With the upcoming 2015 WKU Baseball season one week away, WKUSports.com concludes its three-part season preview with analysis of the Hilltopper outfield. Read up on the WKU pitching staff and infield at the links below and get all your need-to-know information for the season by downloading the recently released 2015 WKU Baseball Media Guide.
2015 WKU Baseball Media Guide
Breaking Down The Pitching Staff
Sizing Up The Infield
Outfield
WKU loses two major outfield pieces (Regan Flaherty and David Simmons) from last year's unit that combined for 15 outfield assists but returns junior star Anderson Miller, who led WKU with a .335 batting average, .879 OPS, 40 runs scored, four triples and four outfield assists. Miller's breakout sophomore campaign led to Second Team All-SBC honors and an invitation to play in the Cape Cod League, where he played for the Wareham Gatemen in one of the nation's most elite summer leagues for college players. He's spent significant time in both left and right field early in his career but has the speed to be an option in center.
Competition will be the theme in the Hilltopper outfield in 2015 as Miller enters the season as the only apparent mainstay. Local product Trevor Lowe has made 63 starts in the outfield in his first two seasons on The Hill and senior Philip Diedrick brings a big arm and bat to the table as an option in right field. Sophomore Paul Murray saw limited action in the outfield as a rookie but gives WKU a powerful option in left, as does redshirt freshman Harrison Scanlon in either corner. Scanlon missed his rookie year with a meniscus injury but returns healthy with a strong, left-handed swing.
Newcomers Kaleb Duckworth and Zach Janes are expected to be in the mix as well for the Tops. Duckworth, the first Kentucky Mr. Baseball winner to play on The Hill, brings a unique combination of size, speed and power to the table both as a offensive and defensive presence. He batted .447 and stole 38 bases as a senior at Henderson County and led the state in home runs (11) and stolen bases (36) as a junior. Janes' speed will give WKU a weapon in centerfield and on the base paths - the Cleveland State College transfer stole 35 bases and rapped out 76 hits in two seasons prior to his arrival at WKU.
Myers and hitting coach Brendan Dougherty like to shuffle their options in the lineup and depth will certainly be at their disposal when it comes to the outfield in 2015. With an even number (4) of left-handed and right-handed hitters in the outfield, expect plenty of pieces contribute as matchup plays.
How to follow the Tops: Go behind the scenes and get all your need-to-know information on WKU Baseball by following the program on Twitter and Instagram at @WKUBaseball.
