Cal State Fullerton RHP Justin Garza. (CSF)

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Top 25 Breakdown: No. 19 Cal State Fullerton

2014 Record: 34-24. RPI: 48.

Coach (Record at school): Rick Vanderhook (121-55, 3 years).

Postseason History: 36 regionals (active streak: 23), 16 CWS trips (last in 2009), 4 national titles (last in 2004).

Cal State Fullerton's Projected Lineup

Pos. Name, Yr. AVG/OBP/SLG HR RBI SB C A.J. Kennedy, Jr. .178/.268/.205 0 1 1 1B Tanner Pinkston, Jr. .298/.346/.365 1 19 4 2B Jake Jefferies, Jr. .144/.200/.155 0 8 2 3B Taylor Bryant, So. .200/.354/.233 0 8 1 SS Timmy Richards, So. .215/.320/.215 0 7 1 LF Josh Vargas, Jr. Tr.—Santa Ana (Calif.) JC CF Taylor Stieb, Jr. .198/.317/.244 0 9 8 RF Scott Hurst, Fr. HS—La Puente, Calif. DH David Olmedo-Barrera, Jr. .273/.314/.343 0 14 1

Pos. Name, Yr. W-L ERA IP SO BB SV RHP Justin Garza, Jr. 5-4 3.22 73 60 14 0 RHP Thomas Eshelman, Jr. 8-3 1.89 124 99 8 0 LHP John Gavin, Fr. HS—Mountain View, Calif. RP Tyler Peitzmeier, Sr. 0-0 2.40 15 15 7 0

SEE ALSO: Five Questions With Cal State Fullerton’s Rick Vanderhook

Hitting: 45. The Titans struggled to produce consistent at-bats for much of last season, and they lost their two most dangerous hitters in first-round pick Matt Chapman and third-rounder J.D. Davis. Of the returnees, only Pinkston (.298) hit better than .275 last year, and only Pinkston (.365) and Bryant (.354) reached base in more than a third of their at-bats, so this lineup has a lot to prove. Pinkston is a quality lefthanded hitter who should drive the gaps often, and Olmedo-Barrera should blossom into another dangerous lefthanded run producer. The switch-hitting Jefferies made huge progress in the fall and has a chance to hit in the No. 3 hole. Spray-hitting grinders Stieb, Vargas and Richards will be counted upon to work counts, get on base and set the table. Hurst, one of the most high-profile freshmen in the West, has legitimate star potential and a mature approach.

Power: 35. The 6-foot-6 Pinkston has good leverage in his swing and should provide more power this year. Olmedo-Barrera is very physical, and the Titans hope that duo can fill the roles of Chapman and Davis in the middle of the lineup. Hurst has some pop too, but the Titans will mostly have to manufacture offense through small ball.

Speed: 55. Fullerton’s fastest player is Stieb, who has the ability to be a disruptive force on the basepaths if he can get on base consistently. Vargas and Hurst are also solid runners, while Richards and Jefferies have average speed.

Defense: 60. The Titans should be outstanding up the middle, as Kennedy is a catch-and-throw standout who should follow in the footsteps of Jared Deacon and Chad Wallach as a Titan catcher who blossomed as a junior. Richards is a very steady defender at shortstop, Jefferies made huge defensive strides this fall, and Stieb has good range in center field. Hurst is a standout with a rifle arm in right, and Bryant is smooth at the hot corner.

Thomas Eshelman (Photo by Matt Brown)

Starting Pitching: 70. Not many pitching staffs could absorb the loss of a first-round pick right before the start of the fall semester, but Phil Bickford’s defection to the junior-college ranks won’t stop Fullerton from rolling out one of college baseball’s best rotations. Garza and Eshelman are unparalleled strike-throwers with two years’ experience as dominating weekend starters under their belts. Garza’s stuff is electric, with a 90-94 fastball and outstanding feel for his changeup and cutter. Eshelman smothers hitters with strike after strike—his career strikeout-walk mark is a staggering 182-11 in 239 career innings. He can throw four pitches for strikes in any count. Freshmen Gavin and Connor Seabold are the front-runners for the Sunday spot vacated by Bickford. The 6-foot-6 Gavin’s three-pitch mix includes an advanced changeup and an 88-91 fastball that plays up because of his downhill angle. Seabold is another strike-thrower with a lively 88-90 fastball and good command of two secondary pitches. Veteran RHP Willie Kuhl could also factor into the rotation mix if the Titans opt not to leave him in the bullpen.

Bullpen: 50. Last year’s bullpen stalwarts, Davis and Koby Gauna, are gone, leaving seniors Kuhl and Peitzmeier to anchor the unit. Peitzmeier is the likely closer after making a big jump in the Northwoods League and the fall; his velocity is up to 87-89 consistently, his changeup has become a true out pitch, and his slider is much improved as well. Righties Kuhl and Miles Chambers don’t have overpowering stuff, but both can throw strikes with three decent pitches, and they should form an effective bridge to Peitzmeier. So. RHP Chad Hockin also looks ready to become a key piece after a strong summer in the Northwoods League, where he showed a fastball that reached 94 with good cutting action and a sweepy slider with good depth.

Experience/Intangibles: 50. The Titans showed character in 2014 by battling through a distracting investigation into coach Rick Vanderhook and making a late run to keep their regionals streak alive. Still, this lineup is crammed with players who have underperformed or simply have yet to establish themselves in Division I. Garza and Eshelman have won plenty of big games and will set the tone for a team that otherwise has a lot to prove.