Photo by: Charlie Blalock
Baseball 2022 Season Preview: Infielders
2/10/2022 10:14:00 AM | Baseball
HUNTSVILLE – If the Sam Houston Bearkats want to reach their ultimate goals in 2022, much of it is going to depend on an experienced group of infielders who should provide big dividends this season.
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Between shortstop Anthony MacKenzie, second basemen Brandon Pruitt and Easton Loyd, along with first baseman Christian Smith, the Kats return the bulk of their infield play from a year ago. All have made great strides offensively in the off-season and the Kats will be counting on those returning cogs to assume bigger and more productive roles in 2022.
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The Kats have high expectations for MacKenzie, a third-year sophomore who has shown flashes of the high-end potential that had him rated as one of the top available draft prospects in the Southland entering last season. He has been the Kats' primary shortstop for the past two seasons, starting 48 games there a year ago.
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The switch-hitter finished with 10 stolen bases and six extra-base hits last year, but will be looked to play an even bigger role this year. He could be paired up at any time with Brandon Pruitt, Easton Loyd or Myles Jefferson up the middle, all of whom bring experience to the roster this year.
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Pruitt did not break into the 2021 lineup until mid-March, but was an impact player nearly every time he stepped on the field, reaching base successfully in 10 of 12 starts at second base. He scored 11 times for the year with three multi-hit games and made just one miscue in the field in his final 12 appearances.
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Meanwhile, Loyd was one of the pleasant surprises of the 2021 season, making an impact on multiple fronts as a true freshman. He started 30 games at second base, serving as the Kats' primary player at that spot for the bulk of the season.
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With a left-handed bat, speed and sure glove, Loyd also demonstrated a flare for the dramatic in his rookie campaign with a game-winning RBI single early in the year against Northwestern State and a number of key plays as the season progressed.
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Jefferson is also an intriguing add as he joins the club with speed and an able bat, along with the ability to play either spot up the middle. He comes to the Kats with experience on the collegiate level, spending three seasons Odessa College where he played in 70 total games during his career, hitting over .300 each of his last two years.
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On the corners the Kats have a number of options as well with names such as Christian Smith, Luke Repka, Hunter Autrey or even Tyler Davis likely to see time at first base, while newcomer Justin Wishkoski and Repka will be looked at to hold down the hot corner.
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Smith has been a mainstay in the lineup for the past two seasons as one of the Kats' top right-handed bats, filling in primarily at first base and designated hitter. He started 31 of 33 games played a year ago, missing nearly a month on the field early in the year to injury. He is likely to be one of the Kats' first options at first base this year, and as a senior could be poised for a breakout campaign.
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Repka is entering his fourth year with the program provides a steady left-handed option at both first and third base for the Kats, while Autrey joins the team after a stellar high school career at Corsicana High School and brings a left-handed bat that could make an immediate impact in the lineup this season.
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At third base the Kats are likely to look to Howard College transfer Justin Wishkoski in the early going. An experienced right-handed hitter from one of the top JuCo programs in the country, Wishkoski put up great numbers for the Hawks a year ago, hitting .373 with 37 RBI, 22 stolen bases and 68 runs scored in just 47 games.
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Another intriguing option is Davis, the Kats' Friday starter each of the past two seasons, who could see time in the lineup as well. A two-way player during both his prep career at Oak Ridge High School and at Panola College, Davis hit five home runs as a senior at ORHS and hit above .300 in 60 at-bats in his final year with the Ponies before joining Sam Houston.
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Between shortstop Anthony MacKenzie, second basemen Brandon Pruitt and Easton Loyd, along with first baseman Christian Smith, the Kats return the bulk of their infield play from a year ago. All have made great strides offensively in the off-season and the Kats will be counting on those returning cogs to assume bigger and more productive roles in 2022.
Â
The Kats have high expectations for MacKenzie, a third-year sophomore who has shown flashes of the high-end potential that had him rated as one of the top available draft prospects in the Southland entering last season. He has been the Kats' primary shortstop for the past two seasons, starting 48 games there a year ago.
Â
The switch-hitter finished with 10 stolen bases and six extra-base hits last year, but will be looked to play an even bigger role this year. He could be paired up at any time with Brandon Pruitt, Easton Loyd or Myles Jefferson up the middle, all of whom bring experience to the roster this year.
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Pruitt did not break into the 2021 lineup until mid-March, but was an impact player nearly every time he stepped on the field, reaching base successfully in 10 of 12 starts at second base. He scored 11 times for the year with three multi-hit games and made just one miscue in the field in his final 12 appearances.
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Meanwhile, Loyd was one of the pleasant surprises of the 2021 season, making an impact on multiple fronts as a true freshman. He started 30 games at second base, serving as the Kats' primary player at that spot for the bulk of the season.
Â
With a left-handed bat, speed and sure glove, Loyd also demonstrated a flare for the dramatic in his rookie campaign with a game-winning RBI single early in the year against Northwestern State and a number of key plays as the season progressed.
Â
Jefferson is also an intriguing add as he joins the club with speed and an able bat, along with the ability to play either spot up the middle. He comes to the Kats with experience on the collegiate level, spending three seasons Odessa College where he played in 70 total games during his career, hitting over .300 each of his last two years.
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On the corners the Kats have a number of options as well with names such as Christian Smith, Luke Repka, Hunter Autrey or even Tyler Davis likely to see time at first base, while newcomer Justin Wishkoski and Repka will be looked at to hold down the hot corner.
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Smith has been a mainstay in the lineup for the past two seasons as one of the Kats' top right-handed bats, filling in primarily at first base and designated hitter. He started 31 of 33 games played a year ago, missing nearly a month on the field early in the year to injury. He is likely to be one of the Kats' first options at first base this year, and as a senior could be poised for a breakout campaign.
Â
Repka is entering his fourth year with the program provides a steady left-handed option at both first and third base for the Kats, while Autrey joins the team after a stellar high school career at Corsicana High School and brings a left-handed bat that could make an immediate impact in the lineup this season.
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At third base the Kats are likely to look to Howard College transfer Justin Wishkoski in the early going. An experienced right-handed hitter from one of the top JuCo programs in the country, Wishkoski put up great numbers for the Hawks a year ago, hitting .373 with 37 RBI, 22 stolen bases and 68 runs scored in just 47 games.
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Another intriguing option is Davis, the Kats' Friday starter each of the past two seasons, who could see time in the lineup as well. A two-way player during both his prep career at Oak Ridge High School and at Panola College, Davis hit five home runs as a senior at ORHS and hit above .300 in 60 at-bats in his final year with the Ponies before joining Sam Houston.
Players Mentioned
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