Thomas Eshelman became one of the more decorated pitchers in college baseball history.

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2015 Conference Previews: Big West

SEE ALSO: Subscribers can view our Big West Top Prospects and Freshmen







Big West Projected Standings

Ranked teams noted by parentheses, Bold indicates projected NCAA postseason team. Teams listed in order of projected finish.

Conference Overall (19) Cal State Fullerton 14-10 34-24 UC Santa Barbara 12-12 34-17 Cal Poly 19-5 47-12 UC Irvine 15-9 41-25 Cal State Northridge 6-18 18-38 Hawaii 6-18 22-31 Long Beach State 17-7 34-26 UC Riverside 12-12 26-28 UC Davis 7-17 23-31

Projected Regional Teams (3): Cal State Fullerton, Cal Poly, UC Santa Barbara

Player of the Year: Mark Mathias, 2b, Cal Poly

Pitcher of the Year: Thomas Eshelman, rhp, Cal State Fullerton

Freshman of the Year: Scott Hurst, of, Cal State Fullerton

NOTEBOOK

• For our in-depth look at Cal State Fullerton, check out the Titans’ Top 25 Breakdown.

OMAHA SLEEPER

• UC Santa Barbara has been looking for that huge opportunity to take that final step forward as a program on the West Coast, and this just might be the year Andrew Checketts’ club gets the job done. In short, these Gauchos look very solid on paper in a variety of ways. The Gauchos lost a couple of key cogs from an offensive standpoint, such as power producer Tyler Kuresa, but this offensive lineup should still be solid with OF Cameron Newell, OF Andrew Calica and DH Robby Nesovic leading the way. Newell is a true spark plug type of player who is a good runner and uses the whole field at the plate. Meanwhile, Calica hit .310 last season and has very good defensive instincts in center field. Nesovic has average bat speed, but like Newell, really does a nice job of using all fields. Also look for the talented Nesovic to pitch for the Gauchos this spring. The UCSB coaching staff has high hopes for slick-fielding freshman SS Clay Fisher, while junior 1B Dalton Kelly is one of the more intriguing guys to watch. Kelly showed some real potential over the summer, and despite finishing last spring with a .154 batting average, he has a good swing and continues to work on developing more power.

What’s not to like about the Gauchos from a pitching perspective? UCSB should have one of the better overall staffs on the West Coast for several reasons. First, the weekend rotation is consistent, productive and projectable. LHP Justin Jacome had a strong summer in the Cape Cod League and is a 6-foot-6 lefty with plus command of his pitches and will range anywhere from 88-92 mph with his fastball, while sophomore RHP Shane Bieber is someone who could take another jump velocity-wise this season. Bieber, who had a 3.76 ERA in 52 2/3 innings last year, will sit anywhere from 87-91 mph with his fastball, but also has the ability to throw his quality changeup and slider for strikes. Junior RHP James Carter could evolve into a highly sought prospect with a low-90s fastball with good run, and above-average command, while the midweek job is in good hands with veteran Domenic Mazza leading the way. The bullpen also is stout. Despite being nestled in quiet Santa Barbara, RHP Dillon Tate has exploded onto the prospect scene after a strong summer with Team USA. Tate has an athletic, muscular frame, and will sit well into the mid-90s with the ability to get up to 99 mph. Meanwhile, junior RHP Connor Baits is expected to have a strong year. The 6-foot-6 reliever ranges from 88-92 mph with his fastball and has a swing-and-miss splitter that he can throw for strikes.

OTHER PROJECTED REGIONAL TEAM

• Cal Poly made plenty of waves last season by not only putting together a Big West-best regular season campaign, but also by hosting its first regional in San Luis Obispo, Calif. Though Larry Lee’s club fell short of a super regional appearance, this team has a chance to make another run this year. The Mustangs lost some key cogs from last year’s club, but still should be very solid. For starters, the Mustangs have the tough chore of replacing mound stalwarts such as LHP Matt Imhof and RHP Reed Reilly. Imhof, an All-American last season, is replaced at the front of the rotation by RHP Casey Bloomquist, while Reilly is replaced by senior RHP Danny Zandona and LHP Taylor Chris at the back-end of games. Bloomquist, who had a 1.56 ERA in 98 innings last season, has a legitimate three-pitch mix with a sinking fastball and good slider/changeup combination, while Zandona is a three-pitch guy with a lot of experience. The rest of the CP pitching staff has a chance to be good, too. Sophomore RHP Slater Lee (3-2, 6.20) needs to be more consistent, but fellow righty Justin Calomeni is one of the league’s better pitchers. Calomeni blossomed last year with a 3.68 ERA in 73 1/3 innings and has a good arm with quality secondary offerings — slider and changeup.

