TicketsJan. 28, 2007
This is the sixth in a 17-day series previewing the 2007 Bearcats baseball team. Today's installment features a look at Bearcats' 2007 catchers and the candidates to handle the DH position.
by Shawn Sell, UC Assistant Sports Communications Director
In 2006, injuries forced junior college transfer Nick Maragas to start all but three games behind the plate. The lack of depth at catcher won't be a problem this year as UC will carry four catchers on its 2007 roster.
"We clearly have more depth behind the plate than we did a year ago with four capable guys," UC head coach Brian Cleary says. "Nick (Maragas) did a tremendous job last year in terms of being durable. With injuries, we didn't really have an option other than for him to catch. Who plays back there this year has to do with who is swinging the bat well."
Maragas was solid in his first year of Division I competition last year and will be in the mix for the starting nod again this year. He will have his hands full holding onto the job as a newcomer and two players returning from injury will put up a challenge.
Senior Neall French and sophomore Dustin Alvey both sat out all of last season and will be hungry to gather at-bats returning this season. French will also challenge for time at first base while Alvey will be among the candidates for the designated hitter position.
"Alvey is still working his way back defensively," Cleary says. "I anticipate as he gets healthy, he will play more. French will probably not catch as much as be plays first."
The newcomer in the batch is junior college transfer Ryan Baker. Baker joins the program from Daytona Beach Community College, the same school that produced former Bearcat Mark Haske. Baker will bring much-needed power to the UC line-up after belting a pair of homeruns during fall intra-squad play.
"Ryan (Baker) has brought a lot of enthusiasm and presence behind the plate," Cleary adds. "He has a great reporte with the pitchers and will play quite a bit.
The battle for the DH job is a log jam. Alvey might be the frontrunner, but any of the catchers could draw starts. Senior Kyle Rapp, sophomore Cory Hodskins and freshmen Michael Earley and Kevin Johnson will also be in the mix.
"The DH situation will be dictated a lot by who is playing where," Cleary concludes. "The object is to get your nine most productive offensive players in the line-up without sacrificing defense. Some of the line-up will depend on who are nine hottest guys are at the time and how do we get them all in the line-up."