The Shockers start practice Monday and I’m not sure anybody knows what to expect. I watched about four innings of a senior-led scrimmage on Thursday. There are so many new faces not even the players know everybody’s name.
Everybody knows a lot of positions are open this spring. That’s a stark contrast the to last fall, when little suspense existed. Some of the positions have logical leaders. I’m not sure that is true for the pitching rotation, other than sophomore Tim Kelley.
- Pitcher/3B Grant Muncrief had surgery on his right wrist earlier this month. He won’t throw until mid-October, after fall practice.
- Second baseman WIll Baez hit a laser out to straight-away center, a shot that impressed everybody at Eck Stadium. He also made a nice defensive play earlier in scrimmage, lunging to knock down a hot grounder and staying with the ricochet to get the runner at first base.
- When the defense didn’t hustle off the field up to WSU standards, the upperclassmen made them get out of the dugout, return to their positions and try it again.
- One more invited walk-on is lefty pitcher Josh Smith, a freshman from Pleasant Hill, Mo. Smith was second-team All-Class 3 as an outfielder as a senior. Several others are trying to walk on, including former Bishop Carroll and Cloud County infielder Taylor Gilmore.