Offensively, replacing Nick Torres won’t be easy for a variety of reasons, but this lineup is expected to be productive. The Mustangs got an early Christmas present last summer when OF Zach Zehner (.316/.374/.443) decided to return to college for another season despite being drafted in the top 10 rounds, while preseason All-American Mark Mathias, who will miss the first month of the season because of an injury, is expected to continue where he left off last season, and 1B Brian Mundell should hit for a more consistent average this year, along with the usual pop in his bat. Cal Poly has another spark plug at its disposal in SS Peter Van Gansen. Van Gansen might be known by some because of his defensive abilities, but he’s also a tough out at the plate with a mature approach.

KEEP AN EYE ON

• UC Irvine is readying for what should be an interesting season. The Anteaters parted ways with previous assistant coach Bob Macaluso, and now have one of the youngest and most intriguing staffs after moving former Anteater great Danny Bibona from a volunteer role to full-time status. Bibona, of course, joins another ‘Eaters legend in former SS Ben Orloff. The trio of Orloff, Bibona and Mike Gillespie will have their work cut out this spring. Gone from last year’s club are several key cogs, including All-American RHP Andrew Morales and hard-hitting infielders Taylor Sparks and Connor Spencer. So, how do the Anteaters fare from an offensive standpoint this spring? It could be slim pickings at times. Sophomore OF A.J. Alcantara (.323/0/9) played very well at times toward the end of last season and should have a good campaign, while senior Kris Paulino has power potential and should settle into a more productive role. The ‘Eaters also like DH Jonathan Munoz, who has a good approach at the plate, while newcomers Mitchell Holland and talented freshman Keston Hiura are worth watching. Holland hit .321 at Saddleback (Calif.) CC last season, and showed an advanced approach during fall workouts, while Hiura has the coaching staff excited with his power potential and overall skill set.

On the mound, the Anteaters don’t have a deep stable of guys who will blow you away with fastballs, but who needs that anyway, right? LHPs Elliot Surrey and Evan Manarino spearhead the weekend rotation. Both lefties have good fastball command, with Surrey flashing a good changeup and Manarino possessing a good, consistent slider and curveball combination. Transfer RHP Matt Esparza is the power arm to watch. Esparza has traveled an interesting path to get to UC Irvine, and has the potential to be very good. Esparza had a strong summer and will get into the low 90s with his fastball, along with a good curveball. Last but certainly not least, the Anteaters welcome back closer Sam Moore, who was one of the nation’s most consistent bulldogs at the back end last year with a 1.85 ERA in 43 2/3 innings, along with a nation-leading 23 saves. Irvine has a lot of potential if the offensive pieces are put together.

THE REST OF THE PACK

• Cal State Northridge didn’t have a good season in Greg Moore’s inaugural campaign, but the tide should turn this season thanks to the addition of some talented newcomers, plus the return of some quality players. The Matadors have real potential on the mound, where veterans LHP Jerry Keel and RHP Calvin Copping lead the way. Keel, who had a 3.64 ERA in 94 innings last year, can range from 88-93 with a good, running fastball, while his curveball is a good pitch. The key for Keel could be the development of his changeup, which was improved in the fall. Copping will sit 88-92 with his fastball, and his changeup has late life. He also continues to make strong strides with his slider. Fr. RHP Andrew Weston will be an immediate impact arm with a fastball up to 92 in the fall, along with command of a slider, changeup and curveball, while in the bullpen, Central Arizona CC transfer RHP Conner O’Neil has a chance to surprise with 87-90 velocity on his fastball and good secondary offerings. Offensively, OF Chester Pak is ready to have a strong senior season after putting together a productive summer, while Skagit Valley (Wash.) CC transfer SS Yusuke Akitoshi is a toolsy guy with a good, quick bat, and a good overall approach. CSUN also is excited about young DH Albee Weiss, who is a strong, physical hitter, who can hit with power to all fields.

