ASU Baseball 2025

[AZCB34]

Some proven power for next season.

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[SeattleCardinal]

Devils should score; hopefully some pitching help coming too.

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[SeattleCardinal]

Nice portal rank so far.

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[AZCB34]

Nice portal rank so far.

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They are gonna score runs but where is the pitching?

 

[SeattleCardinal]

They are gonna score runs but where is the pitching?

There are quite a few arms coming back, including of course, Cole Carlon. Hopefully some of those guys improve. It does seem like another solid starter would be good, though, at a minimum.

 

[AZCB34]

There are quite a few arms coming back, including of course, Cole Carlon. Hopefully some of those guys improve. It does seem like another solid starter would be good, though, at a minimum.

I’m not sure that is a wise strategy if that is what Willie and staff are actually thinking…hoping guys improve who are returning. I’m hoping guys like Halvorson and Schaefer, among others, go play summer ball and they find something and return being able to take their elite arms up a notch or two.

They are bringing in Colby Guy plus 4 freshman arms. The problem is it’s tough to bring in good pitchers without a decent bag and I’m not sure what the ASU collective can manage for baseball. Additionally you have, currently, a lame duck manager as well. That doesn’t help.

I would like to see competition and force guys to earn their opportunities. I think they have been missing that. Given all the position players they are bringing in plus the returning guys plus a couple I think might not get drafted and return and there will be plenty of competition in the field. Give me that in the pitching staff

 

[Mainstreet]

ASU has a transfer pitcher incoming, RHP Colby Guy.

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[SeattleCardinal]

And another arm (potential starter)

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[AZCB34]

Current list of incoming transfers:

Kole Klecher (P) TCU
Colby Guy (P)-UNC-Asheville
George Bilecki (OF)- Lewis University
Dominic Longo (SS/3B) Utah Valley
Mathew Polk (OF) Vandy
Dean Tiogu (IF) UNLV
Garrett McMichael 1B VaTech
Austin Roelig 3B Utah
Coen Niclai C Oregon
Dominic Smaldino 1B/DH CAL
PJ Moutzouridis SS CAL
Alex Overbay P UNLV

I would expect a few more guys to be brought in and I would expect those to be pitchers

 

[SeattleCardinal]

Current list of incoming transfers:

Kole Klecher (P) TCU
Colby Guy (P)-UNC-Asheville
George Bilecki (OF)- Lewis University
Dominic Longo (SS/3B) Utah Valley
Mathew Polk (OF) Vandy
Dean Tiogu (IF) UNLV
Garrett McMichael 1B VaTech
Austin Roelig 3B Utah
Coen Niclai C Oregon
Dominic Smaldino 1B/DH CAL
PJ Moutzouridis SS CAL
Alex Overbay P UNLV

I would expect a few more guys to be brought in and I would expect those to be pitchers

PJ Moutzouridis is supposed to be very good, especially on defense - I am looking forward to seeing him next year at SS.

 

[AZCB34]

Updated portal transfers:

Kole Klecher (P) TCU
Colby Guy (P)-UNC-Asheville
George Bilecki (OF)- Lewis University
Dominic Longo (SS/3B) Utah Valley
Mathew Polk (OF) Vandy
Dean Tiogu (IF) UNLV
Garrett McMichael 1B VaTech
Austin Roelig 3B Utah
Coen Niclai C Oregon
Dominic Smaldino 1B/DH CAL
PJ Moutzouridis SS CAL
Alex Overbay P UNLV
Nick Anello P Jacksonville
Taylor Penn P WKU
Brady Louck P Florida State

Added 4 more pitchers plus I understand 7 freshman arms are slated to come in but the draft may change that number

Some speculation ASU is working on a CF from USC who entered portal very late in the process

 

[SeattleCardinal]

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[SeattleCardinal]

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[AZCB34]

George Bilecki was drafted in 12th round so I wonder what that does to his transfer. Seems a good enough draft position but what is that slot value and does he think playing another year at a higher collegiate level will improve his draft stock?

 

[Mainstreet]

Here is where ASU draftees were selected.

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[SeattleCardinal]

Such underachievement last season, given the talent Bloomquist and Co. had to work with.

 

[AZCB34]

Such underachievement last season, given the talent Bloomquist and Co. had to work with.

I think this last year was a bit of an underachievement but the number of draft picks doesn’t tell the story. Elsewhere, I said I think observations like yours shows a lack of fundamental analysis of why guys are drafted. So let’s break this down:

Compton - he had a bad year given the expectations surrounding him. In fact it was so bad that it not for measurables and hope, I could make the argument he should have gone undrafted.

