2023 Off-season and Portal Recruiting

[WuDrWu]

Payton Tolle was named Big12 Preseason Newcomer of the Year.


When will the pain end?

[pogo]

I will say the pain ends when the new coaching staff develops players and are once again successful on the field. I'm also sure that the word "If" can also be applied but I will hope to believe in "When". Go Shocks

[1972Shocker]

RH: Wichita State Baseball Opens Practice (Focus on Jaden Gustafson)

Painful, as well as necessary and helpful is how Jaden Gustafson describes his first at-bat in college.

"I was put in a lot of situations that were built to help me grow," he said. "I struck out on three pitches, and I realized how rushed I was and how excited and how I couldn't calm my nerves."

As a freshman, he pinch-hit in the ninth inning at Long Beach State with the Shockers up 5-4, two outs, and a runner on second base. He struck out swinging and the Shockers lost 6-5.

"I thought I was fine," he said. "As soon as I got in the box, my eyes were bouncing up and down. My heart rate is going 100 mph. It was a hard moment. I learned from that."

The Shockers begin full practices on Friday with new coach Brian Green. His observation is that Gustafson, an outfielder from Maize High, indeed learned from 2023 and is prepared to grab a prominent role.

"I think he's turning himself into a prospect," Green said. "He's changed his swing. His balance is different. He is a guy we expect to have a very big season."

Green and his coaching staff didn't look at video for the Shocker returners. They wanted to start fall practices with a clean slate and give them time before diving into changes.

"When we get to November and we've got a little bit more of a relationship with the guys, you feel like trust is built up a little bit more, it's 'Here's what you need to do,'" Green said. "I think it's paying off. We made big strides."

Gustafson straightened up his posture and he flattened his swing with the aim of limiting strikeouts and hitting line drives. Over the holiday break, each Shocker took home three drills to work on off a tee.

"Mine was all about extension in my launch position and keeping my posture upright," he said. "It gives me more of an opportunity to hit that inside pitch."

Shocker coaches are happy to see home runs, but they don't want to make upper-cuts and launch angles too much of an emphasis.

"We don't want to be one-dimensional," Green said. "The old-school piece of us is that balance. Be flat at the top of the zone, because that's where everybody is working right now, and when it's at the bottom swing up."

Gustafson saw his work pay off during a fall scrimmage at Dallas Baptist in which he doubled and walked as part of a 1-for-3 day.

"Every pitch adjustment, I felt like I knew what was coming and I felt like I knew what I could hit," he said. "That game gave me a lot of confidence, because they're a great program. Every arm that came out I think I was able to compete with."

[WuDrWu]

Not saying it's on Jaden, but RF is one of the real question marks coming into the season imho. Personally, I'm not sold on CF but it appears that position is settled among those who matter. We need solid, mistake free defense, and offensive production from RF. Jaden needs to hit for average, and power, and use his speed. We need that to be successful as a team I believe.

[Kung Wu]

Payton Tolle was named Big12 Preseason Newcomer of the Year.


When will the pain end?

[Kung Wu]

Not saying it's on Jaden, but RF is one of the real question marks coming into the season imho. Personally, I'm not sold on CF but it appears that position is settled among those who matter. We need solid, mistake free defense, and offensive production from RF. Jaden needs to hit for average, and power, and use his speed. We need that to be successful as a team I believe.

Can you project a starting lineup?

[WuDrWu]

Can you project a starting lineup?

Not really, poor health kept me from Friday and Saturday and yesterday all I had in me was basketball. Nevertheless, you asked and I'll give it a whirl:


Don't hold me to any of this, I will try to give reasons where I can. Also, with all the new guys, I am confusing in my mind a couple of kids and if I mix them up, sue me. It's just the way my brain works (or more accurately, doesn't work).


CF I'm guessing they go with Derek Williams (and my first mixup problem, as it might be Dayvin Johnson...I can't get them straight in my head). His technique needed work in the fall, imho, but he seems to be the guy every time they go out.
1B Ryan Callahan can really hit. Gotta think he's 2 or 3 in the lineup. Might even lead off.
3B I'll guess Josh Livingston at 3rd (could DH too). And if I mixed up he and Ryan, my apologies. They both can hit, wherever they play.
RF Seth Stroh - If Seth can get in a groove at the plate, the sky is the limit. Uber talented physical specimen needs to put everything together this spring.
C Mauricio Millan - The most set position. Plus receiver, good arm, decent bat. Birge will get the occasional start to spell Mo or if we need a LH bat there.
2B Jordan Rogers - Overachiever type likely gets first shot. Really good at the plate 2 seasons ago but struggled a bit last year. A couple of freshmen could push him for time if he struggles.
DH This is likely wide open. I'll put Alex Birge here. But he will catch occasionally and could even play 3rd as well. Has some pop at the plate.
LF Assume Jaden Gustafson gets first crack at left. Could be a monster. Grew up a lot in the last 18 months I think.
SS Darnell Parker Jr - Slick fielding freshman, and I do mean slick (he will make jaw dropping plays in the field), seems most likely at short. Needs to learn to hit and that's going to be a problem based on what I saw in the fall.