• Hawaii is that one Big West club that could really sneak up on a lot of teams this season. The Rainbows have an impressive stable of arms to choose from. The weekend rotation is in good shape with the return of RHPs Tyler Brashears and Josh Pigg and LHP Jarrett Arakawa. Brashears will sit anywhere from 88-92 mph with his fastball, along with a plus slider, while Pigg is another quality arm, getting up to 91 mph with his fastball, while also possessing a quality 12-6 curveball. The return of Arakawa is huge for Mike Trapasso’s club. Arakawa is a mid-to-high-80s lefty with a plus changeup. He missed much of last season because of a torn labrum, but is 100 percent entering this season. Last but not least, watch out for closer and RHP L.J. Brewster. Brewster is a fast-rising commodity as a prospect with the ability to get up to 91-93, and even some 94s with his fastball. Brewster has electric stuff and should provide a boost for this team at the end of games. The Rainbows have some serious work to do offensively to get into tip-top shape, but there’s at least some potential with the return of some key hitters, including OF Marcus Doi, who is now fully healthy after missing some of last season with a sports hernia. Meanwhile, Trapasso and his club are excited about young 1B Eric Ramirez. A former Area Code Games standout, Ramirez has a good lefthanded swing with the ability to hit to all fields.

• Long Beach State could be in for a real rebuilding campaign this spring. The Dirtbags made some serious strides last season despite some tough personnel losses because of injuries and wound up in the Gainesville Regional finals, but this season could be daunting when looking at the possible weekend rotation. LBSU expects to start a true freshman in the Friday role in RHP Chris Mathewson, while junior RHPs Trey Ferketic and Tanner Brown are worth watching. The strength of this club is the bullpen, where a pair of seasoned arms in Ty Provencher and Kyle Friedrichs currently hold key roles. Provencher had a strong freshman season with a 1.77 ERA in 45 2/3 innings, while Friedrichs is a seasoned vet with a smart approach and mound presence. The offense undoubtedly will miss the bats of Richard Prigatano and Ino Patron, but do return talented SS Garrett Hampson, a tools player with premium defensive skills and an emerging bat. Young OF Joey Sanchez also has a chance to make an immediate impact as the club’s starting center fielder.

• UC Riverside has some real work to do offensively this season, but could receive a big boost with the return of OF Vince Fernandez. Fernandez finished last season with just a .222 batting average, but had a very strong summer at the West Coast Collegiate League, being named one of the top prospects in the league. Fernandez needs to work on being more consistent, but showed the power and consistency in the fall to make that big leap forward. On the mound, RHP Angel Landazuri has command of three pitches and attacks hitters with his offerings, while RHP Keaton Leach, a Glendale (Ariz.) CC transfer, has a quality arm with a fastball up into the low 90s. Leach, however, needs to work on his secondary offerings to stay in the weekend rotation throughout the spring … In other program news, the Highlanders will be without talented OF Thomas Walker, who will miss the spring because of a torn labrum. The Highlanders also made an intriguing coaching hire after the retirement of Doug Smith last summer, tapping former big league closer Troy Percival.

• UC Davis is another Big West team that could surprise a lot of people. The Aggies finished at the bottom of the league standings last season, but they return several key pieces from that team. For instance, the everyday lineup features five seniors, while freshman 1B Ryan Anderson is expected to be an immediate impact bat. This team has the most potential for success on the mound, where the coaching staff feels like quality pitching depth finally has been built up. LHP Orlando Razo (1.34 ERA in 33.2 innings) is a quality southpaw who mixes speeds and locations well, while junior RHP Max Cordy is a very good arm who just needs to become more consistent. Experience is a strength with this team, but there are too many question marks to fully expect a major turnaround.