Blake Allemand

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Top 25 Breakdown: No. 17 Texas A&M

2014 Record: 36-26. RPI: 31.

Coach (Record at school): Rob Childress (359-208-2, 9 years).

Postseason History: 30 regionals (active streak: 8), 5 CWS trips (last in 2011), 0 national titles.

Texas A&M's Projected Lineup

Pos. Name, Yr. AVG/OBP/SLG HR RBI SB C Michael Barash, Jr. Tr.—Palm Beach (Fla.) State JC 1B Logan Nottebrok, Sr. .250/.342/.478 8 27 0 2B Ryne Birk, So. .306/.391/.441 2 18 4 3B Ronnie Gideon, So. .226/.333/.358 1 7 0 SS Blake Allemand, Sr. .290/.397/.319 0 24 5 LF Logan Taylor, Jr. .269/.317/.392 1 21 3 CF J.B. Moss, Jr. .262/.408/.361 1 7 6 RF Nick Banks, So. .327/.386/.427 2 26 7 DH G.R. Hinsley, Sr. .143/.300/.143 0 1 0

Pos. Name, Yr. W-L ERA IP SO BB SV RHP Grayson Long, Jr. 6-2 3.12 89.1 55 28 0 LHP Tyler Stubblefield, So. 4-2 3.81 59 61 22 0 LHP Matt Kent, Jr. 3-1 3.15 45.2 32 8 0 RP A.J. Minter, Jr. 3-0 1.85 24.1 24 12 2

SEE ALSO: Five Questions With Texas A&M’s Rob Childress

Hitting: 60. The Aggies were an average offensive team a year ago, ranking 111th in the nation in scoring (5.3 runs per game). But they should be considerably more dangerous this year, especially since talented sophomores Banks, Birk and Gideon have a year of experience under their belts. Banks was a freshman All-American a year ago, and scouts who saw him play for Team USA last summer thought he was one of the most toolsy players on the team, with a fast lefthanded swing that produces routine hard contact. Birk is a hard-nosed grinder with advanced bat-handling skills and a knack for making good things happen offensively. Gideon took a big step forward in the fall, leading the team in batting and extra-base hits. The athletic Moss, another significantly improved player in the fall, and Allemand join Birk as exciting catalysts for this offense. Taylor had a standout summer in the Cape Cod League and finally looks ready to translate his tantalizing offensive skill set into real production this spring. Hinsley lacks big tools but should take plenty of walks and drive in runs to provide value down in the lineup.

Power: 60. Gideon has huge righthanded power to match his massive size, and he could lead the SEC in home runs this spring. Nottebrok, the team’s leading home run hitter a year ago, brings more size (6-foot-4) and righthanded thunder to the middle of the lineup, though he’ll also have his share of swing-and-misses. Banks has plus raw power from the left side but is still learning how to harness it in games. Taylor has average big league power potential to go along with a short, clean stroke. Hunter Melton, who smacked six homers in 118 at-bats two years ago, brings additional power off the bench. Even Moss has surprising strength and occasional pop.

Speed: 55. Moss, who can run the 60-yard dash in 6.4 seconds, is the only true burner in this lineup, but Banks has plus speed underway. Allemand is a decent runner who is still learning how to steal bases, while Birk is a fringy runner with good instincts, and Taylor brings average speed.

Defense: 55. Texas A&M was a middle-of-the-pack defensive team last year, fielding .971 (83rd in the nation). Allemand has grown into a savvy, dependable college shortstop, though he lacks standout raw tools. Birk’s defense remains a work in progress at second, but he has improved since last year. Gideon has good footwork and actions for a big man at third base, along with a plus arm. Junior-college transfer Barash and senior Mitchell Nau give the Aggies two quality catchers, making that a real position of strength for this defense. Taylor lost the shortstop battle with Allemand and is working on learning left field, but Moss and Banks have very good range, and Banks has a plus arm.

Grayson Long

Starting Pitching: 60. Workhorse Daniel Mengden is gone, but the Aggies have several power arms capable of pitching on Fridays in Long, Stubblefield, and even Minter, who worked as a starter in the fall and showed the ability to hold 92-94 mph heat from the left side. But the favorite for the Friday job might be Long, a 6-foot-5 righty who works downhill with an 88-93 fastball that he spots well. The key for Long is becoming more consistent with his secondary stuff and developing a strikeout pitch. Stubblefield commanded an 88-91 fastball that touched 94 and the makings of an above-average changeup last summer in the Alaska League, where he ranked as the top prospect. He also mixes in a serviceable slider. The wily Kent is in a completely different mold, a finesse lefty who works in the mid-80s and pumps strikes with all his pitches, helping him win pitcher of the year honors in the Northwoods League last summer. The Aggies say Turner Larkins is their most electric arm since Michael Wacha; they say he worked at 90-96 mph in the fall and mixed in a solid curveball and changeup.

Bullpen: 60. Minter flashed 96 mph heat last summer in a relief role for Team USA, along with a power slider/cutter in the mid-80s and a decent changeup. He could give A&M a shutdown power arm at the end of games if he doesn’t wind up in the rotation. Either way, the Aggies will lean heavily upon Andrew Vinson (a savvy four-pitch mix righty with an 86-91 fastball) and Ty Schlottmann (an ultra-athletic lefty who can reach 90 with a good slider and changeup) in the bullpen. Sophomore righties Mark Ecker and Ryan Hendrix are breakout candidates with 90-94 mph fastballs, according to Childress. Ecker has a swing-and-miss slider, while Hendrix has an out pitch in his curveball. Juco transfer RHP Kyle Simonds, a sinker/slider specialist, will also be a key contributor in this fairly deep unit.

Experience/Intangibles: 60. On paper, the Aggies look deep, balanced and experienced. Allemand and Nottebrok provide valuable senior leadership, and the big arms on the pitching staff have had enough opportunity to ease their way into the key roles they are expected to occupy this spring. The Aggies have only been to Omaha once this century (in 2011) despite having numerous CWS-caliber clubs, so they must prove they can make the most of their talent consistently.