Men’s basketball might not be the only Kansas University sport that relies on the maturation of juniors for success this year.
Baseball coach Bobby Randall is hoping increased contributions from a group of third-year offensive players help to lead the Jayhawks.
“Look what (Kirk) Hinrich, (Nick) Collison and (Drew) Gooden do as juniors,” Randall said. “I think the junior year is the big year for most guys, where they really mature and come into their own.”
The most experienced junior is Casey Spanish, who will play shortstop after spending the past two years at second base.
“It’s definitely something I’m looking forward to,” Spanish said of the move. “Whatever is best for our lineup and best for our team, I welcome it. I think it’s going to be a blast.”
Spanish’s double play partner will be his best friend and roommate, Ryan Baty. Although officially a sophomore, Baty will be in his third season with KU after redshirting last year with a dislocated shoulder.
“I don’t think there’s anybody hungrier to play than he is,” Randall said.
Junior Kevin Wheeler and senior Ryan Klocksien are expected to join Spanish and Baty in the infield. Wheeler, who played in 45 games last season and hit .295, will play first base and also pitch some for Kansas.
Klocksien will start at third for the Jayhawks. Last season, he led the team with a .321 batting average and was named second-team All-Big 12 for the second straight year.
Juniors will also man two of the three outfield positions. Sophomore Matt Tribble will play right field, while Jason Appuhn will shift from center to left to make room for transfer Lance Hayes. Appuhn finished second on last year’s squad with 23 stolen bases. With Appuhn, Hayes, Spanish, Baty and others, the Jayhawks have an extra weapon on the base paths.
“It opens up the game big time when you have somebody that can steal bases and the pitchers are worried about it and it really is a positive thing for hitters,” Spanish said. “It just opens up our whole offensive game. This year, that’s what we’re going to have to do a lot. We’re going to have to run a lot, steal bases and open things up for our hitters.”
Community college transfer Beau Thompson and freshman Cole Armstrong are expected to split time at catcher. No matter who is behind the plate, he’s likely to have an inexperienced pitcher to work with.
Although four seniors are expected to start for the Jayhawks, they’ve combined for just 28 career starts.
“The arms are there,” Randall said. “I think they’re unproven at this point, but I don’t think they’re untalented. I’d rather have talent without experience rather than experience without talent.”
Jeff Davis leads the quartet with 12 starts and is likely to begin the season as the Jayhawks’ No. 1 starter.
“This is the best shape I’ve ever been in and this is the most preparation I’ve ever put into a season,” the Lawrence native said. “I feel I’ve done everything I can and I just can’t wait for the season to get started.”
KU finished 26-30 overall and 7-23 in the Big 12 Conference last year and lost its staff ace and second- and third-best hitters. Spanish thinks this year’s team has the potential to sneak up on opponents.
“We’re looking forward to surprising a lot of people,” he said.
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Men’s basketball might not be the only Kansas University sport that relies on the maturation of juniors for success this year.
Baseball coach Bobby Randall is hoping increased contributions from a group of third-year offensive players help to lead the Jayhawks.
“Look what (Kirk) Hinrich, (Nick) Collison and (Drew) Gooden do as juniors,” Randall said. “I think the junior year is the big year for most guys, where they really mature and come into their own.”
The most experienced junior is Casey Spanish, who will play shortstop after spending the past two years at second base.
“It’s definitely something I’m looking forward to,” Spanish said of the move. “Whatever is best for our lineup and best for our team, I welcome it. I think it’s going to be a blast.”
Spanish’s double play partner will be his best friend and roommate, Ryan Baty. Although officially a sophomore, Baty will be in his third season with KU after redshirting last year with a dislocated shoulder.
“I don’t think there’s anybody hungrier to play than he is,” Randall said.
Junior Kevin Wheeler and senior Ryan Klocksien are expected to join Spanish and Baty in the infield. Wheeler, who played in 45 games last season and hit .295, will play first base and also pitch some for Kansas.
Klocksien will start at third for the Jayhawks. Last season, he led the team with a .321 batting average and was named second-team All-Big 12 for the second straight year.
Juniors will also man two of the three outfield positions. Sophomore Matt Tribble will play right field, while Jason Appuhn will shift from center to left to make room for transfer Lance Hayes. Appuhn finished second on last year’s squad with 23 stolen bases. With Appuhn, Hayes, Spanish, Baty and others, the Jayhawks have an extra weapon on the base paths.
“It opens up the game big time when you have somebody that can steal bases and the pitchers are worried about it and it really is a positive thing for hitters,” Spanish said. “It just opens up our whole offensive game. This year, that’s what we’re going to have to do a lot. We’re going to have to run a lot, steal bases and open things up for our hitters.”
Community college transfer Beau Thompson and freshman Cole Armstrong are expected to split time at catcher. No matter who is behind the plate, he’s likely to have an inexperienced pitcher to work with.
Although four seniors are expected to start for the Jayhawks, they’ve combined for just 28 career starts.
“The arms are there,” Randall said. “I think they’re unproven at this point, but I don’t think they’re untalented. I’d rather have talent without experience rather than experience without talent.”
Jeff Davis leads the quartet with 12 starts and is likely to begin the season as the Jayhawks’ No. 1 starter.
“This is the best shape I’ve ever been in and this is the most preparation I’ve ever put into a season,” the Lawrence native said. “I feel I’ve done everything I can and I just can’t wait for the season to get started.”
KU finished 26-30 overall and 7-23 in the Big 12 Conference last year and lost its staff ace and second- and third-best hitters. Spanish thinks this year’s team has the potential to sneak up on opponents.
