The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
2007 Season Preview: The Infield
1/29/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Jan. 29, 2007
Each Monday and Wednesday leading up to UAB's first game of the season with Central Michigan on Feb. 16, UABsports.com will preview the 2007 Blazers. We now take a look at the Blazers infield and on Wednesday we will focus on the outfield.
The infield is an area that has several positions where any of a number of guys could play this season. With defense being such a critical part of being successful at Young Memorial Field, the middle of the infield is an area that could prove to be a strength of Blazers defense.
A handful of players are trying to emerge as the front-runner at first base with junior Billy Lichtner and senior Ryne Lovdahl returning after both seeing a substantial amount of playing time last season. Lovdahl started in 52 games and hit .274 with a team-best eight home runs, while driving in 29 runs in 2006. Lichtner started in 28 games in which he hit .240 with three home runs.
"Ryne gives us a lot of options, he can play first, third or in the outfield," Shoop said. "I think he'll definitely be in there somewhere and hitting in the middle of the lineup. Positionally where he'll end up will depend on a lot of factors, but I think he could play in the corner outfield or corner infield or even designated hitter. I think one strength of our team is Ryne Lovdahl's toughness, he's a tough kid."
"Billy has played some first base and he is a left-handed hitter that has the potential to hit with some power," Shoop said. "He'll probably battle more for the DH spot."
Junior Ryan Keedy has also impressed the coaches with his play at first and even more so with his bat. Prior to sitting out the 2006 season, Keedy played two seasons at Wallace State Community College where he was a third-team All-America selection as a sophomore.
"Ryan missed last year and he is a capable player with a great swing," Shoop said. "We need for Ryan to hit in the middle of our lineup because he probably has the best swing on the team. He still needs to improve defensively in order to play first base for us everyday but he's a great kid and has the ability to be one of our leaders if he'll do the things he's capable of."
Two others right in the thick of things at first base are Manning and sophomore Robert Brewster. Manning came to UAB after having a successful career at LaGrange High School in LaGrange, Ga., while Brewster returns after playing in 16 games for the Blazers last season in which he had a fielding percentage of .938.
"None of these guys are light years ahead of the next one," Shoop said. "It's a tightly grouped bunch so it will be interesting to see who emerges."
Second base and shortstop will be one of the strong areas of the UAB defense given the return of senior Jorge Gutierrez and the addition of a standout freshman in Jonathan Merritt.
Gutierrez started in 51 games for the Blazers last season, hitting .269 with nine doubles, while posting 165 assists to rank eighth in Conference USA. Merritt comes to UAB after an impressive career at Douglas County High School in Douglasville, Ga., where he hit .302 with 22 stolen bases as a junior. Merritt was tabbed one of the nation's top prospects by Perfect Game.
"The middle infield has a chance to be a real strength of our team because they are capable of defending and if you defend well in the middle of the field it will give you a great chance to win," Shoop said. "Jorge and Jonathan were clearly ahead at those positions in the fall but I'm not sure who will play short and who will play second, we'll have to wait and see how that plays out."
Filling in behind Gutierrez and Merritt will be junior transfer Tyler Rollin, who played two seasons at Gadsden State Community College, and junior Brett Hall, who missed last season after playing in 16 games in 2005 in which he hit .333.
"Hall was hurt in the fall but in the limited of time I got to see him I was really impressed," Shoop said. "He's a small scrappy guy and a real competitor. If he's healthy he'll be a nice quick guy to have."
Third base is another position that lacks clarity entering the season as the team must overcome the loss of standout third baseman Zac Ward who has started in all 174 games in his career at third base. Ward is a career .257 hitter with 17 home runs and 118 RBI.
"Third base is a real predicament for us right now," Shoop said. "Zac Ward played everyday at that position for us last year and he's out for the year with an injury. That hurts us this year but helps us next year so he'll be a good leader for us in the dugout."
Leading a large pool of players looking to see time at third are Lovdahl and sophomore transfer Aubin who transferred to UAB from Birmingham-Southern where he hit .283 with five home runs and 36 RBI in 2006.
"We have Lovdahl who can play at third and also Allen Aubin who played well at Birmingham-Southern last year but did not have a very good fall," Shoop said. "If he plays like he is capable of, then he will be a great player for us. He's a great athlete and has a multi-facet game because he can run and defend the bunt and slow roll really well. He's a switch hitter who plays with a lot of energy so if he plays like he is capable of playing, then he is a very good player."
Also in the extended mix at third are Brewster and Manning. "Brewster and Manning can also play that corner and are in the hunt," Shoop said. "I think third will come down to one of those four or a combination of the four."
Infielders
- Allen Aubin (So.) Transfer from Birmingham-Southern. Hit .283 with 36 RBI in 51 games at BSC as a freshman in 2006.
- Robert Brewster (So.) Played in 16 games in 2006 after a standout high school career at West End HS in Altoona, Ala.
- Jorge Gutierrez (Sr.) Started in 51 games in 2006 in which he hit .269 and boasted a fielding percentage of .959.
- Brett Hall (Jr.) Did not play in 2006. Hit .333 in 16 games played as a freshman.
- Ryan Keedy (Jr.) Did not play in 2006 after transfering to UAB from Wallace State CC. At Wallace, he was named third-team All-America.
- Billy Lichtner (Jr.) Played in 31 games in 2006, boasting a batting average of .240 with three home runs.
- Ryne Lovdahl (Sr.) Made 52 starts in 2006, hitting .274 with a team-best eight home runs and 29 RBI.
- Andrew Manning (Fr.) Played four years at LaGrange HS in LaGrange, Ga. Named to Team Georgia his junior year.
- Jonathan Merritt (Fr.) Played four years at Douglas County HS in Douglasville, Ga. Tabbed one of the nation's top prospects, being ranked the 215th-best player in the high school class of 2006 by Perfect Game.
- Tyler Rollin (Jr.) Transfered to UAB from Gadsden State CC. Was a 2005 second-team All-Northern League selection.
