2014 Baseball Preview: Part I - The Infield
2/10/2014 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 10, 2014
Later this week the Seton Hall baseball team will begin the 2014 regular season at the University of Oklahoma. In a special three-part series, SHUpirates.com will preview the new season. Today's edition focuses exclusively on the Pirates' infield.
Seton Hall is coming off a historically successful season, but one that saw nine seniors graduate and two juniors drafted by Major League Baseball franchises. Despite the defections, the Pirates are still picked to finish second in the seven-team BIG EAST in the 2014 Preseason Coaches' Poll.
The Pirates' infield will have a dramatically different look in 2014. All-American shortstop Giuseppe Papaccio and All-BIG EAST second baseball Mike Genovese have graduated and will open up a pair of key positions in the middle of the Seton Hall infield. Chris Selden (Allenhurst, N.J.), who played primarily at third base for Seton Hall in 2013, will shift to the outfield, opening up the hot corner to a new regular as well.
Junior Sal Annunziata (Bronx, N.Y.) returns to provide a strong defensive presence at first base, while senior Dillon Hamlin (Colts Neck, N.Y.), one of just four remaining players from the 2011 BIG EAST Championship team, returns for his final season and is expected to again be the primary catcher.
"Dillon has worked really hard," Sheppard said. "He backed up Frank Esposito during our title run and has steadily improved every year since. Sal has become a real leader on our team and will provide a big bat in the middle of our lineup. I think Sal can have a big year."
Annunziata is the only one of six All-Conference selections from the 2013 team that returns to the Pirates this season.
Fortunately, thanks to a bevy of talented backups and a strong 2014 freshman class, the Pirates are well-prepared to fill the holes left by their other departed stars. Junior Kyle Grimm (Bergenfield, N.J.), has started 62 games at third base in his first two years and is expected to assume the regular starting role. His right-handed bat will also bolster the everyday lineup. Grimm has batted .308 in each of his first two seasons in South Orange and has a career on-base percentage of .392.
"Our corners definitely have the most experience, but we're relatively new up the middle," Sheppard said. "Defensively, it's going to be a challenge, because of all of the new bodies both in the infield and the outfield."
Junior D.J. Ruhlman (Belle Mead, N.J.) and freshman Joe Poduslenko (Glen Mills, Pa.) have been excelling in off-season workouts and appear to have the inside track at the shortstop position. The versatile Ruhlman has seen time at shortstop, third base and as a right-handed pitcher in his first two years as a Pirate. Poduslenko, an All-State performer in high school, provides a new offensive weapon for Sheppard.
At second base, Chris Chiaradio (Teaneck, N.J.) appears poised to assume the regular starting role. Chiaradio was instrumental as a backup to Genovese last season, making five starts late in the season when Genovese was injured. The sophomore batted .333 in 34 plate appearances and committed just one error in the field.
"All three, D.J., Joe and Chris, will need to earn their roles this season, but I've been pleased with the progress of all three," Sheppard said. "All three will see time. If we go with D.J. and Chris, Joe is versatile enough to back up both."
Another key infielder in 2014 will be junior Tyler Boyd (Succasunna, N.J.). Boyd is coming off a strong season of summer baseball and will be an asset for the Pirates at the plate. In 81 plate appearances, he belted seven doubles, a triple and walked 19 times, leading to an on-base percentage of .410.
"Ty can play anywhere, which really helps us," Sheppard said. "He has most of his experience with us behind the plate, but he can play at second or third as well if Kyle or Chris needs a break."
Mike Caputo (Morganville, N.J.) and Tom Kelleher (Wantagh, N.Y.) are both freshmen that will also provide depth in the infield.
Another freshman Mikael-Ali Mogues (New York, N.Y.) brings a power left-handed bat and will backup Annunziata at first base.
"I think Mogues is going to have a good college career," Sheppard said. I really like what he brings to our team both offensively and defensively. He's an older freshman, so naturally his game is a bit more mature."
Behind the plate, junior Alex Falconi (Freeport, N.Y.) returns and will see his share of starts. Falconi, one of the team's leaders both on and off the field, has made 32 starts in his first two seasons at Seton Hall. Boyd, as well as sophomore Adnan Pjetrovic (Clifton, N.J.) and freshmen Matt Fortin (Nashua, N.H.) and Nelson Valerio (Wharton, N.J.) will also assist the catching duties in 2014.
"Falconi has had a really good fall, he swinging the bat well and knows how to take charge," Sheppard said. "One of the philosophies I've always had is that good catchers make our pitching staff better. If our pitching staff feels more comfortable with them, then they'll be more confident. We have great depth at the position."
Check back tomorrow for our preview of the 2014 Seton Hall outfield.
