By Trey McCurry.
TCI continues its preseason baseball coverage with a quick look around the ACC as we head into the 2015 baseball season. Stay tuned to TCI throughout the preseason as we continue breakdown the 2015 roster and 2015 opponents as we lead up to Opening Day on February 13th.
Boston College
2014 record:
22-33 (10-20 ACC, 6th Atlantic)
Looking ahead to 2015:
The Eagles hope the return of seven position starters and two weekend starters will get them back to the ACC Tournament for the first time since 2010.
Top players:
OF Chris Shaw – Preseason First-Team All-American by Perfect Game & Second-Team All-American by Collegiate Baseball hit a team-best .329 in 2014 while leading the team in doubles (18), homers (6), and RBI (45)
INF Joe Cronin – hit .291 with 16 doubles and 25 RBI in 2014
RHP John Gorman – top returning pitcher in innings (74.2) and strikeouts (68) after going 3-8 with a 3.86 ERA in 15 appearances (14 starts) in 2014
Clemson
2014 record:
36-25 (15-14 ACC, 2nd Atlantic) – Nashville Regional
Looking ahead to 2015:
The Tigers, ranked #28 in Collegiate Baseball Pre-Season Poll, squeaked into the NCAA Tournament in 2014 and should have an easier time making their 28th NCAA appearance in 29 years while seeking their first home postseason games since 2011.
Top players:
OF Steven Duggar – Preseason Third-Team All-American by Collegiate Baseball & Perfect Game selection hit .294 with 36 RBI and a team-best 25 steals in 2014
C Chris Okey – Preseason Third-Team All-American by Perfect Game selection hit .248 in his first season with Clemson and will return team-highs of four homers and 41 RBI
LHP Matthew Crownover – 2014 Third-Team All-ACC selection will anchor the pitching staff after going 8-6 with a 2.90 ERA while recording 90 strikeouts in 99.1 innings
Duke
2014 record:
33-25 (16-14 ACC, 3rd Coastal)
Looking ahead to 2015:
The Blue Devils, who just missed the NCAA Tournament, tied their ACC record for wins (16) and finished in the top four in the ACC standings for the first time in 20 years in 2014. Third-year Head Coach Chris Pollard will look to build on that success and lead Duke to its first NCAA Tournament since 1961.
Top players:
INF Andy Perez – top retuning hitter from 2014 hit .272 with 25 RBI while leading the team with 22 stolen bases
RHP Michael Matuella – Preseason Third-Team All-American by Perfect Game selection had a 2.78 ERA in 2014 while recording 69 strikeouts in 58.1 innings and held opponents to a .190 batting average (2nd best in ACC)
RHP Andrew Istler – versatile pitcher was 8-8 with a 2.84 ERA in 23 appearances (10 starts) in 2014 while also striking out 59 in a career-high 76.0 innings
Florida State
2014 record:
43-17 (21-9 ACC, 1st Atlantic) – Tallahassee Regional
Looking ahead to 2015:
The Seminoles, ranked #11 in Collegiate Baseball Pre-Season Poll, will look to continue their stronghold on the Atlantic Division (have won or tied for eight straight division titles) and should make their 38th consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament.
Top players:
OF D.J. Stewart – Preseason First-Team All-American by Collegiate Baseball & Perfect Game selection led the team in batting average (.351), doubles (19), homers (7), and RBI (50) in 2014
INF Ben DeLuzio – led team in steals (16) in 2014 while hitting .281 with 27 RBI
RHP Mike Compton – top returning pitcher was 7-3 in 15 starts in 2014, recording 50 strikeouts in 83.2 innings
Georgia Tech
2014 record:
37-27 (14-16 ACC, 5th Coastal) – Oxford Regional
Looking ahead to 2015:
The Yellow Jackets, ranked #26 in Collegiate Baseball Pre-Season Poll, stormed through the ACC Tournament last season to earn an automatic NCAA Tournament berth. This year Georgia Tech will again challenge in the Coastal Division and should make their eighth straight NCAA Tournament.
Top players:
OF Daniel Spingola – 2014 Second-Team All-ACC selection led team in batting average (.319), triples (8) and steals (15) last season
INF Matt Gonzalez – 2014 Second-Team All-ACC selection hit .314 last season with 37 RBI, nine steals, and a team-best 21 doubles
LHP Devin Stanton – team’s top returning pitcher was 5-3 with a 2.24 ERA in 18 appearances (12 starts) in 2014 with 57 strikeouts in 76.1 innings
Louisville
2014 record:
50-17 (19-5 American, regular-season champions) – College World Series
Looking ahead to 2015:
The Cardinals, ranked #12 in Collegiate Baseball Pre-Season Poll, make their ACC debut in 2015 where they aim to make their fourth CWS appearance in Head Coach Dan McDonnell’s ninth season while playing in the rugged Atlantic Division.
Top players:
INF Zach Lucas – top returner in doubles (13), homers (5), and RBI (44)
RHP Kyle Funkhouser – Preseason First-Team All-American by Collegiate Baseball & Perfect Game selection was 13-3 with a 1.94 ERA and 122 strikeouts in 120.1 innings in 2014
RHP Anthony Kidston – 9-1 with a 3.40 ERA in 14 starts with 69 strikeouts in 76.2 innings in 2014
Miami (FL)
2014 record:
44-19 (24-6 ACC, 1st Coastal) – Coral Gables Regional
Looking ahead to 2015:
The Hurricanes, ranked #14 in Collegiate Baseball Pre-Season Poll, look to build on last season’s Coastal Division championship and make a deeper run in NCAA play in 2015.
