Jacksonville State Baseball Roster: The Must-Haves

The JSU baseball roster is full of talented players that bring a lot to the team. Here are the must-haves for the 2019 season.

Introduction

The following is a list of the Jacksonville State baseball team’s must-haves for the upcoming season This list includes both Position players and pitchers, as well as some players who can fill multiple roles.

The Roster

The Jacksonville State baseball team is compiled of 27 active players, with 4 being pitchers, 3 being infielders, 6 being outfielders, and 14 being hitters. The must-haves on the roster are as follows:
Pitchers: Garrison Murphy, Tristan Widrig, Braeden Ogle, Andrew561 day(s) ago
Infielders: Will Braden, Brody Greene, Jaylon Hopkins
Outfielders: Riley King David Martin, Druw Jones
Hitters: Clay Bailey, Tanner Thomas

The Pitching Staff

A Baseball Team is only as good as its pitching staff. The starting rotation is the backbone of any team, and the Relief pitchers are the difference-makers. Here is a look at the Jacksonville State pitching staff for the 2020 season.

The starting rotation will be led by senior right-hander Devin Bilbo. Bilbo was named the Ohio Valley Conference Pitcher of the Year last season after going 10-2 with a 3.19 ERA. He will be joined in the rotation by junior left-hander Zac Alongi and sophomore right-hander Hayden Maynard.

The bullpen will be anchored by senior closer Connor Herndon, who had nine saves last season. Other key members of the bullpen include junior right-handers Dylan Dillard and BJGraham, and sophomore left-hander Andrew Plunkett.

The Infield

The infield of a baseball team is composed of four position players who occupy fixed positions close to the infield dirt These defenders are the first baseman, second baseman, shortstop, and third baseman. The first and third basemen are generally referred to as the corners, while the shortstop and second baseman share the keystone area.

A successful infield can be built through a mix of young talent and experienced veterans. A good blend of right-handed and left-handed hitters is also important, as this can help to combat pitchers who have a tendency to work one side of the plate.

Here is a look at the must-haves for a successful infield:

First Baseman: A first baseman should be a good hitter with power, as they will often be asked to cleanup in the batting order They should also be agile, as they will need to make quick work of throws that come their way.

Second Baseman: A good second baseman needs to have quick feet, as they will need to make a lot of plays on balls hit in front of them. They should also be able to turn double plays smoothly and efficiently.

Shortstop: A shortstop should have good range and a strong arm, as they will need to make plays on balls hit deep in the hole. They should also be quick on their feet, as they will often be called upon to steal bases.

Third Baseman: A third baseman needs to have a strong arm, as they will need to make long throws across the diamond. They should also be able to hit with power, as they will often find themselves batting cleanup in the lineup.

The Outfield

In baseball, the outfield is the area of the field beyond the infield. The positions of the three outfielders are left field center field, and right field. Outfielders must cover large distances, so speed and quickness are important attributes. They must also have strong arm to be able to make the long throw from their position to home plate

The Catchers

The catchers are the backbone of any good baseball team They not only have to be able to block the plate and throw out runners trying to steal, but they also must be able to call a game and work well with the pitchers. That is why it is so important for a team to have not one, but two good catchers.

Jacksonville State has two great catchers in juniors Jake McCabe and Matt Walters. Walters was named to the preseason all-Ohio Valley Conference team, and McCabe was named second-team all-OVC last season.

The Coaching Staff

No team is complete without a great Coaching Staff and Jacksonville State definitely has one. Here are the must-haves on the coaching staff for any Baseball Team

Pitching Coach: This is the coach who works with pitchers on their technique and helps them develop game plans to get hitters out. A good pitching coach can make or break a team.

Hitting Coach: This coach works with hitters on their technique and helps them develop a plan to hit the ball hard and get on base. A good hitting coach is essential for any team that wants to score runs

Defensive Coordinator: This coach works with the whole team on their defense, helping them develop strategies to prevent runs from scoring. A Good defensive coordinator is important for any team that wants to win games.

The Schedule

The following is the Jacksonville State baseball schedule for the 2019 season. Theboldedfaced text indicates games that are must-wins.

February
16 – Wofford (away)
17 – Wofford (away)
18 – Wofford (away)

March
1 – Western Kentucky (home)
2 – Western Kentucky (home)
3 – Western Kentucky (home)

April
5 – Kennesaw State (home)
6 – Kennesaw State (home)

7 – Vanderbilt (away) 8 – Vanderbilt (away) 9 – Vanderbilt 10 – Mississippi State 11- Ole Miss 12- Mississippi State 13- Ole Miss 14- Florida Gulf Coast 15- Florida Gulf Coast 16- Florida Gulf Coast

The Fans

If you’re a fan of the Jacksonville State Baseball team you know that the college has some of the most dedicated fans in the country. And if you’re not a fan yet, you’re definitely missing out! The team has a rich history dating back to their first season in 1948, and they’ve been racks up wins ever since. From their conference championships to their deep playoff runs, the Gamecocks always bring excitement to the field.

Conclusion

The Jacksonville State baseball team is stacked with talent from top to bottom. There are a few must-haves on any championship team and the Gamecocks have them all. They have a strong pitching rotation, a deep bullpen, a dangerous lineup, and the potential to go deep in the tournament. With all of this talent, the Jacksonville State baseball team is poised for a deep run in the postseason.