskies' choices for the lineup card best: "It's fun. It's like a basketball team. You can go big, you can go small, you can defend, you can play up-tempo. You can do whatever you want. You can roll out all lefties, you can roll all righties, you have really a ton of lineup combinations."

The coaches can play mix-and-match everywhere in the field: the outfield, infield and with catchers. They can even insert an array of designated hitters that provide an edge on any given day against an array of pitching styles. Simply put: the Huskies are loaded.

OUTFIELD

The depth in the Huskies' outfield personifies the strengths of the Huskies this season. There are options aplenty, and it has Meggs intrigued about what he can do when filling out the lineup card each day.

"I'm really excited about the outfield," said Meggs. "We have five guys I really feel like right now we can put in there and feel good about. Expect to see a little more mix and matching and that keeps everybody a little bit more fresh."

When talking about the Huskies' outfield, the coach's son, Jack Meggs, is the first player that needs to be discussed. The younger Meggs is coming off a junior season in which he earned both All-Pac-12 and All-Pac-12 Defensive Team honors. Jack had a slash line of .272/.342/.336 with two homers, 22 RBI and 19 multi-hit games. He started all 56 games in centerfield and enters the year with 67 consecutive starts. Jack plays with a lot of intensity and did not play over the summer in order to recharge his batteries.

"He's a leader, he's a tough out and he competes like crazy," Fergus said of the younger Meggs. "We're working on some things for him to be a little more relaxed. He's so intense and he so wants to beat someone else that he winds himself up a little bit too much at times. We're trying to balance him out from the mental side of just relaxing so he can let his athleticism take over."

Jack offers other intangibles on the field that often go unseen. Despite his intensity, he also keeps the dugout loose and is an undeniable leader of the team. Along with Josh Cushing, Noah Bremer and Alex Hardy, he is one of four team captains.

The coaching staff is hoping they can balance the other outfield spots with a platoon system. Depending on who is pitching, they have a pair of right-handed and left-handed options. Don't be surprised to see left-handed hitting KJ Brady and right-handed hitting MJ Hubbs taking turns in right field, while lefty Christian Jones and righty Kyle London rotate in left field.

Hubbs hit four homers, totaled 17 extra-base hits and drove in 27 runs as a junior last year. He led the team and ranked ninth in the Pac-12 with 40 runs scored and had a slash line of .251/.367/.390. He started 53 games in right field and two as a designated hitter.

Brady was voted the team's Most Improved player last year. He started the year fighting to get on the field, but once he got his chance, Brady took off. He ended up starting 32 games in left field and reached base safely in 29 of those games. He ended up with a .274/.378/.331 slash line. Brady can also slide into centerfield as needed to spell Meggs.

Both Hubbs and Brady are plus runners and solid defenders. Who starts in right field will probably depend a lot on who is on the mound for the opponent. At the very minimum, the coaches will have options in right field.

London has established himself as one of the best defensive outfielders in the program. He also took giants steps at the plate in 2016. He had a .307/.505/.413 slash line and reached base safely in 19 of 20 starts. In fact, his .505 on-base percentage would have led the Pac-12 if he had recorded enough qualifying at bats.

"He was incredible at times for us last year," said Fergus. "But, I think he's one of those guys where he needs a day off regularly to keep him fresh and focused. He's always one of those guys that has a little bit of something going on. He plays hard but he does tend to get banged up quite a bit."

When London needs some rest, Jones can step in and get some experience in the outfield. Jones, the Washington High School Gatorade State Player of the Year, will split time in the outfield and at first base. His bat from the left-hand side is advanced for a freshman and it will be tough to keep him on the bench this season. He has even managed to surprise Fergus since arriving on campus.

"(He) has been maybe a more complete hitter than I even gave him credit for," said Fergus. "Obviously he can hit it a long way and will hit some homers, but he's also really made a lot of progression going the other way and handling breaking balls. I thought he might struggle a little right away, like most guys do, but he's picked it up quick."

The Huskies also have more options for the outfield in redshirt freshmen Blake Burton and true freshmen Jaden Hassell and Jacob Hirsh. The trio could all develop roles this season, but it may be down the road where they will really make a huge impact.

"Those guys are going to be good players, but we don't need them to be great right away," said Fergus. "Their development is maybe a little farther behind, but not much. We have really a lot of guys that are capable and if we had to put them in a game we could do it, and feel really good about it."