Fr. Kam Durnin impressed me before getting dinged up in the fall. It wouldn't bother me one bit to see him at 3rd if healthy (or frankly anywhere he's comfortable). Looks like a winner to me.

I hate not putting Will Stark in the every day lineup but after being off a year, I just don't know where he fits. I hope he gets a shot because he's a gamer and a great kid.

Juco transfer Brayden Luikart is likely going to get a chance somewhere eventually, if he doesn't see play on day 1.

I'm hoping Fr. Holden Pantier gets a chance somewhere. I think he's got a lot of upside and he seems like a gamer and a winner to me. I love the way he goes about his business.





Rotation:

I have to think hard throwing freshman Tommy LaPour is going to be in the mix. He could be a great closer, but I'm guessing we'll need him as a starter. Can't teach mid to upper 90s.

In a perfect world, we'd be better off with Caden Favors pitching a lot out of the pen, but I don't think we'll have that luxury. He's needed as a starter.

TBH, things start to get dicey after Tommy. I'll go with Michael Mulhollon as another rotation guy. Pelf was high on his upside and that's more than good enough for me.

Daniel Zang was really good in the fall. His delivery seems more suited to a relief role, but he was sneaky fast (touched 95 in the fall) and if that's the case, you kind of have to roll him out there and see what happens.

I've heard some good things about Fr LHP Tyler Dobbs. Wouldn't be surprised to see him get a shot.


Ryan Geraghty and Brady Hamilton, both Fr, have big arms and could help starting or out of the pen...or struggle to find the plate. Tough to tell with Fr but they are both very, very talented. Forget to add Jeremiah Arnett. Another talented freshman.



Relief....seriously, who knows? I assume Nate Adler will get some chances. Velo is up and he's at least been out there, plus he's sharp as hell. I imagine Wilky gets a shot. Anyone else would be nothing more than a pure guess. Just so many unknowns at this point.

[Kung Wu]

Wow, perfect. I can start focusing on these players since there are so many new faces to learn!

[1972Shocker]

RH: Podcast With Gavin Oswald, Derek Williams On Shocker Baseball

https://goshockers.com/news/2024/1/31/the-roundhouse-rh-podcast-with-gavin-oswald-derek-williams-on-shocker-baseball.aspx

Wichita State pitcher Gavin Oswald and outfielder/first baseman Derek Williams met at age 8 playing baseball in the St. Louis area. They are reunited as newcomers with the Shockers.

We talk about Oswald's custom-made spikes, why he hates facing teammate Jaden Gustafson and how Oswald and Williams journeyed to Wichita State.

Williams explains why he operates with such a positive attitude and Oswald describes what it's like to play baseball for the Savannah Bananas.

Oswald is a junior from Lafayette, Mo. He spent the past two seasons with Mineral Area College, where he went 12-3 with a 4.21 ERA.

Williams is a junior from St. Louis. He hit .322 with 18 doubles and 16 home runs at Florida SouthWestern State College.

The Shockers are in their first week of practices. They open the season at Little Rock on Feb. 16. They open the home schedule the first weekend of March against Utah Tech.

[WuDrWu]

Derek said to watch Gavin (big lefty, buddy, probably had to) but also freshman Ryan Geraghty whom he described as nasty. Ton of break. Hitter to look out for is Gannon Snyder (St Louis guy) who has made strides in and since the fall. Gannon is the one in the mullet, which they discussed at length.

Gavin will be wearing Steph Curry cleats, custom, only one in college baseball (got 'em from basketball, size 17, and added cleats. Hopes they're back by game 1). Gavin said Jaden was a hitter to watch. Hates to face Jaden. Good zone. Apparently Jaden hits Gavin hard. As for a pitcher, also mentioned Ryan but then mentioned Caleb Anderson. Too short, not a D1 athlete, but grinds, fights and has good stuff. Thinks he'll help out of the pen (but mentioned if you read between the lines that the lack of physical talent may work against him). Obviously a good teammate.

Gavin seems sharp, great attitude and sense of humor. Very likeable but then most of baseball is like that. Great kids.


Paul does such a great job with these interviews. It's great to get to know the student athletes this way.

[1972Shocker]

Gavin seems sharp, great attitude and sense of humor. Very likeable but then most of baseball is like that. Great kids.

Paul does such a great job with these interviews. It's great to get to know the student athletes this way.

Agreed. I thought both Derek and Gavin were sharp with great attitudes. Agree about their likeability.

[WstateU]

[1972Shocker]

[1972Shocker]

Wow, perfect. I can start focusing on these players since there are so many new faces to learn!

Friday is looking the best weather-wise with high temps of 64 and winds out of the SW at 15 mph.

Saturdays forecast high is 49 with NNE winds at 12 mph. Chilly but bearable.

My prediction for Sunday is the scrimmage will be cancelled. High of 38, winds NNE 16 mph, 50% chance of snow.

There it is proof of climate change.

[Kung Wu]

Oof, I need to make it to one of these.