SJSU Baseball Roster: The Team to Watch This Season
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JSU Baseball is gearing up for another season and they have a roster full of talented players. Here’s a look at the team to watch this season.
1.The team to watch This Season
As the San Jose State Spartans get set to take the field for the 2020 season, there is a lot of excitement surrounding the team. The Spartans are coming off a 2019 campaign in which they went 31-24 overall and 15-9 in conference play They finished the season strong, winning their final six games, and their performance earned them a spot in the NCAA tournament
This year’s team appears to have all the pieces in place to make another run at the title. The Spartans return nine of their top 10 hitters from last season, including All-American second baseman Nick Gatewood. The pitching staff is also loaded, with senior ace Hayden Harris leading the way.
If everything comes together, this could be one of the best teams in recent memory at San Jose State. Don’t miss your chance to see them in action this season!
2.SJSU Baseball Roster
This season, the San Jose State baseball team is looking strong. Here’s a look at the roster for the Spartans:
Pitchers:
-Joey Klein
-Dylan Torres
-Nate Johnson
-Ryan Young
-Matt Brown
-Sean Peoples
Catchers:
-Jesse Kuet
-Chrisenden Avla
Infielders:
-Andrew CROWDER (1B/DH) #21
-Kyle Jabas (2B) #4 co-captain —> *switch to SS?*
-Nick Morales (3B) #5 co-captain —> *slugger* —> split time w/ Atwood at 3rd?* <- note: also can play 1st & LF if we need him there. super versatile. – -> starts most games @ 3rd, but gets a day off every now & then to give Atwood some reps there & to keep his bat in the lineup somewhere. also gets some time @ 1st late in games when we have a big lead and want to get some of our bench guys some playing time <- note: will likely be our starting LF next year as a senior. <- also, very good defensively. good arm. <- was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 37th round of this year’s MLB Draft but decided to come back for his senior year. -> should be our cleanup hitter this season. <- led team in HRs & RBIs last season. <- 2nd team All-WAC last season. <- 2nd on team in walks last season behind only Estephan (who's no longer with us). <- hit .305/.370/.483 with 7 HRs & 39 RBIs last season.
outfielders: -> our best defensive OF, but not as good of a hitter as some of our other guys. should start most games in CF, but will likely be replaced late in games by Garcia when we have a lead and want to get our bench guys some playing time / when we’re facing a lefty and want to get more righties into the lineup. -> very good defensively, but not as good of a hitter as some of our other guys. should start most games in RF, but will likely be replaced late in games by Garcia when we have a lead and want to get our bench guys some playing time / when we’re facing a lefty and want to get more righties into the lineup. will primarily be used as a pinch hitter / pinch runner this season, but could see some spot starts here and there depending on matchups / how he’s performing at the plate / etc. led team in stolen bases last season with 23. hit .246/.333/.357 with 1 HR & 15 RBIs last season while primarily serving as a pinch hitter / pinch runner.
bench players: primarily used as a pinch runner this season, but could see spot starts here and there depending on matchups / how he’s performing at the plate / etc.. didn’t play much last season, but has impressed coaches with his speed & defense during fall practices & scrimmages.. didn’t play much last season, but has impressed coaches with his bat during fall practices & scrimmages.. will likely see most of his action late in games when we have a lead and want to get some of our bench guys some playing time..
3.The Coaching Staff
This season’s SJSU Baseball Team is led by an impressive Coaching Staff Head Coach Steve Leroux (formerly of the University of San Francisco) has assembled a group of experienced assistant coaches who have worked at some of the top programs in the country.
Pitching coach Tom Simpson comes to SJSU from Vanderbilt, where he helped develop some of the best pitchers in college baseball Hitting coach Derek Simmons was most recently at UC Berkeley, where he helped create one of the best offenses in the country. And finally, defensive coordinator Brandon Equizi comes to SJSU from UCLA, where he helped turn the Bruins into one of the best Defensive Teams in college baseball
With this wealth of experience and knowledge on the staff, there’s no doubt that the SJSU baseball team is poised for a great season. Be sure to catch them in action at Municipal Stadium this spring!
4.The Standout Players
The San Jose State Spartans have a lot of potential this season and there are a few standout players that fans should keep an eye on.
One player to watch is sophomore first baseman Nick Tomasin. Tomasin had a great freshman season, leading the team in home runs (9) and RBIs (33). He was also named to the All-Mountain West Conference First Team. Fans can expect big things from Tomasin again this season.
Another player to watch is junior outfielder Andre Jackson. Jackson had a breakout year last season, hitting .333 with 8 home runs and 37 RBIs. He was also named to the All-Mountain West Conference Second Team. Jackson will be looked to as a leader on this young Spartan team.
Sophomore pitcher Mason Hutson is another player to keep an eye on this season. Hutson was outstanding as a freshman, going 6-1 with a 2.48 ERA in 14 starts. He was named the Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year and will be counted on to anchor the Spartan pitching staff again this season.
Make sure to follow the San Jose State Spartans baseball team this season as they look to make some noise in the Mountain West Conference!
5.The Newcomers
This season, the Spartans will have several newcomers on the roster, most notably freshman pitcher Tony Garofalo and transfer student second baseman Ryan Perez. Both players are expected to make an immediate impact on the team.
Garofalo is a highly touted prospect from the Bay Area who chose to stay close to home for his collegiate career. He has a strong arm and good control of his pitches, which should help him find success at the collegiate level. Perez is a talented player who brings a lot of energy to the team. He is a solid hitter and fielder, and he will be a key player for the Spartans this season.
Other newcomers to Watch This Season include freshman catcher Matt Lewis and junior transfer outfielder Chris Johnson Lewis is a promising young player who has a good bat and a strong arm. Johnson is a speedster who will add some much-needed depth to the Spartan outfield.
6.The Schedule
SJSU will start off their season at home against UC Santa Barbara on February 14th. Then, they will have a three-game series against Pepperdine before heading to Southern California to take on USC. Next, they will return home for a six-game homestand that includes Nevada, St. Mary’s, and Cal Poly The Spartans will then travel to Utah for a four-game series before returning home for another six-game homestand that features Fresno State San Diego State and Air Force Finally, they will finish up their regular season on the road with three-game series’ at New Mexico and UNLV.
7.The Fans
The fans are what make college baseball so special. At San Jose State the fans are passionate and knowledgeable about the game, and they create an electric atmosphere at Municipal Stadium. This season, the fans will be cheering on a team that has the potential to make a deep run in the postseason. Make sure you’re in your seat early this season to catch all the action!
8.The Ballpark
The Ballpark is located at 401 W. Alma Ave, San Jose CA 95110. It is the home of the San Jose State Spartans Baseball Team The stadium has a capacity of 4,200 people.
9.The Rivals
The Spartans will have their work cut out for them this season as they face off against some of the best teams in the country. Here are the nine rivals that SJSU will have to watch out for this season:
1. University of California Berkeley
2. Stanford University
3. UCLA
4. USC
5. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
6. UC Irvine
7. UC Santa Barbara
8. Long Beach State University
9. Pepperdine University
10.The Legacy
The San Jose State Spartans Baseball team is stacked with young talent this season. The team is led by junior outfielder Andre Jackson, who is looking to build on his impressive .351 batting average from last year. Along with Jackson, the Spartans have a strong core of returning players that should make them a force to be reckoned with in the Mountain West Conference The team has high hopes for this season, and they definitely have the talent to make a run at the conference title