Who's In & Who's out

 

Liberty Baseball has fired it up back up for the fall portion of the 23 season.   Liberty's freshman have all made their way to campus as have the transfers that the Flames added.  This Liberty team will look different than years past as noted earlier in the Summer.  The lineup may lack star power in the form or known proven names like Betts, Hillier & Foster but it has the potential to be much deeper and offer versatility that I can't recall the program having in the past.  There are as many as 3 players (Hudson, Hurtzler & Troyer) that can legitimately be 2 way players.   A pleasant surprise addition to the roster was the return of Ty Germanowski who was able to use his COVID year.  Sophomore Garrett Horn who finished his stand out All American Freshman campaign with an arm injury is on a throwing program and is expected to transition to bullpens at some point in the fall in his rehab process.  By all accounts it sounds like he remains on track to return for the 23 season.    

First, let's take a look at the offensive side of things.  Gone are guys like Gulakowski, Orndorff, Hill, Mathieu & Aaron Anderson who were key contributors.  However, there is a slew of new guys including freshman, transfers & younger guys that are looking to increase their roles.  The offense looks much deeper and more versatile that the last couple years.  I have heard from multiple sources they came out swinging early and often and have looked very good so far.  Below are some individual updates. 

• Jaylen Guy has come out hot with 3 homeruns, a double & a single so far.  That's great news for Liberty as Guy is returning from TJ surgery and has always been an elite defender and plus baserunner.  If he's able to continue to swing the bat even close to this it's a huge development for the Flames.
• Gray Betts returns for his COVID year and has a homerun and double so far.  Betts will likely once again leadoff and pace the Flames lineup and be a steadying force at Catcher.
• Cole Hurtzler tore up the wood bat summer league and has a homerun and double so far as well. 
• Will Stewart is an Outfield transfer from UNC as noted earlier in the summer and he has notched a Homerun and double so far. 
• Camden Troyer is a Clemson transfer that could go both ways and has had lots of loud contact this Fall so far with multiple singles. 
• John Simmons graduated high school early and announced fairly late in the Summer he would be joining the Flames.  He has 2 double's thus far and has looked the part.  
• Todd Hudson was one of the key pieces of the high school recruiting class out of South Carolina that has 4 hits including a double so far.  He has slotted in the Outfield so far.  
• Three Hillier is back after a break out 2022 campaign that saw him become a key piece in the lineup as he transitioned to LF.  He has 4 hits and a double so far.  
• Ryan Shieh is the talented sophomore catcher who struggled to make much of an impact in 17 AB's as a true freshman but was highly regarded coming.  He has 4 hits including 2 doubles so far and offers a RH hitting catcher option. 
• Adrian Mcneal is a versatile middle infielder with speed that went 3 for 10 in limited action as a true freshman.  He has 4 hits and 2 doubles as well thus far.  
• Victor Castillo is a very highly regarded JUCO Outfielder that has come in and is slotting in at LF so far.  He has 3 hits including a double and could be one of the key cogs in the lineup from the LH side.  
• Cam Foster is back coming off a solid freshman campaign that saw him hit .265 with 6 homers and 40 RBI's.  Foster has bulked up and has 3 hits so far including a double.  He has been working at both SS & 3B thus far.  
• Kane Kepley is a true freshman that has showed some promise thus far, particularly with the glove.  He has flashed plus speed as well and offered good at bats.  He offers CF depth behind Guy which was another issue last year after Orndorff.  
• Canadian Jack Wheatley has looked solid as well with 4 singles at SS.  

The pitching staff is going to look different with guys like Adametz, Cumming, Alba & Hungate that played pretty big roles all moving on.  However, there are a lot of returners as well and new pieces that are coming in to fill out the staff.  

• We will start with Germanowski who has looked electric so far in 4 IP with 8 K's and 0 ER and most importantly just 1 walk.  If Germanowski can keep this up it will be hard to keep him out of the closer/stopper role.  93-96 mph velocity wise for Germ.  
• Nick Moran is a talented sophomore that came on strong late in the year before struggling a bit in his last couple outings.  He has looked good so far in 4 IP with 7 K's and 0 ER's.  He has been 90-94 from the LH side on the fastball.  
• Garrett Gainey is LH transfer from Winthrop that has went 4 2/3 IP so far with 5 K's and just 1 ER.  He has sat 89-92 and is right in the mix as a starter as well.  
• Trey Carter is back as well and has 4 K's in 4 IP.  He has been landing his slider and continues to make strides with filling up the zone.  He was filthy at times out of the bullpen last year but struggled in some starting opportunities.  
• Mikey Tepper is the Miss. State transfer that has been in the 96 to 97 mph range so far.  
• Cole Garrett has looked good as well but has not yet pitched in a scrimmage.  

Liberty will go Tuesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday this week before gearing up for the Fall Games against UNCW and VT which are on the 15th and 21st.  Game times have not yet been announced.

Stay tuned as I should have another update from this week's scrimmages next week.