INFIELD

The Huskies lost All-Pac-12 Player and team MVP Chris Baker to the draft, Duncan Hendrickson to graduation and Nyles Nygaard to a transfer, but everyone else returns, including their starting first baseman, second baseman and shortstop.

Washington's depth will be put to the test right out of the gate as starting second baseman Levi Jordan recuperates from hamate bone surgery in his hand. Jordan is the Huskies' leading returning hitter with a slash of .316/.333/.368 and provided steady defense all year long at second base. The junior is expected to miss at least the first series of the season, but could be ready to go by the second weekend of action.

Stepping in for Jordan will be freshman phenom Ben Baird. The 6-foot-2 righty was a top-100 national recruit and the No. 1 shortstop out of California this past year. He has the versatility to play all around the infield, but will get his first shot at second.

"I think we will be a strong as anybody up the middle of the infield," said Coach Meggs. "Ben Baird will step in for Levi initially, but his value is that he can play shortstop, second base or third base. That's what he's probably going to be doing all year long and that is help us at all three of those spots."

AJ Graffanino returns for his sophomore season to handle the shortstop duties and is returning a new man. The tall, wiry freshman is now a tall, muscular sophomore after adding 20-plus pounds to his frame. He ditched batting both ways and now will strictly hit from the left side. He has always been a phenomenal defender, but now he is driving the ball more and could make an All-Pac-12 leap in 2017. Graffanino entered UW as a top draft prospect, but this year could propel him even further up 2018 draft boards.

"Last year, you were just hoping he could hit it in front of somebody," Fergus said. "And now he can hit it past somebody. He makes a ton of contact. He's got a chance to hit over .300 and score a lot of runs because he can motor around the bases."

Freshman Nick Roberts is another middle infielder that could get in the mix at times during the season. He had a strong fall camp and continues to improve daily. Simply put, he is just a baseball player and will contribute down the road.

"Nick is one of those kids that even if he doesn't hit it a long way, he finds a hole or sneaks it in front of an outfielder," said Fergus. "He can hit a breaking ball; he can hit a fastball. He can do it all. He has a real knack for the bat and defensively he's really solid."

Baker spent most of his time at third base last season, but the Huskies will have plenty of options to fill that spot this season. Baird can play there on a regular basis, but sophomore Willie MacIver will get the first shot at the position.

MacIver arrived on campus as a catcher, but he worked in the offseason at third base and has picked up the position nicely. In limited action last season, he hit .315/.371/.407 but the coaches expect him to make a huge jump offensively. MacIver is a strong candidate to be the Huskies most improved player from 2016 to 2017 as he'll see action at third, catcher and designated hitter.

"He's turned into a man now," is how Fergus described the transformation of MacIver. "He's incredibly strong and has really taken another step offensively as far as some of his swing mechanics. He's certainly one of the best competitors I think we have.

"You sort of feel like he's going to get something done when he's up there," Fergus continued. "Everybody feels that when he's in the box. He's certainly a guy that I think is going to have a breakout year."

Redshirt freshman Jack Johnson also provides some depth at the hot corner. He had a solid fall with the bat and showed improvement defensively. The coaches have the luxury to sit him early on with the depth they have, but Fergus is confident that he will have a huge role soon on the team.

Across the way at first base there are a lot of options for the coaches, including All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention selection John Naff. The senior had an impressive line of .301/.423/.466 with five homers, 16 total extra-base hits and 25 RBI in his first season. He's gotten stronger since last May and could see his numbers climb even higher in 2017. Naff is also probably the steadiest fielder at the position of the crowded group, which could give him a leg up in the crowded competition.

"(He) is the best combination of offense and defense at first base," stated Fergus. "You have (Gage) Matuszak, (Josh) Cushing, (Joe) Wainhouse and Christian Jones who can all play first, so we love our depth of competition there.

"He's probably the most consistent offensive player out of that group too ... I would be shocked if he didn't have a tremendous year."

The aforementioned group of guys battling at first will go into the pool of available players for designated hitter if they aren't getting the start in the field. Matuszak (.270/.356/.517) showed tremendous power all season long (5 HR's, 15 RBI) and came up with some big hits through the season. He made 21 starts at designated hitter last year and could see tons of action against right handers.

