James Kaprielian was outstanding for the Bruins against Arizona (UCLA)

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Top 25 Breakdown: No. 4 UCLA

2014 Record: 25-30-1. RPI: 103.

Coach (Record at school): John Savage (349-254-1, 10 years).

Postseason History: 19 regionals (last in 2013), 5 CWS appearances (last in 2013), 1 national title (2013).

UCLA's Projected Lineup

Pos. Name, Yr. AVG/OBP/SLG HR RBI SB C Darrell Miller, Jr. .400/.500/.600 0 0 0 1B Luke Persico, So. .246/.286/.335 0 15 3 2B Nick Valaika, Fr. HS—Valencia, Calif. 3B Sean Bouchard, Fr. HS—San Diego SS Kevin Kramer, Jr. DNP—injured LF Ty Moore, Jr. .294/.375/.417 2 24 2 CF Christoph Bono, Jr. .228/.289/.291 0 21 5 RF Kort Peterson, So. .097/.349/.097 0 1 3 DH Brett Stephens, So. .211/.308/.244 0 3 0

Pos. Name, Yr. W-L ERA IP SO BB SV RHP James Kaprielian, Jr. 7-6 2.29 106 108 35 0 RHP Cody Poteet, Jr. 3-5 4.46 78.2 49 16 0 RHP Grant Watson, Sr. 4-9 3.80 97 71 26 0 RP David Berg, Sr. 3-2 1.50 48 35 8 11

SEE ALSO: Five Questions With UCLA’s John Savage

Hitting: 55. Injuries to their top two returning hitters (Eric Filia and Kevin Kramer) ravaged the Bruins in 2014, when they ranked just 241st in the nation in batting (.252) and 285th in scoring (3.6 runs per game). Kramer is back and looked better than ever this fall, giving the Bruins a doubles machine in the No. 3 hole. Filia will miss the spring due to an academic issue, but the Bruins have four quality outfielders who look ready to take steps forward in Moore, Bono, Peterson and Stephens. All four are lefthanded, like Kramer, but the lineup does have balance because the other four likely starters are righties. Moore took a big step forward in 2014—both in the spring and in the Cape Cod League—and should be one of the Pac-12’s toughest outs as a junior this year. The Bruins expect freshmen Valaika and Bouchard to hit for average right away, and the physical Persico looks primed for a jump. Infielder Trent Chatterton (who hit .291 in 56 games last year) is a proven Pac-12 contact hitter and good bat-handler, and he should get plenty of playing time too.

Power: 40. UCLA had no power last year, hitting just eight home runs as a team, but its bats were far more potent in the fall. They won’t bludgeon anybody with the long ball, but Moore, Peterson, Stephens and Persico are all capable of driving the ball out of the park, and it is reasonable to expect each to hit five or more homers. Bouchard could be the real difference maker; he has easy righthanded juice and showed a more advanced approach in the fall than he had as a high school senior.

Speed: 50. UCLA did not run last year either, ranking 266th in the nation with just 31 steals. This group lacks any true burners, but Bono, Peterson, Stephens, Kramer and Persico are all decent runners.

Defense: 55. UCLA should be much better defensively now that Kramer is back to anchor the infield. Valaika is an instinctive playmaker like older brother Pat (a former three-year starter at shortstop for the Bruins), and Bouchard has arm strength and good hands at third, but both are freshmen who need to prove themselves. Persico arrived at UCLA as an outfielder, played some second base last year, and is now learning first, but the Bruins say he’s taking to the position. The outfield should be very sound, as Bono and Peterson cover plenty of ground and bring arm strength. The team’s biggest question mark is behind the plate, where Miller and fourth-year junior Justin Hazard will compete for playing time. Neither veteran has established himself yet in his career.

Starting Pitching: 60. The Bruins are loaded with pitching depth, and they have six quality options for four rotation spots. Kaprielian is a true ace who led the Pac-12 in strikeouts as a sophomore and continued to show advanced feel for pitching with Team USA in the summer. He pounds the strike zone with an 89-94 fastball, a hard downer curveball that flashes plus, a slider that can be above-average and very good changeup. Poteet also has a quick arm, with a heater that reaches 94 and three solid secondary pitches of his own, but he needs to do a better job attacking hitters as a junior this spring. The wily Watson has won loads of big games in his career thanks to his ability to spot up his mid-to-high-80s fastball, his advanced changeup and his ability to keep hitters off balance with his curve and slider. Freshman RHP Griffin Canning dazzled the coaching staff with his advanced feel for his own four-pitch mix (and his swing-and-miss curveball) in the fall, and he could push for a weekend spot. LHP Hunter Virant and RHP Grant Dyer are also in the mix.

David Berg (Photo by Blaine Ogiashi)

Bullpen: 70. UCLA will boast a deep, varied bullpen anchored by one of the most accomplished closers in college baseball history in Berg. The sidewinder set the NCAA single-season saves record (24) and tied the appearances record (51) during UCLA’s national title run in 2013. He induces loads of groundball outs thanks to his ability to command a lively low-80s sinker and a mid-70s slider. RHP Nick Kern and Dyer each have swing-and-miss power curveballs that should help them in tight spots in the late innings, and redshirt sophomore RHP Tucker Forbes came on strong this fall, showing low-90s heat, a slider and a changeup. Virant was a marquee recruit out of high school who is finally healthy for the first time heading into the spring, giving the Bruins a key lefty to lean upon.

Experience/Intangibles: 60. Kramer, Berg, Watson and Kaprielian played key roles on UCLA’s 2013 national title team, and they give the Bruins an enviable core of veteran leaders who have proven themselves in the biggest games. The talented sophomore class took its lumps last year but should be better for the experience. If that group of sophomores can rebound and perform up to their talent level as UCLA expects, the Bruins will be good enough to make it back to Omaha for the fourth time in the last six years.