“We’re looking forward to surprising a lot of people,” he said.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Men’s basketball might not be the only Kansas University sport that relies on the maturation of juniors for success this year.
Baseball coach Bobby Randall is hoping increased contributions from a group of third-year offensive players help to lead the Jayhawks.
“Look what (Kirk) Hinrich, (Nick) Collison and (Drew) Gooden do as juniors,” Randall said. “I think the junior year is the big year for most guys, where they really mature and come into their own.”
The most experienced junior is Casey Spanish, who will play shortstop after spending the past two years at second base.
“It’s definitely something I’m looking forward to,” Spanish said of the move. “Whatever is best for our lineup and best for our team, I welcome it. I think it’s going to be a blast.”
Spanish’s double play partner will be his best friend and roommate, Ryan Baty. Although officially a sophomore, Baty will be in his third season with KU after redshirting last year with a dislocated shoulder.
“I don’t think there’s anybody hungrier to play than he is,” Randall said.
Junior Kevin Wheeler and senior Ryan Klocksien are expected to join Spanish and Baty in the infield. Wheeler, who played in 45 games last season and hit .295, will play first base and also pitch some for Kansas.
Klocksien will start at third for the Jayhawks. Last season, he led the team with a .321 batting average and was named second-team All-Big 12 for the second straight year.
Juniors will also man two of the three outfield positions. Sophomore Matt Tribble will play right field, while Jason Appuhn will shift from center to left to make room for transfer Lance Hayes. Appuhn finished second on last year’s squad with 23 stolen bases. With Appuhn, Hayes, Spanish, Baty and others, the Jayhawks have an extra weapon on the base paths.
“It opens up the game big time when you have somebody that can steal bases and the pitchers are worried about it and it really is a positive thing for hitters,” Spanish said. “It just opens up our whole offensive game. This year, that’s what we’re going to have to do a lot. We’re going to have to run a lot, steal bases and open things up for our hitters.”
Community college transfer Beau Thompson and freshman Cole Armstrong are expected to split time at catcher. No matter who is behind the plate, he’s likely to have an inexperienced pitcher to work with.
Although four seniors are expected to start for the Jayhawks, they’ve combined for just 28 career starts.
“The arms are there,” Randall said. “I think they’re unproven at this point, but I don’t think they’re untalented. I’d rather have talent without experience rather than experience without talent.”
Jeff Davis leads the quartet with 12 starts and is likely to begin the season as the Jayhawks’ No. 1 starter.
“This is the best shape I’ve ever been in and this is the most preparation I’ve ever put into a season,” the Lawrence native said. “I feel I’ve done everything I can and I just can’t wait for the season to get started.”
KU finished 26-30 overall and 7-23 in the Big 12 Conference last year and lost its staff ace and second- and third-best hitters. Spanish thinks this year’s team has the potential to sneak up on opponents.
“We’re looking forward to surprising a lot of people,” he said.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Men’s basketball might not be the only Kansas University sport that relies on the maturation of juniors for success this year.
Baseball coach Bobby Randall is hoping increased contributions from a group of third-year offensive players help to lead the Jayhawks.
“Look what (Kirk) Hinrich, (Nick) Collison and (Drew) Gooden do as juniors,” Randall said. “I think the junior year is the big year for most guys, where they really mature and come into their own.”
The most experienced junior is Casey Spanish, who will play shortstop after spending the past two years at second base.
“It’s definitely something I’m looking forward to,” Spanish said of the move. “Whatever is best for our lineup and best for our team, I welcome it. I think it’s going to be a blast.”
Spanish’s double play partner will be his best friend and roommate, Ryan Baty. Although officially a sophomore, Baty will be in his third season with KU after redshirting last year with a dislocated shoulder.
“I don’t think there’s anybody hungrier to play than he is,” Randall said.
Junior Kevin Wheeler and senior Ryan Klocksien are expected to join Spanish and Baty in the infield. Wheeler, who played in 45 games last season and hit .295, will play first base and also pitch some for Kansas.
Klocksien will start at third for the Jayhawks. Last season, he led the team with a .321 batting average and was named second-team All-Big 12 for the second straight year.
Juniors will also man two of the three outfield positions. Sophomore Matt Tribble will play right field, while Jason Appuhn will shift from center to left to make room for transfer Lance Hayes. Appuhn finished second on last year’s squad with 23 stolen bases. With Appuhn, Hayes, Spanish, Baty and others, the Jayhawks have an extra weapon on the base paths.
“It opens up the game big time when you have somebody that can steal bases and the pitchers are worried about it and it really is a positive thing for hitters,” Spanish said. “It just opens up our whole offensive game. This year, that’s what we’re going to have to do a lot. We’re going to have to run a lot, steal bases and open things up for our hitters.”
Community college transfer Beau Thompson and freshman Cole Armstrong are expected to split time at catcher. No matter who is behind the plate, he’s likely to have an inexperienced pitcher to work with.
Although four seniors are expected to start for the Jayhawks, they’ve combined for just 28 career starts.
“The arms are there,” Randall said. “I think they’re unproven at this point, but I don’t think they’re untalented. I’d rather have talent without experience rather than experience without talent.”
Jeff Davis leads the quartet with 12 starts and is likely to begin the season as the Jayhawks’ No. 1 starter.
“This is the best shape I’ve ever been in and this is the most preparation I’ve ever put into a season,” the Lawrence native said. “I feel I’ve done everything I can and I just can’t wait for the season to get started.”
KU finished 26-30 overall and 7-23 in the Big 12 Conference last year and lost its staff ace and second- and third-best hitters. Spanish thinks this year’s team has the potential to sneak up on opponents.
“We’re looking forward to surprising a lot of people,” he said.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