Ben Jacobs - at times this year he looked the part and then he was prone, not just to giving up a run or two, but blowing up and blowing leads. He throws hard and he is a lefty so he is getting drafted no matter what and if he can somehow get it together he might be something good but he hurt the Devils a fair amount. Again, production didn’t come close to expectations.

Martinez - another dude who looked really good at times and then would give up a crazy crooked number. He pitched better than Jacobs imo

Lucas Kelly - expected to be a big bullpen arm, he was like the rest of the bullpen save Carlon. Wildly inconsistent. Throws hard and throwing hard is enough to get drafted.

Koger - another hard thrower who could not control his pitches, went from closer to doghouse in record time and sub devil fans far and wide were done with him blowing leads. Throw hard you get drafted.

Vu - very good year but missed a bunch of time due to injury. He will be missed.

Matt King - phenomenal year. Deserved to be drafted

Kyle Walker - very good year. His fielding is shaky at times and that cost the Devils in a couple of games. He has some holes and tendencies at the plate that will be exploited by professional pitchers if he doesn’t get coached properly

Jackson - great year (first couple weeks were shaky) great defender and deserved to be drafted.

All talented but most of them cost the Devils wins that lead to the underachieving season. Most of these guys were drafted for projection purposes (hope).

Not giving Willie a pass for his role in the underachievement because he and the coaches are not without blame

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I think this last year was a bit of an underachievement but the number of draft picks doesn’t tell the story. Elsewhere, I said I think observations like yours shows a lack of fundamental analysis of why guys are drafted. So let’s break this down:

Compton - he had a bad year given the expectations surrounding him. In fact it was so bad that it not for measurables and hope, I could make the argument he should have gone undrafted.

Ben Jacobs - at times this year he looked the part and then he was prone, not just to giving up a run or two, but blowing up and blowing leads. He throws hard and he is a lefty so he is getting drafted no matter what and if he can somehow get it together he might be something good but he hurt the Devils a fair amount. Again, production didn’t come close to expectations.

Martinez - another dude who looked really good at times and then would give up a crazy crooked number. He pitched better than Jacobs imo

Lucas Kelly - expected to be a big bullpen arm, he was like the rest of the bullpen save Carlon. Wildly inconsistent. Throws hard and throwing hard is enough to get drafted.

Koger - another hard thrower who could not control his pitches, went from closer to doghouse in record time and sub devil fans far and wide were done with him blowing leads. Throw hard you get drafted.

Vu - very good year but missed a bunch of time due to injury. He will be missed.

Matt King - phenomenal year. Deserved to be drafted

Kyle Walker - very good year. His fielding is shaky at times and that cost the Devils in a couple of games. He has some holes and tendencies at the plate that will be exploited by professional pitchers if he doesn’t get coached properly

Jackson - great year (first couple weeks were shaky) great defender and deserved to be drafted.

All talented but most of them cost the Devils wins that lead to the underachieving season. Most of these guys were drafted for projection purposes (hope).

Not giving Willie a pass for his role in the underachievement because he and the coaches are not without blame

I’m glad you included the last paragraph because it’s important. The fact that so many were drafted means professional talent evaluators see the tools. But these are kids. The tools are meaningless without great coaching. If there were so many toolsy guys that were erratic or underperformed, where should the scrutiny be? I mean, it could be that they’re all uncoachable or all unable to fully maximize their talent, or all on the beginning phase of reaching their potential, but I think you also have to take a hard look at those tasked with getting them where their tools should take them. Not saying can Willie, but having this many drafted does cause a question mark for me on the staff.

 

[AZCB34]

I’m glad you included the last paragraph because it’s important. The fact that so many were drafted means professional talent evaluators see the tools. But these are kids. The tools are meaningless without great coaching. If there were so many toolsy guys that were erratic or underperformed, where should the scrutiny be? I mean, it could be that they’re all uncoachable or all unable to fully maximize their talent, or all on the beginning phase of reaching their potential, but I think you also have to take a hard look at those tasked with getting them where their tools should take them. Not saying can Willie, but having this many drafted does cause a question mark for me on the staff.

Maybe that should have been the first paragraph.

What seems to be clear is Willie and company can bring in and generally coach up position players. The hole is the plan is pitching. They have issues bringing in pitching and I wonder if that is because pitching costs more. Also new pitching coach last year…perhaps another year with him we’ll see some improvement.

It’ll be an interesting year for Willie