2014 Baseball Preview: Part II - The Outfield
2/11/2014 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 11, 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' outfield.
Two thirds of the Pirates' regular starting outfield from 2013 has moved on. Scott Kalamar, a regular in right field who batted in the middle of the Pirates' lineup, graduated and Zack Granite, the Pirates' All-Conference center fielder and leadoff hitter, was drafted by the Minnesota Twins.
One holdover, who was a regular starter at the end of the 2013 season is Zack Weigel (Oak Park, Ill.). The sophomore got most of his starts in left field last season, but is expected to make the transition to center field for 2014. Weigel may have been the most pleasant of head coach Rob Sheppard's freshman surprises last year. Batting primarily second in the Pirates' order, he batted .326, second-highest on the team, and tallied a team-best .477 on-base percentage. Weigel's prowess for getting on base makes him a candidate for the Pirates' leadoff spot this season.
Chris Selden (Allenhurst, N.J.) will make the transition from regular third baseman in 2013 to everyday outfielder in 2014. The senior had a breakout season for the Pirates last year, batting .320 with two home runs, 33 RBIs and 17 stolen bases. The All-NJCBA Second Team selection started in 46 of Seton Hall's 56 games and will be looked upon for his leadership of a young Pirate squad.
Two additional outfield starting candidates are senior John Beaubien (Livingston, N.J.) and sophomore Derek Jenkins (Annandale, N.J.). Beaubien provides a power bat from the right side of the plate and saw action as both the Pirates' designated hitter and right fielder last season. He batted .278 with six RBIs in 31 games for Seton Hall. Jenkins, unquestionably the Pirates' fastest runner, appeared in 29 games and stole six bases.
"Those are the four guys that have really had a strong fall and have established themselves," said Head Coach Rob Sheppard. "I can see us putting out different combinations of those guys depending on the type of lineup we want to run out there."
Seton Hall signed a pair of freshman, who will provide depth in 2014, Jackson Martin (Collegeville, Pa.) and Eric Spires (Medford, N.J.).
"I think they'll both be able to contribute," Sheppard said. "Tom Kelleher is another freshman, who will backup primarily in the infield, but can also play the outfield. These are talented young men who we'll look to groom moving forward."
Check back tomorrow for our preview of the 2014 Seton Hall pitching staff.
For a preview of Seton Hall's 2014 infielders, CLICK HERE.
