2026 Lineup/Depth

[NighthawkVol]

I know Taylorvol has a roster status thing going under the roster construction thread. I thought I'd put a project depth chart here. Mods, if you feel this is redundant, feel free to merge.

Lineup

C: Stone Lawless/Garrett Wright/Trent Grindlinger/Cash Williams
1B: Levi Clark/Blake Grimmer/Evan Hankins
2B: Chris Newstrom/Ariel Antigua/Tyler Myatt/Finley Bates/Ethan Moore
SS: Manny Marin/Ariel Antigua/Ethan Moore
3B: Henry Ford/Tyler Myatt/Blake Grimmer/Chris Newstrom/Ethan Moore
LF: Blaine Brown/Garrett Wright/Hutson Chance
CF: Jay Abernathy/Chris Newstrom/Henry Ford/Nathan Eisfelder
RF: Reese Chapman/Hunter High/Taylor Tracey
DH: Blake Grimmer/Tyler Myatt/Blaine Brown/Trent Grindlinger

Weekend Starters

Landon Mack-RHP
Tegan Kuhns-RHP
Evan Blanco-LHP

Bullpen

Weekend:
Brandon Arvidson-LHP
Brayden Krenzel-RHP
Brady Frederick-RHP
Cameron Appenzeller-LHP
Mark Hindy-LHP
Blaine Brown-LHP
Ethan Baiotto-RHP
Bo Rhudy-RHP (Closer)

Midweek:
Nic Abraham-RHP
Taylor Tracey-LHP
Darrell McDowell-RHP
Jax Bishop-RHP
Sawyer Deering-RHP
Chandler Day-LHP
Art Bethea-RHP
Evan Hankins-LHP

Jackson Estes- LHP, William Haas-LHP-injured
Blaine Brown, Evan Hankins, Taylor Tracey-2-way players

Batting Order​

1) CF: Jay Abernathy-L
2) 3B: Henry Ford-R
3) LF: Blaine Brown-L
4) 1B: Levi Clark-R
5) DH: Blake Grimmer-L
6) SS: Manny Marin-R
7) RF: Reese Chapman-L
8) 2B: Chris Newstrom-R
9) C: Stone Lawless-R/Garrett Wright-R

 

[WaywardVol]

Would love to see Ariel find his bat, but I think you’ve got too many difference makers at the plate for him to start. I think we see Marin there.

 

[NighthawkVol]

Would love to see Ariel find his bat, but I think you’ve got too many difference makers at the plate for him to start. I think we see Marin there.

So who do you replace Marin with at 2B?

 

[WaywardVol]

So who do you replace Marin with at 2B?

Abernathy was playing there some in fall ball. Grimmer can play all infield positions as well.

 

[taylorvol]

Abernathy was playing there some in fall ball. Grimmer can play all infield positions as well.

Grimmer would only play 3B or 1B when not at DH or LF. He’s not a middle infielder but have several options at 2B including Bates, Newstrom, Myatt…

And Abernathy as you mentioned, however I see Ariel starting at SS unless his bat slumps.

 

[Vols330]

Does this mean he's going to be on the roster this Spring?

 

[Gilbert]

Does this mean he's going to be on the roster this Spring?
View attachment 809003

No he just reclassified and signed as part of the 2026 graduating class. He won’t be here till the fall, assuming he makes it through the draft.

 

[rockytop25]

McKee said yesterday right now Marin is the frontrunner at SS

Newstrom/Antigua battling it out at 2B

Said Blaine Brown is probably your LF but also depends on how much he pitches

 

[Ttucke11]

Too many elite bats for AA to start at SS imo.

C Lawless
1B Clark
2B Newstrom
SS Marin
3B Ford
LF Brown
CF Abernathy
RF Chapman
DH Grimmer
UTL Wright

 

[wtmvol]

McKee said yesterday right now Marin is the frontrunner at SS

Newstrom/Antigua battling it out at 2B

Said Blaine Brown is probably your LF but also depends on how much he pitches

I like this. I think 2B is a better position for Antigua. But he's got to hit to stay in this lineup.

 

[WaywardVol]

Grimmer would only play 3B or 1B when not at DH or LF. He’s not a middle infielder but have several options at 2B including Bates, Newstrom, Myatt…

And Abernathy as you mentioned, however I see Ariel starting at SS unless his bat slumps.

