VCU Baseball Roster: The Players to Watch

The Virginia Commonwealth University baseball team is set to have another great season. Check out the roster and find out which players you should be watching.

Introducing the VCU Baseball Roster

The Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) baseball team is entering the 2019 season with high expectations. The Rams are coming off a successful 2018 campaign in which they won the Atlantic 10 Conference regular season and tournament titles, as well as made an appearance in the NCAA tournament

Heading into the 2019 season, there are a few players who will be key to the Rams’ success. Senior pitcher Connor O’Reilly is expected to be the team’s ace and will anchor a strong pitching staff. Offensively, junior outfielder Brett Jones and senior infielder Josh Simon will be looked to provide some power at the top of the order.

The Rams have high hopes for the 2019 season and with a roster full of talented players, they have a good chance of meeting those expectations.

The Players to Watch

The 2015 VCU Baseball Team is made up of some very talented players. Here are some of the players to keep an eye on this season.

Pitchers

– Michael Dabney: Dabney is a right-handed pitcher who transferred to VCU from Broward College He is expected to be a key member of the pitching staff.
– Blake Hauser: Hauser is a left-handed pitcher who was named the Atlantic 10 Preseason Pitcher of the Year. He is a junior and has already had a lot of success in his two years at VCU.
– Jared Lehrich: Lehrich is a right-handed pitcher who made 14 starts as a freshman last season. He had a 3.86 ERA and is expected to be one of the top starters for the Rams this season.

Infielders

– Vimael Machin: Machin is a junior infielder who was named the Atlantic 10 Preseason Player of the Year. He was an All-American last year and led VCU in batting average (.383), hits (93), and stolen bases (27).
– Darian Carpenter: Carpenter is a senior infielder who has been with VCU since 2012. He has been a key player for the Rams, starting all but one game over the last two seasons.

The Team’s Strengths

The team’s strengths are its starting pitching and its defense. The team’s starting pitchers--Michael Roth Justin Verlander, and Chris Sale -are all experienced and have been successful at the Major League level. The team’s defense is anchored by shortstop Andrelton Simmons, who is one of the best defenders in baseball. The team also has several players who are capable of playing multiple positions, which gives the team flexibility in its lineup.

The Team’s Weaknesses

The team’s primary weakness is its lack of experience. Most of the team’s members are young and have not had much time to develop their skills. In addition, the team does not have a lot of power hitters which could be a problem if they need to score runs in a hurry.

The Team’s Outlook

The Rams have a lot of potential this season with a strong returning team and some talented newcomers. They will be looking to build on their success from last year and make a run at the conference championship Watch out for the wing players

Pitchers
-senior Michael Dailey
-junior Connor Eppard
-sophomore Liam Jenkins

Infielders
-senior Derek Peluso
-junior Mitchell Shaeffer
-sophomore Jayden Johnson

Outfielders
-senior Braden Carmichael
-junior Philip Martin

The Team’s Schedule

The 2017 VCU baseball schedule features 56 games, 27 of which will be played at The Diamond. The Rams open the season on Friday, February 17th at USC Upstate and will have their home opener on Friday, February 24th against West Virginia

VCU will play a total of 18 games against teams that made the NCAA Tournament last year. The Rams non-Conference Schedule is highlighted by a three-game series at home against ECU (March 17-19), a four-game series at Florida Atlantic (March 30-April 2) and a three-game series on the road against Maryland (April 14-16).

The Team’s Rivalries

The VCU Rams baseball team competes in the Atlantic 10 Conference and is one of the most successful programs in the conference, having won or shared six regular season titles and three conference tournament championships since joining the A-10 in 2001. The team is also a perennial contender for an NCAA regional bid.

The Rams have several fierce rivals within the A-10, including the Richmond Spiders George Mason Patriots, and Dayton Flyers Outside of the conference, VCU’s biggest rival is the Old Dominion Monarchs. The two teams have met 185 times since 1907, making it the most played series in VCU history.

The Team’s Fans

The team’s fans are some of the most dedicated and passionate in all of baseball. They come out to support the team no matter what the weather is like, and they always make noise to try and get their team going. If you’re looking for a fun and supportive atmosphere at a game, VCU baseball is the place for you.

The Team’s History

The Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) baseball team has a long and storied history dating back to the 19th century. The team has won several conference championships and made several appearances in the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship In recent years the team has been led by Head Coach Shawn Stiffler, who has coached the team to two conference championships and four NCAA tournament appearances.

The Team’s Future

The 2017 VCU baseball roster is filled with young and talented players that have the potential to make an impact on the team’s future. Here are some of the players to watch:

Infielders:

Freshman infielder Paul Witt comes to VCU from Cooperstown, New York. Witt was a highly touted recruit, and he is expected to make an immediate impact on the team.

Sophomore infielder Braden Burke returns to VCU after a successful freshman season. Burke was named Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year, and he is expected to be a key contributor offensively and defensively.

Outfielders:

Freshman outfielder Haiden Lamb comes to VCU from Richmond, Virginia. Lamb was a Standout Player in High School and he is expected to be a key player for the team in the outfield.