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Spring Day 9: 2/7/25

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Overall Takeaways from the day:
1. Max Galvin. That’s it, that’s the takeaway. Absolute stud.
2. The bats are starting to heat up, lots of loud outs and a couple of homers by a variety of guys. More importantly, guys started to show a sense of rythmn at the plate.
3. Nick Robert showed he can be more than just a “contact pitcher” his slider looked unhittable today
4. Whoever can showcase better hitting between Peralta and Torres will play. Both are extremely plus defenders with speed, getting some production at the bottom of the lineup is crucial.
5. Evan Tavares has turned a corner. All fall and starting spring we heard reports about him not being able to throw the ball to the bases. Today he threw out at least 3 guys and every throw down was legit. The guy is already a great hitting prospect at catcher, if he can keep developing behind the plate the ‘Canes have a stud on their hands
 
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SCRIMMAGE: FRI 7 FEB 25
In just one week, all practices and scrimmages will be a thing of the past as the regular season kicks off. Today's performance clearly demonstrated that the bats are more than ready to take on any opponent. The frustrations that have plagued our hitting during the fall and spring preseason were put to bed today, leading to an outstanding display at the plate with 18 hits, including five doubles and FOUR home runs. Four players registered multiple hits, with two players stepping up with three hits each; Max Galvin notably fell only a triple short of completing the cycle. The defense has significantly sharpened, particularly with Fabio Peralta’s exceptional defensive catch standing out. Although the pitching staff faced their share of challenges, they ultimately persevered. For this team to find success in the postseason, unified efforts from the defense, hitting, and pitching will be required to operate at their highest levels.
Nick Robert, considered a strong candidate for one of the three starting positions to open the series against Niagara next week, pitched for five innings. He recorded five strikeouts in the first two innings, and aside from allowing a one-out double to Bobby Marsh in the first, he demonstrated why he is a frontrunner to start next weekend. Unfortunately, in the third inning, the excellence displayed in the first two was overshadowed after back-to-back doubles by Renzo Gonzalez and Daniel Cuvet, followed two batters later by an RBI single from Nolan Johnson, dulled the prior two innings’ brilliance. As a starter, he must avoid lapses in concentration and maintain the level of performance seen in the first two innings. The fourth and fifth innings had baserunners on, but he showed more of what one would expect from a starter in terms of preventing further damage.
The six remaining pitchers exemplify a dedication to advancing the game and securing team victories. I am concerned that, once the final roster is established, the middle relievers may become overworked if our starting pitchers are unable to go beyond the fifth inning, as often happened last season. A significant concern is our lack of a definitive closer. If JD is considering Jackson Cleveland, his recent performances have not provided much optimism. Initially, I was more inclined to support Will Smith, yet he, too, encountered difficulties today.
Tate DeRias took the mound against Nick Robert, pitching 3.2 innings before being relieved by Lasaro Collera. His early exit likely stemmed from a pitch count restriction. Despite starting strong by recording the first two outs quickly, trouble arose in the first inning when he walked Daniel Cuvet, which set the stage for Max Galvin’s scorching RBI double that put runners on second and third. Nolan Johnson, with runners in scoring position (RISP), showcased one of the team’s shortcomings from last year: the inability to convert scoring opportunities. He delivered an RBI single, scoring two runs. The second inning saw Jake Ogden register one of four home runs hit today. Tate struggled with control in the third inning, issuing three walks but managed to escape unscathed, thanks to Evan Taveras, whose improved throwing accuracy proved crucial. However, Taveras still needs to work on preventing balls from getting by him. Overall, he had an excellent day defensively. In Tate's final inning, he received support from Fabio Peralta in center field, who made the defensive play of the day with a diving catch on a sinking line drive. Tate, a freshman, has demonstrated significant potential.
Lazaro Collera entered the game early for Tate, who likely reached his pitch count, thus stepping down to protect his arm. It is crucial to avoid a season-ending injury before the season even begins. In the one full inning that Lazaro pitched, specifically the 5th, he, unfortunately, did not escape unscathed; Jake Ogden led off with a single, subsequently stole second and third base, and Bobby Marsh brought him home with a sacrifice fly to center field. Another promising freshman to add to the BP.
