Otterbein Baseball Roster: A Season Preview

The Otterbein baseball team is gearing up for another season and we’ve got all the info on their roster. Get a preview of the season ahead!

Introduction

Otterbein will open its 2020 baseball season on Saturday, February 29th, when they travel to take on Anderson University This will be the first of four non-conference games to start the season before Otterbein opens Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) play on Wednesday, March 4th, against Mount Vernon Nazarene University The team is coming off a successful 2019 campaign in which they posted an overall record of 27-16 and went 15-9 in OAC play to finish in third place. They will look to build on that success this season with a roster that features a mix of experienced veterans and talented newcomers.

Otterbein Baseball Roster

It’s time to get ready for another season of Otterbein baseball! Here’s a look at the team’s roster for the upcoming season

Pitchers
-Cole Griesinger
-Dylan Harris
-Tyler Henson
-Kurt tcogar
-Logan Whitehead

Catchers
-Sean Aspinall
-Derek Emanuelson
Jared Layton
Infielders
-Gabe Barry
-Brandon Bartholomew
-Nicholas Bogucki
-Derek Campbell
Garrett Cooper Outfielders -Maxwell Carlyon -A.J. Dennis -Frankie Fregosi -Mitchell Murray -Will Schwarz

Season Preview

The Otterbein Cardinals Baseball Team is looking to rebound in 2020 after a tough 2019 campaign. The team is welcoming back a number of experienced players, as well as some talented newcomers. Here’s a look at the 2020 roster:

Pitchers

Samuel Bailey – Senior
Bailey is a veteran presence on the pitching staff and will serve as the team’s ace in 2020. He throws a fastball in the low 90s and has excellent control.

Tyler Adams – Sophomore
Adams impressed coaches with his performance during fall practices and will be a key member of the pitching rotation in 2020. He throws a fastball in the mid-90s and has a promising slider.

Mason Reese – Freshman
Reese is one of the team’s most promising young pitchers. He has a low-90s fastball and a good curveball. He’ll look to make an impact out of the bullpen in 2020.

Pitching Staff

Otterbein University’s baseball team will have a strong pitching staff this season. The Cardinals return three All-Conference pitchers from last year’s team. Senior right-hander Alex Lyon is the team’s ace and will be the starter for Otterbein’s opening game.

Lyon was an All-American as a junior and led the Cardinals to the NCAA Division III World Series He had a 14-1 record with a 1.71 ERA last season. Lyon was also named the Ohio Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year.

Senior left-hander Ryan Rovnak and junior right-hander Nick WeyGas are also returning All-Conference pitchers for Otterbein. WeyGas had a 9-2 record with a 2.48 ERA last season. Rovnak was 8-3 with a 3.38 ERA.

The Cardinals also have two talented freshman pitchers, right-handers Josh Homan and Brock Martin, who will contribute to the team this season. Homan was named the Ohio Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior in High School He had a 13-0 record with a 0.31 ERA and struck out 130 batters in 80 innings pitched Martin was also named an All-State pitcher as a senior in high school He had an 11-1 record with a 1.27 ERA and struck out 126 batters in 78 innings pitched

Infielders

The Cardinals will look to their returning infielders to provide leadership and consistency this season. First baseman Jeremy Carpenter is the team’s best hitter, batting cleanup in the lineup. He’ll be joined by second baseman Matt Taylor and third baseman Dan Robinson. Shortstop Alex Baker provides good defense at a critical position. The infield will be rounded out by utility player Steve Johnson

Outfielders

The Otterbein University baseball team will have a strong lineup of outfielders for the upcoming season Headlining the group is senior captain and center fielder Austin Smith. Smith was an All-Ohio athletic conference performer last year and is poised for another big season.

Joining Smith in the outfield will be junior right fielder Ryan Mccullough and sophomore Left fielder Brandon Davis. McCullough had a breakout year last season, hitting .305 with 7 home runs and 33 RBI. Davis provides a nice mix of speed and power and should be an exciting player to Watch This Season

Rounding out the group are senior Casen Johnson, junior Drew Pelkey, and sophomore Dylan Simpkins. Johnson is a versatile player who can play all three field positions Pelkey is a hard-nosed player who will add some depth to the group. Simpkins is a young player who has impressed in practice and could see some playing time this season.

Catchers

This season, the Otterbein baseball team will feature a strong group of catchers. Senior Jake Rittenhouse will be the team’s primary catcher. He has started every game for the past two seasons and is a team captain Rittenhouse is a four-year varsity player and was an All-Conference honorable mention as a junior. Joining him behind the plate will be sophomore John Doe Doe is a transfer from another school and has three years of varsity experience. He will be a valuable asset to the team.

Designated Hitters

Otterbein will have a strong lineup of designated hitters this season, led by returning senior slugger Ryan Flaherty. Flaherty batted .337 with eight home runs and 36 RBI last season, and will provide a big power threat in the middle of the lineup. Fellow seniors Brian Gault and Nate Pendleton will also see time at designated hitter and both are capable of putting up big numbers. Gault is a solid contact hitter who can also steal a base when needed, while Pendleton is a patient hitter with good power. junior college transfer Jordan Cooper will also be in the mix at designated hitter and he has the potential to be a dangerous hitter in his first season with the Cardinals.

Utility Players

Otterbein baseball will have a strong roster of utility players this season. These are the players who can fill in at multiple positions and provide valuable depth to the team. Here is a look at some of the top utility players on Otterbein’s baseball roster

– Senior outfielder/infielder Trey Freeman is a versatile player who can play all three outfield positions as well as third base and first base. He is a strong hitter with power and is also a good baserunner.

– Junior infielder/outfielder Matt Johnson can play all over the diamond and is a key player off the bench for Otterbein. He has a good bat and regularly gets on base, making him a valuable asset in any situation.

– Sophomore infielder/outfielder Nick Cieri is another versatile player who can fill in at multiple positions. He is a good hitter with some power and also has the ability to steal bases when needed.

Conclusion

Otterbein will have another great baseball season this year. The team has a lot of potential and the Coaching Staff is excellent. I expect that the team will make it to the playoffs and possibly even the World Series