For Cushing, first base will be his third position around the infield during his UW career. As a junior, he started the season as the Huskies best hitter and eventually finished .287/.369/.478 with five homers and 26 RBI. He is the lone right-handed hitter among the options at first base, so you could see him spell Naff at the position when an especially tough left-hander is on the hill for the opposition.

"First base is new for Cushing," Coach Meggs said. "But he's done a nice job over there and gives us some balance. We don't have to throw John out there against a left hander that he might not match up with and we don't have to have Cushing out there against a tough right hander. One of them could DH, while the other one's playing first, so both will play quite a bit."

Wainhouse also fits into the first base picture, but you can expect to see him in the middle of the order as a designated hitter more likely. The 6-foot-6, 247-pounder generates some awesome raw power from the left-side of the plate and has put on some shows in batting practice. Last year at Bellevue College, he led the league with 11 home runs and drove in a team-high 38 runners. If he matches that production this year, he will be a scary force in the batter's box for the Huskies.

CATCHER

Perhaps the deepest position for the Huskies is behind the plate at catcher. The Huskies have four options there and the position could prove to be a strength of the team this year.

Junior Joey Morgan headlines the group. He was named All-Pac-12 last year after hitting six home runs, a team-high 12 doubles and driving in 29 runs. Morgan's line ended at .263/.350/.425, but his average hovered around or above .300 for much of the year.

Defensively, Morgan is one of the most polished catchers in the country. He has a cannon arm and a quick release that should make stealing bases against him nearly impossible. He is one of the best in the business at working with a pitching staff and blocking balls at the plate. When June rolls around, don't be surprised to see him selected early in the draft and flirt with being the highest Husky backstop ever selected. D1Baseball.com has him ranked the 10^th best catcher in the country.

"Joe may be the best catch and throw guy on the West Coast, which means he may be as good as there is nationwide," Meggs said about Morgan. "He is an elite receiver who can virtually shut down the running game. And offensively, I expect him to have a breakout season. He will hit in the middle of the batting order for us and likely lead our team in RBI's. Joe has made himself a professional hitter."

As good as Morgan is behind the plate, Meggs and the coaching staff are going to have to find a way to get freshman Nick Kahle on the field. Kahle arrived on campus just outside the top-100 ranked players nationally and ever since he has stepped foot on UW has done nothing to dispel the hype.

"He's just a baseball player," is how Meggs describes Kahle. "I mean, obviously his best position is behind the plate and he's going to have a pro career there, but he's such a valuable asset at the plate. He can handle the bat and he understands what we're doing here. You're tempted to throw him in left field and let him DH just to get him in there, but it's going to be nice for (Morgan) at some point in time to DH and give him a break and get Nick behind the plate."

MacIver also can see some time at catcher, as he made nine starts there in 2016. He spent most of the fall adjusting to third base, but can definitely strap on the gear if needed.

The fourth catcher on the roster is freshman Michael Petrie. He played at Mercer Island where he was coached by former UW catcher Dominic Woody. He saw lots of action in the fall with MacIver focusing on third and Morgan resting a muscle strain for most of the camp. He gained valuable experience and like so many of the newcomers, is prepared to come in as needed.

With so much competition and depth, Meggs and the coaches toughest job during the season may be finding playing time for everyone. But, it's nice to have lots of depth and a luxury that Coach Meggs is looking forward to dealing with. The trick will be filling out the lineup card and finding combinations that gets the team ready for what appears to be one of the toughest years in the Pac-12 for quite some time.

"I think it's going to be maybe the best it's been since I've been here," Meggs said about the competition in the Pac-12. "I think there are eight teams that have a chance to go to the postseason and of those eight, I think the top six could reach the College World Series. I think that's how deep our conference is going to be.

"It's going to be exciting. It's going to be fun. It's going to be challenging, but that's what we want and that's what we're all looking forward to."

Schedule

Players Mentioned

Ben Baird

Chris Baker

KJ Brady

Noah Bremer

Blake Burton

Josh Cushing

AJ Graffanino

Alex Hardy

Jaden Hassell

Duncan Hendrickson

Jacob Hirsh

MJ Hubbs

Jack Johnson

Christian Jones

Levi Jordan

Nick Kahle

Kyle London

Willie MacIver

Jack Meggs

Joey Morgan

John Naff

Nyles Nygaard

Michael Petrie

Nick Roberts

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