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before Pick'em begins, here is the preview on Maryland.
Projected Conference Finish - 2nd
Projected Regional Teams (2): Indiana, Maryland
Player of the Year: Marty Costes, OF, Maryland
Freshman of the Year: Randy Bednar, OF/LHP, Maryland
TOP PROSPECTS, 2018 DRAFT
4 Nick Dunn 2B Maryland
7 Marty Costes OF Maryland
21 AJ Lee SS Maryland
TOP PROSPECTS, 2019 DRAFT
1 Tyler Blohm LHP Maryland
19 Elliot Zoellner RHP Maryland
IMPACT FRESHMEN
1 Randy Bednar OF/LHP Maryland
Maryland made three regionals in the last four years under John Szefc, highlighted by back-to-back super regionals in 2014-15. Szefc left for Virginia Tech after last season, and his former assistant Rob Vaughn took over the reins of a mature, veteran Maryland club that looks built to make yet another postseason run.
The Terrapins have a deep roster and some exciting star power, led by junior outfielder Marty Costes, our preseason pick for Big Ten player of the year. Costes (.322/.429/.548, 13 HR) is built like a tank at 5-foot-9, 200 pounds, and he has easy righthanded juice to all fields. Jr. 2B Nick Dunn (.261/.345/.384) also has All-America potential and top-three-to-five-rounds ability if he can bounce back from a modest sophomore year. His hand-eye coordination is special, and Maryland worked hard with him on controlling the strike zone better this fall. Junior AJ Lee (.307/.389/.474 with 15 steals) will shift from third base to shortstop, where his athleticism and foot speed translate to good range, and his plus arm plays very well. Hes another Terp with a nice power/speed combination; he could easily deliver double-digit homers and 20 steals, because he has an advanced feel for basestealing.
Another returning veteran infielder, Sr. 1B Kevin Biondic, brings invaluable leadership and sterling defense, but he also looks ready to break out in a big way offensively after hitting for average and power during a monster fall. Biondic even took to the mound for the first time since high school and showed a 90-92 fastball, good cutter and even a legitimate knuckle ball, making him a wild card on Marylands staff.
The Terps also look loaded in the outfield. Senior Zach Jancarski (.325/.434/.453, 20 SB) provides outstanding defense in center field and makes the Terrapins go from the leadoff spot. Heralded freshman Randy Bednar and senior Will Watson join Costes, Lee and Biondic to give this lineup serious righthanded power potential. Bednar should also see time in the bullpen, where he can run his fastball up to 91. Hell help form the supporting bullpen cast around closer John Murphy (2-0, 1.71, 31.2 IP), a big-bodied bulldog who pumps strikes with a 90-91 fastball that plays up due to a high spin rate, along with a solid breaking ball that he commands well. The Terps have more dependable veterans in the rotation, though non of them have premium velocity. So. LHP Tyler Blohm (8-6, 3.48 in 16 starts) has legitimate Friday night stuff, however, with an 88-91 fastball from the left side, advanced feel for his changeup and a hard downer breaking ball that has gotten a lot better since the spring, when it was more of a show pitch. The biggest step in his development is proving he can battle his way through adversity better than he did as a freshman. Hell form a nice one-two punch atop the rotation with Sr. RHP Taylor Bloom, whose conditioning work in the offseason helped his velocity play up a tick in the fall, when he sat 86-88 at times with his typical sink and run. His calling card has always been his changeup, but his feel for the pitch was inconsistent last year; now its back to being exceptional. And hes worked to turn his slider/cutter into a better offering, something that can be used as an out pitch at times.
Projected Conference Finish - 2nd
Projected Regional Teams (2): Indiana, Maryland
Player of the Year: Marty Costes, OF, Maryland
Freshman of the Year: Randy Bednar, OF/LHP, Maryland
TOP PROSPECTS, 2018 DRAFT
4 Nick Dunn 2B Maryland
7 Marty Costes OF Maryland
21 AJ Lee SS Maryland
TOP PROSPECTS, 2019 DRAFT
1 Tyler Blohm LHP Maryland
19 Elliot Zoellner RHP Maryland
IMPACT FRESHMEN
1 Randy Bednar OF/LHP Maryland
Maryland made three regionals in the last four years under John Szefc, highlighted by back-to-back super regionals in 2014-15. Szefc left for Virginia Tech after last season, and his former assistant Rob Vaughn took over the reins of a mature, veteran Maryland club that looks built to make yet another postseason run.
The Terrapins have a deep roster and some exciting star power, led by junior outfielder Marty Costes, our preseason pick for Big Ten player of the year. Costes (.322/.429/.548, 13 HR) is built like a tank at 5-foot-9, 200 pounds, and he has easy righthanded juice to all fields. Jr. 2B Nick Dunn (.261/.345/.384) also has All-America potential and top-three-to-five-rounds ability if he can bounce back from a modest sophomore year. His hand-eye coordination is special, and Maryland worked hard with him on controlling the strike zone better this fall. Junior AJ Lee (.307/.389/.474 with 15 steals) will shift from third base to shortstop, where his athleticism and foot speed translate to good range, and his plus arm plays very well. Hes another Terp with a nice power/speed combination; he could easily deliver double-digit homers and 20 steals, because he has an advanced feel for basestealing.
Another returning veteran infielder, Sr. 1B Kevin Biondic, brings invaluable leadership and sterling defense, but he also looks ready to break out in a big way offensively after hitting for average and power during a monster fall. Biondic even took to the mound for the first time since high school and showed a 90-92 fastball, good cutter and even a legitimate knuckle ball, making him a wild card on Marylands staff.
The Terps also look loaded in the outfield. Senior Zach Jancarski (.325/.434/.453, 20 SB) provides outstanding defense in center field and makes the Terrapins go from the leadoff spot. Heralded freshman Randy Bednar and senior Will Watson join Costes, Lee and Biondic to give this lineup serious righthanded power potential. Bednar should also see time in the bullpen, where he can run his fastball up to 91. Hell help form the supporting bullpen cast around closer John Murphy (2-0, 1.71, 31.2 IP), a big-bodied bulldog who pumps strikes with a 90-91 fastball that plays up due to a high spin rate, along with a solid breaking ball that he commands well. The Terps have more dependable veterans in the rotation, though non of them have premium velocity. So. LHP Tyler Blohm (8-6, 3.48 in 16 starts) has legitimate Friday night stuff, however, with an 88-91 fastball from the left side, advanced feel for his changeup and a hard downer breaking ball that has gotten a lot better since the spring, when it was more of a show pitch. The biggest step in his development is proving he can battle his way through adversity better than he did as a freshman. Hell form a nice one-two punch atop the rotation with Sr. RHP Taylor Bloom, whose conditioning work in the offseason helped his velocity play up a tick in the fall, when he sat 86-88 at times with his typical sink and run. His calling card has always been his changeup, but his feel for the pitch was inconsistent last year; now its back to being exceptional. And hes worked to turn his slider/cutter into a better offering, something that can be used as an out pitch at times.
