Big 12 Baseball rundown

Alright, we are drawing ever closer to the beginning of the NCAA baseball season. Currently, we sit a mere 17 days away from the first games for the Big 12 teams. Here is a quick rundown of how the teams should fare, and which players to look out for...

BAYLOR (#15 in Baseball America, #18 RivalsBaseball.com)
Baylor is looking to field a very talented and more experienced team this season. Returning for the Bears is the entire infield, led by preseason All-American Jr. Beemer Weems at SS. Weems hit .321 last year while leading Baylor in home runs (9), doubles (17) and RBIs (59). The remaining infield is made up of the So. trio of Raynor Campbell, Shaver Hansen and Dustin Dickerson. The outfield returns three regulars, most notably Jr. Ben Booker.

The pitching staff returns mostly intact, led by preseason All-American closer Nick Cassavechia. Cassavechia was 2nd in the Big 12 last year with 11 saves, while maintaining a 3.12 ERA with 72 strikeouts over 52 innings. The starting pitching should consist of returning starters So. Kendall Volz (6-2 in 2007), So. Wade Mackey (4-3) and Sr. Randal Linebaugh (3-5), as well as So. Willie Kempf. The biggest question for Baylor will be the ability of redshirt freshman Shawn Tolleson. Tolleson is expected to be a bigtime contributor for the Bears after fully recovering from Tommy John Surgery.

The Bears finished the 2007 season 35-27 (12-15). Their first game is on February 22nd against Purdue.

KANSAS
Last season's Kansas team finished the year 28-30 (9-17), on par with what many predicted for the Jayhawks. This year's team should finish close to the same as the previous year's.

Kansas still has some bright spots leftover from the previous campaign. Returning for the Jayhawks is Brooks Wallace nominee, Sr. John Allman. Allman controlled left field lasst year while hitting .333. Returning with him are a pair of starting brothers in So. 2b Robby Price and Sr. C/OF Ryne Price, sons of Head Coach Ritchie Price. The elder of the Price brothers should see significant success after hitting .270 with 10 home runs as a junior. Sr. SS Erik Morrison, a Pirate's draft pick, also returns after hitting .296 in 2007.

On the pitching front, Kansas brings back 3/4ths of their starting pitching from 2007. Jr. Andy Marks (5-6, 91 strikeouts), So. Wally Marcial (5-3) and Jr. Nick Czyz (4-8) should carry the bulk of the weekend innings, while Sr. Andres Esquibel (7-3) and Jr. Paul Smyth (3-4, 7 saves) lead from the bullpen.

KANSAS STATE
Kansas State is potentially primed to have one of their best seasons since joining the Big 12 thanks to the amount of experience they return on the field in 2008. Back is the Wildcats' top hitter and top pitcher. Led at the plate by Jr. Byron Wiley, who hit .366 last year with 7 home runs, both tops for Kansas State in 2007. Taking charge on the mound is preseason 1st team All-American closer Daniel Edwards, a junior who notched 11 saves in 23 appearances as a sophomore.

Kansas State also returns many of their top position players. Jr. Nate Tenbrink, a 3 year starter, remains the 3rd baseman, while Jr. Rob Vaughn will continue to lead the defense from behind the plate. So. Adam Muenster put up big numbers in Manhattan during his freshman season, hitting .294 with 20 RBIs.

On the pitching front, Kansas State returns their top two starters, to go along with Edwards. Brad Hutt, a senior, bring a resume that includes a 9-4 record in 2007 with a 3.07 ERA to boot. Sr. Chase Bayuk will be the #2, after going 5-6 last season in 14 starts.

After amassing a 34-24 record, including a 10-win conference season, Kansas State is set up to have their best season in since winning 13 of 26 Big 12 games in 2002.

More to come...