I meant Newstrom. I get those two mixed up.

 

[WaywardVol]

Too many elite bats for AA to start at SS imo.

C Lawless
1B Clark
2B Newstrom
SS Marin
3B Ford
LF Brown
CF Abernathy
RF Chapman
DH Grimmer
UTL Wright

If Marin, Abernathy, Grimmer, and Clark take the steps I expect them to, yikes. That was the best class on paper. Fingers crossed!!

 

[rockytop25]

 

[taylorvol]

Kuhns and Mack were indeed superb today. Blanco had some command issues. Marin took Rhudy‘s big fastball deep to the opposite field. Ariel looks great at SS but so did Manny. Finally, Myatt looks very good at 3B and Ford made a highlight play at 3B as well. Chapman logged a lot of time in CF today.

 

[volfan411]

I like this. I think 2B is a better position for Antigua. But he's got to hit to stay in this lineup.

I say the same about Chapman. I know he started the season strong last year but he slumped bad at the end.

 

[QBUVOL2]

I say the same about Chapman. I know he started the season strong last year but he slumped bad at the end.

I do think with Elander and our depth, if someone is slumping bad near the end of SEC play, there will at least be a rotation or replacement

Sorry, still scratching my head about Bargo and CTV keeping him in LF in the post season

 

[HardKnoxVol]

I haven't been following baseball closely as much this season yet, but I remember a lot of hype surrounding Myatt and his bat. Is he just buried at DH?

 

[NighthawkVol]

Kuhns and Mack were indeed superb today. Blanco had some command issues. Marin took Rhudy‘s big fastball deep to the opposite field. Ariel looks great at SS but so did Manny. Finally, Myatt looks very good at 3B and Ford made a highlight play at 3B as well. Chapman logged a lot of time in CF today.

How are Mark Hindy and Ethan Baiotto looking? Possible weekend bullpen contributors?

 

[taylorvol]

How are Mark Hindy and Ethan Baiotto looking? Possible weekend bullpen contributors?

Neither threw yesterday but I’ve heard both have looked good.

PS. Agree that both will contribute on weekends.

 

[taylorvol]

I haven't been following baseball closely as much this season yet, but I remember a lot of hype surrounding Myatt and his bat. Is he just buried at DH?

Myatt looks be to be 2nd string 3B behind Ford but could see him at DH.

 

[taylorvol]

I like this. I think 2B is a better position for Antigua. But he's got to hit to stay in this lineup.

If you’d seen Antigua at SS yesterday, you’d reconsider. Might be best defensive SS in college baseball. His athleticism and hustle are off the charts. Marin is no slouch but Antigua is all time special on D. If he can hit ,270 and lay down an occasional bunt, he will play.

PS. Plus Antigua had a better Fall than Marin so it’s Antigua’s spot to lose.

 

[GUNTERSVOL]

Would love to see Ariel find his bat, but I think you’ve got too many difference makers at the plate for him to start. I think we see Marin there.

Will be interesting to see where our new HC calculates his plus/minus with his defense. I have not a clue.

 

[volfan411]

I do think with Elander and our depth, if someone is slumping bad near the end of SEC play, there will at least be a rotation or replacement

Sorry, still scratching my head about Bargo and CTV keeping him in LF in the post season

Agreed in the Arkansas series Clark, Bargo and Chapman did not have a hit. That is just unacceptable form you 4,5 and 6 hitters.

 

[volfan411]

If you’d seen Antigua at SS yesterday, you’d reconsider. Might be best defensive SS in college baseball. His athleticism and hustle are off the charts. Marin is no slouch but Antigua is all time special on D. If he can hit ,270 and lay down an occasional bunt, he will play.

PS. Plus Antigua had a better Fall than Marin so it’s Antigua’s spot to lose.

I think Antigua could be the best defensive shortstop in the SEC. The question is can he stay healthy?? That is what has hindered him the last two seasons.

 

[volfan411]

Will be interesting to see where our new HC calculates his plus/minus with his defense. I have not a clue.

I think as a former catcher he will have more of an emphasis on defense than Tony did but I could be wrong.