Reese Lumpkin took over for Nick and pitched for two innings. Unfortunately, a defensive error led to two unearned runs against him. Despite this, he nearly completed the inning without conceding a run after Max Galvin led off with a single. Following that, there were two outs. Reese then walked Michael Torres, placing runners on first and second. Renzo hit a slow grounder to third base, where Daniel was faced with yet another challenging decision. In an attempt to make a play, he opted to throw to first instead of securing the ball, resulting in a late and wide throw that allowed both Galvin and Torres to score. However, Reese had the chance to redeem himself in the seventh inning, striking out two of the three batters he faced. As a seasoned reliever, Reese is expected to bolster our bullpen roster.
Michael Fernandez and Carson Fischer each took the mound for an inning. Michael, one of four left-handed pitchers, is poised to make a significant impact this season. As a promising freshman, he demonstrates exceptional composure in challenging situations. A leadoff walk didn’t rattle him. Even after hitting a batter, he remained unfazed, although things got tense when a stolen base to second, combined with a throwing error, put Todd Hudson on third base. He confidently struck out Gaby, leaving Hudson stranded on third. Meanwhile, Carson, a seasoned graduate student, faced the daunting task of pitching against our most prolific hitter, Max Galvin. Max, not to be outdone, crushed his third hit of the day over the right-center fence. Despite this setback, Carson closed out the inning without any further complications.
To wrap up today's scrimmage, there are two players under the spotlight for the closer role: Will Smith and Jackson Cleveland. Today, neither earns my vote for that role. Tanner began the game by walking Fabio, who soon found himself caught trying to steal second base. Following that, Tanner struck out Dorian, and with two outs, the other Smith on the team, Tanner, stepped up to the plate. He delivered a remarkable third home run of the day, sending the ball out of the park. After the third out, another batter came to the plate: Gaby Gutierrez, who, like Will, concluded his day with a double.
While Will was addressing his issues, he was joined by the other candidate for setup or closer, Jackson Cleveland. Based on previous assessments, it’s clear that I have strong reservations about him as a closer, and today’s performance only reinforced my concerns. He struck out two of the four batters he faced, but it was the hit by Derek Williams that truly caught my attention. Derek made contact in such a way that had he not hit the top of the scoreboard between the two Ls in "baseball," the ball would likely still be flying. As I noted before, neither player has earned my vote for these positions, but looking at our options, it’s evident that we have no one to fit either option.
Today was an impressive offensive display with 18 hits, half of them being for extra bases. Max Galvin, who continues to lead the team in hit production, fell just a triple short of achieving the rare feat of completing the "cycle". He also recorded three hits, finishing 3-4. Nolan Johnson matched him with three hits, also going 3-4 while driving in 3 RBIs. Brandon DeGoti was the only other player with multiple hits, going 2-4. The team showcased five doubles, the most we have witnessed this preseason, courtesy of Max Galvin, Renzo Gonzalez, Daniel Cuvet, Gaby Gutierrez, and Bobby Marsh. Adding to the excitement of "Bats Gone Wild" were 4 outstanding shots by Jake Ogden, Max Galvin, Derek Williams, and Tanner Smith.
Following today's game at the Light, the team is fully prepared to take on the Alum in tomorrow's annual Classic. Crucially, the team appears to be piecing together the components necessary for a competitive season and a strong push for postseason play. In baseball, fortunes can change in an instant. Today's performance demonstrated that the team has the potential to succeed, provided they maintain the level of play they showcased today.
Tomorrow marks the highly anticipated event that everyone has been eagerly awaiting. It will showcase a spectacular clash between the stars of yesterday and the stars of tomorrow. Prepare for a full day of excitement, culminating in a grand finale at 6PM, where we will not only relive the cherished memories of the past but also embrace the promises of the future
 
The only thing I would disagree with is that Cleveland can definitely be a closer. Yes he’s had two bad outings, but he can seriously pitch. It most likely will be a closer by committee with Cleveland, Will Smith, and Rob Evan’s when he returns
 
Sebastian Font said:
The only thing I would disagree with is that Cleveland can definitely be a closer. Yes he’s had two bad outings, but he can seriously pitch. It most likely will be a closer by committee with Cleveland, Will Smith, and Rob Evan’s when he returns
Click to expand...
How long is Evans out for ?
 
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