Throughout the season, we'll present a weekly wrap-up of some of the biggest stories in University of Evansville Baseball. Today, with the season just days away, we're going to catch up with some of the top storylines in preseason practice.

 

LEADING OFF: This year's team will have a decidedly local flair.

After a couple years of Korbin Williams standing alone the only southern Indiana product on the roster, he'll be joined this season by three freshman in Lincoln City's Kenton Crews, Princeton's David Ellis and Jasper's Craig Shepherd.

Williams, a Castle High School graduate like UE head coach Wes Carroll, is entering his junior year for the Aces after enjoying a productive year in terms of power a season ago. An everyday right fielder for UE, he hit .268 for the season with 25 extra-base hits and tied for the team high in homers with 10, which more than tripled his total as a sophomore.

Crews, meanwhile, will join the team from Heritage Hills High School after an all-state caliber senior season in both baseball and football. Following the year, he was named the MVP of the Indiana High School All-Star series.

"I really think Kenton is going to have a bright future for us," Carroll said. "He's going to be in the mix for us in the outfield, and it's nice to see a kid who comes in and works as hard as he does. It's great to see a local product contribute in the way that I think he will for us this season."

Shepherd is the first of two Jasper players that have committed their future to the Aces, and he'll be joined next year by Evan Aders, who signed for the Aces back in the fall. Ellis is another outstanding athlete, having starred for Princeton on both the baseball diamond and with their sectional champion tennis team.

 

ON DECK: Outfield depth will be a strength.

Led by Williams, the Aces will bring back three outfielders from a season ago. Williams was a regular power threat in the Aces line-up, and Carroll is excited about the strides that he's made since the end of last season on his route to becoming a more well-rounded hitter.

"I think Korbin is really set up for a good year," Carroll explained. "He's doing a much better job with pitch recognition so far this spring. I think he realizes the weaknesses that he's had in his game, and he's really worked hard at it. I'm anxious to see the reward for that work ethic because I think he's attacked it the right way. We're going to need him to continue to be an offensive force in the line-up behind Trey Hair, and I expect big things out of him."

Nate Reeder will also be returning after hitting .198 a season ago, and Matt Jones, who boasted of a .366 on-base mark in 23 contests, will be aiming to increase his playing time as well.

"It's been a competitive battle since the fall for center field," Carroll said. "We have a little bit of flexibility with a lefty in Nate and a righty in Kenton. Nate has the ability to play all three outfield spots, and with Kenton in center, that could give us a great defensive outfield when we need it."

The prowess of the two is especially important for the occasions when the left fielder may not offer the same kind of defensive ability.

"We have an opportunity to get some different bats for us in left field with Brendan Krob, Matthew Jones and Dalton Horstmeier," Carroll said. "Having that kind of quality will let us help match up better with the pitching staffs that will get thrown our way. With Kenton and Nate's abilities to go gap-to-gap, they are going to be able to help cover in left as well. That's especially important in a place like Braun Stadium. It's going to be crucial for our center fielder to be a leader out there."

 

IN THE HOLE: Replacing Boomer Synek will be key.

One of the biggest burning questions about this Aces team may be in its ability to replace a unique talent like Boomer Synek behind the plate. The Pirates farmhand experienced an incredible season on both offense and defense a year ago, hitting .341 while tying for the team lead in walks at the plate. He also created 32 outs on the base paths, picking off 13 runners while catching another 19 attempting to steal.

"We have to attack replacing Boomer with our depth," Carroll explained. "I feel like we have three catchers that can come together to recoup some of those numbers. Offensively, we're going to try to find a way to get all three of their bats in the line-up."

Travis Tokarek, a junior that was used mostly as a pinch hitter and designated hitter a year ago, is back after posting a .404 on-base mark last season. He's joined by highly-touted newcomers in Andrew Tanous and Krob.

Tanous, a transfer out of Fort Scott CC, hit .397 last season with 68 runs batted in. Meanwhile, Krob comes in after hitting .408 for Argo High School earning a top-10 ranking in Illinois at his position from Prep Baseball Report.

"Defensively, Andrew has done a really good job of working with our pitchers, and I think he can come in and give us a chance behind the dish," Carroll said. "Boomer's ability to pick off runners was very unique and even earned some recognition nationally for what he was able to do. Tanous has a great arm and good release, but he's not going to be bringing those kind of middle-infield instincts back there. That said, with a veteran second baseman in Trey Hair, I wouldn't be surprised to see some back picks called for this season."

"Travis and Brendan both have dynamic bats that we will need for us to succeed as an offensive unit," Carroll continued. "We may move Krob to left at times, and the DH role could be a floating position between all three. I have to say, I love having three catchers on my roster because it creates so much more flexibility, especially in terms of pinch-hitting and getting people in their positions. It really helps to have multiple people you can trust to be successful behind the plate."

 

CLEANING UP: UE will own a talented bench.

With so much depth in the outfield and catcher, the Aces will be hoping that it translates into a talented bench throughout the season, not only for potential pinch-hitting and defensive replacements, but also in the case of an injury.

"This is one of the stronger benches that we've had in my time here," Carroll revealed. "I think we're very deep. In the past few years, we've learned what it takes to succeed in the Valley in the regular season and in the tournament. We need depth in the pitching staff, which I think we have, and versatility and depth from our position players. Injuries happen, and we have a lot of guys that can play multiple positions for us. That will let us go with the hot bat at any given point in the season, and that's big for us."

 

FINAL OUT: UE is on track for more Major League representation.

It's been a few years since a UE product made a name for himself in the Major Leagues, but that streak may come to an end in the coming months as four Aces have inched ever closer to a trip to the big leagues.

Perhaps no one is closer than 2014 first-round pick Kyle Freeland, who finished last season with the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes. A Denver native, the southpaw is rated as one of the top prospects in the Colorado Rockies organization. In his time in Albuquerque, he made 12 starts, posting a 3.91 earned run average while striking out 57 batters and to just 19 walks. Known for his command of the strike zone, many baseball publications expect Freeland to battle for the fifth spot in the Rockies rotation when Spring Training gets under way.

Freeland isn't the only Ace with an invite to big league camp as Eric Stamets is back with the Cleveland Indians after splitting time between Triple-A Columbus and Double-A Akron a year ago. The Dublin, Ohio, native and 2012 draftee hit .237 last season over the course of 85 games. He's also earned a reputation for his defensive ability, posting a career .975 fielding percentage in the minors.

Kyle Lloyd, who spent all of last season with the Double-A San Antonio Missions within the San Diego Padres organization, tossed 130.1 innings a year ago, going 7-7 with a 3.31 ERA. 

Kevin Kaczmarski will also be looking to jump up to Double-A. A 2015 draftee, he hit .301 with a .383 on-base mark in 42 games with the Advanced-A St. Lucie Mets.

"We have a lot of Aces knocking on the door, and hopefully, we'll have some break through for us this year," Carroll said. "I'm really proud of how these guys represent the University of Evansville and our baseball program. It's a credit to the coaching staffs that we've had here over the years, going back to Marc Wagner and Josh Reynolds up to now with Cody Fick and Jake Mahon. They've all done a great job on the recruiting trail to get kids in here and then develop them into the players they became on the way to hearing their name in the draft."

Jamey Carroll, the brother of the current Aces coach, was the last UE player to suit up in the majors. A 12-year pro with six different organizations, the Newburgh native retired after spending the 2013 campaign with the Kansas City Royals. Other pro Aces include Sal Fasano and Andy Benes, who retired in 2008 and 2002, respectively, as well as Rob Maurer, who played for the Rangers in 1992.

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