Paul Suellentrop breaks down the WSU baseball team

Senior Bob Arens will start Friday’s opener with junior transfer Ryan Tinkham waiting. Tinkham underwent shoulder surgery last spring and did not throw until practice started in January.

Coach Todd Butler likes his recent progress and he will probably catch at least one game this weekend. When Tinkham doesn’t catch, his bat makes him a candidate to DH.

Freshmen Taylor Sanagorski and Gunnar Troutwine are available.

“Sanagorski can really hit for a freshman,” Butler said. “We need to work him in there.”

First base will rotate among two-way players such as Sam Hilliard and Willie Schwanke, both of whom hit left-handed and will pitch. Hilliard, a junior transfer, could be WSU’s top source of power and is an above-average runner.

“He’s definitely the big, physical first baseman we need over there,” junior outfielder Daniel Kihle said. “He’s got power. He’s a pretty good average guy.”

Newcomer Jordan Farris will start at second base and junior returner Tanner Kirk is at shortstop, where he started 27 games last season. He hit .243 in 39 games and improved his footwork and concentration on defense.

“He’s calmer,” Butler said. “Last year, he would miss pick signs or not know what pitch was being thrown. But his toughness always stood out to me. He’ll be a tough out at the plate.”

Junior transfer Chase Rader will play third base after earning NJCAA All-American honors at Coffeyville Community College, where he hit .434 with 14 home runs and 47 steals.

Junior Tanner Dearman, who can play infield and outfield, is sidelined for at least the first weekend with a high ankle sprain. The injury robs Butler of his preferred lead-off hitter and disruptive force on the bases. Dearman stole a team-leading 20 bases last season and Butler expects more.

Butler likes his speed in the outfield, even without Dearman. Redshirt freshman Michael Burns will lead off and play center field. Kihle is scheduled to play left and bat third after hitting .313 with three home runs and 12 doubles last season. He gained confidence after a summer in the Cape Cod League, where he played in the All-Star game and hit .261 with five home runs.

“That helped a lot, knowing that there aren’t too many pitchers out there I can’t get a hit off of,” he said.

Junior Mikel Mucha, who missed most of last season with a broken leg, is WSU’s best defensive outfielder. Transfer Zach Reding, a lefty, and Mucha will play right field. Reding’s bat makes him a candidate at first and DH.

“His bat is very important,” Butler said. “He can change the game with one swing.”

Sophomore Sam Tewes will start Friday and considers himself healthy after a strained elbow shortened his summer in the Cape Cod League. He went 8-3 with a 3.27 ERA and is WSU’s only healthy returner who started a game last season.

“I’m definitely not going in with any fear of anything,” he said. “I feel 100-percent healthy and 100-percent confident.”

Junior transfer Isaac Anderson and Schwanke follow Tewes this weekend. Hilliard, a lefty, is scheduled to start Tuesday at Oral Roberts.

Butler made adding power arms a priority in his recruiting class and wants that show up in the bullpen. Transfer John Hayes is a candidate to close, but tendinitis in his elbow may sideline him early in the season. Freshman Taylor Goshen, who throws 88-93 mph with a slider and changeup, will get the first shot to finish games.

“One day he threw 15 pitches and threw 15 strikes,” Butler said. “That’s really outstanding to see a freshman with his makeup. He wants the ball and he wants to go get them.”

Paul Suellentrop

This story was originally published February 12, 2015 at 4:24 PM with the headline "Paul Suellentrop breaks down the WSU baseball team."