IU Coach Chris Lemonis relied substantially on his freshman class a season ago. At least three freshmen saw the field in 29 games.
With junior outfielder Craig Dedelow as the only returning top-five hitter for the Hoosiers, Lemonis fully expects his sophomore group to step up this season and contribute for his club. He called them the key to the team.
“I keep challenging that sophomore group of how they’re growing and doing,” Lemonis said. “I think some of those guys will be the difference if we’re looking up at the end of the year and having a lot of success.”
The sophomore class is led by outfielder Logan Sowers, the second best hitter returning from last season’s club.
Sowers started in all 59 games of his freshman season, hit six home runs and drove in 36 runs. His six home runs were ranked second on the team and his RBIs were third.
The former 31st round draft pick out of high school, Sowers played in the Cape Cod league in the offseason for the Wareham Gateman and hoped to improve his game against some of the nation’s best.
“Playing in the Cape, you face a ton of good arms,” Sowers said. “Experiencing that and coming back in the fall and early in the spring I think the game has slowed down for me a bit, and I feel a lot more comfortable at the plate.”
Another key sophomore in Lemonis’ lineup for the upcoming season is speedy infielder Isaiah Pasteur.
The Maryland native will most likely receive the starting nod at shortstop after earning multiple looks at the position during the fall after senior shortstop Nick Ramos was dismissed from the team.
Pasteur saw the field in 51 games last season, including 37 starts, as he was mixed in the lineup between third base and shortstop while Ramos was out with a broken hand.
The Big Ten All-Freshman team selection homered five times in his freshman campaign and drove in 20 runs despite his .213 batting average.
Outfielder Laren Eustace was the third freshman that saw ample time on the diamond during his freshman season, and appeared in 29 games with eight starts.
Although Eustace only had 29 at-bats last season, Lemonis said he would be a big contributor to the club if they hoped to be successful.
IU’s catching depth remains a big question with the graduation of Brad Hartong, who hit .303 and was a rock behind the plate. Sophomore Demetrius Webb will have to compete against freshman Ryan Fineman to see who will earn the starting role.
“We’re talented in that area — we’re just young,” Lemonis said. “That’s probably one of our areas of concern, but they’re both pretty good defensively.”
Senior pitcher Kyle Hart said both Fineman or Webb are great receivers of the ball and are only getting better.
Lemonis said he is expecting a lot from his sophomore group in the upcoming season, and is using them as a focal point in keying the offense.
“Usually in college baseball some of your best classes are your sophomore classes,” Lemonis said. “I’m excited to see them play. They’ve had a good fall and spring so we’re excited about them that way.”