Top players:
C Zach Collins – Preseason First-Team All-American by Collegiate Baseball & Perfect Game selection hit .298 last season while leading the team in homers (11) and RBI (54)
LHP Andrew Suarez – Preseason Second-Team All-American by Collegiate Baseball selection was 6-3 with a 2.95 ERA in 2014 while pitching a team-high 109.2 innings
RHP Bryan Garcia – Preseason Second-Team All-American by Collegiate Baseball & Third-Team Perfect Game selection was 7-4 with 15 saves and a 1.74 ERA in 2014
NC State
2014 record:
32-23 (13-17 ACC, 5th Atlantic)
Looking ahead to 2015:
The Wolfpack, who have to replace two first-round draft picks (Carlos Rodon & Trea Turner), welcome 15 newcomers who hope to help them to return to the NCAA Tournament in 2015 after missing the field last season.
Top players:
3B Andrew Knizner – Preseason First-Team All-American by Perfect Game selection his .330 in 2014 while earning Third-Team All-ACC honors
OF Jake Fincher – top returning base stealer (12 steals in 2014) hit .267 last season while helping anchor the NC State outfield
LHP Brad Stone – crafty lefty was 4-2 with a 3.02 ERA in 15 appearances (six starts) in 2014
North Carolina
2014 record:
35-27 (15-15 ACC, 4th Coastal) – Gainesville Regional
Looking ahead to 2015:
The Tar Heels, ranked #24 in Collegiate Baseball Pre-Season Poll, had an off-season in 2014 by their recent standards and will be seeking their 14th straight NCAA Tournament bid this season.
Top players:
SS Michael Russell – 2014 First-Team All-ACC selection led team with a .339 batting average and had a team-high 13 steals in 2014
RHP Trent Thornton – Preseason Third-Team All-American by Collegiate Baseball selection had a team-high 83 strikeouts in 2014 while posting a 7-4 record with a 2.73 ERA
RHP Reilly Hovis – Preseason Third-Team All-American by Collegiate Baseball selection was 9-1 in 2014 with 81 strikeouts in 64.0 innings while holding opponents to a .194 batting average
Notre Dame
2014 record:
22-31 (9-21 ACC, 7th Atlantic)
Looking ahead to 2015:
After spending most of last season traveling due to facility upgrades, the Fighting Irish look to rely on their veteran roster (12 players started 21 games or more in 2014) to turn around last year’s fortunes of 13 one-run losses.
Top players:
OF Blaise Lezynski – top returning hitter (.296) with team bests in doubles (12) and RBI (32)
RHP Scott Kerrigan – led team in ERA (1.87) last season while holding opponents to a .217 batting average
LHP Michael Hearne – pitched a team-high 86.0 innings in 2014 with a team-leading five wins
Pittsburgh
2014 record:
22-30 (11-19 ACC, 6th Coastal)
Looking ahead to 2015:
The Panthers welcome 19 newcomers, including nine transfers, as they look to make their first ever ACC Tournament.
Top players:
OF Boo Vazquez – led team in homers (6) in 2014
1B Eric Hess – top returning hitter with a .262 batting average
RHP T.J. Zeuch – top returner in innings (55.2) and starts (9)
Virginia
2014 record:
53-16 (22-8 ACC, 2nd Coastal) – College World Series
Looking ahead to 2015:
The Cavaliers, ranked #3 in the Collegiate Baseball Pre-Season Poll, have been the most consistent ACC program over the last decade and 2015 looks to be more of the same as reigning ACC Coach-of-the-Year Brian O’Connor has another strong squad.
Top players:
LHP Nathan Kirby – Preseason First-Team All-American by Collegiate Baseball & Perfect Game coming of a solid 2014 campaign where he was 9-3 with a 2.06 ERA and 112 strikeouts in 113.1 innings
LHP Brandon Waddell – Preseason Second-Team All-American by Collegiate Baseball & Third-Team All-American by Perfect Game after posting a 10-3 record with a 2.45 ERA in 2014
OF Joe McCarthy – Preseason Second-Team All-American by Collegiate Baseball & Perfect Game after hitting .301 with a team-best 16 doubles in 2014
Virginia Tech
2014 record:
21-31-1 (9-21 ACC, 7th Coastal)
Looking ahead to 2015:
The Hokies look to take a step forward in Head Coach Patrick Mason’s second season, starting with returning to the ACC Tournament after missing the field last year.
Top players:
OF Saige Jenco – top returning hitter (.323) who was 20-26 on stolen bases in 2014
INF Brendon Hayden – team top power hitter in 2014 returns after hitting 16 doubles & 7 homers in 2014
LHP Sean Keselica – top returning pitcher (by innings, 60.0) & tied for most starts on team in 2014
Wake Forest
2014 record:
30-26 (15-15 ACC, 4th Atlantic)
Looking ahead to 2015:
The Demon Deacons look to return to the ACC Tournament in 2015 despite losing their top three hitters and top three pitchers.
Top players:
INF Will Craig – lead team in homers (8) in 2014
INF Nate Mondou – second on team in doubles (11) in 2014
Closer Aaron Fossas – had 10 saves in 2014