Troy University Athletics
Photo by: Dr. James Robinson, WKU Athletic Media Relations
Troy Baseball Season Preview – Outfield
2/11/2013 4:49:00 PM | Baseball
TROY, Ala. – The Troy University baseball team opens its 2013 campaign on Friday at 6 p.m. with the first of a four-game series against Florida A&M at Riddle-Pace Field. The series continues with a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. and concludes with a single-game on Sunday at 1 p.m.
TroyTrojans.com will preview the upcoming season over the next four days with a breakdown of each position followed by a preview of the weekend series with the Rattlers.
Monday – Outfield
Tuesday – Infield / Catchers
Wednesday – Pitchers
Thursday – Weekend Preview
The Breakdown
The Trojans enter the 2013 season with a talented pool of seven outfielders that have seen collegiate action. The depth and versatility of the position will allow head coach Bobby Pierce to mix and match his lineups to fit almost any matchup or situation.
Junior Danny Collins moves from third base to the outfield this season and earned one of three spots on the Sun Belt Preseason All-Conference Team. Collins hit .318 with a team-leading 12 home runs and 31 extra-base hits last year. He will see time at both corner outfield slots and could also act as Troy's designated hitter and slide into first base occasionally.
Senior Josh McDorman started 26 games in 2011 and was going to be a key piece of Troy's outfield last season before an injury ended his season after just nine games. McDorman can play all of the outfield positions for the Trojans and will provide a good pop with the bat.
Chase Mathis gives the Trojans another veteran bat in the corner outfield after the senior hit four home runs and posted a .457 slugging percentage over 28 starts last season.
The Trojans have plenty of speed to choose from in center field between junior Ali Knowles and sophomore Clay Holcomb. Knowles is considered one the best defensive outfielders in the nation and has showed a lot of progress in his offensive game in fall and spring practice. Holcomb finished eighth in the Sun Belt last season with 12 stolen bases and added four outfield assists.
Sophomore Jo-El Bennett passed on Major League Baseball coming out of high school after the Pittsburgh Pirates selected him with their 11th round selection. Bennett started 34 games as a true freshman last season and Perfect Game named him to their Sun Belt All-Conference team for the 2013 season.
Junior college transfer David Hall joins the Trojan outfield this season following a breakout sophomore campaign at Indian River CC that saw him hit at a .373 clip with 10 doubles and 11 home runs. Hall is expected to be Troy's opening day designated hitter.
Redshirt freshman Hunter Skipper has been battling injuries throughout the fall and spring.
Pierce Says:
“We decided to take Danny's athleticism to the outfield. This move was made due to the fact that his arm has not recovered from an injury he sustained in junior college to the form is needed to play third base. Outfielders have fewer throws to make and there are ways to protect his arm. Running wise, athleticism and fly ball judgment is all very good and the bat has to be in the lineup, so it's a matter of utilizing his skills and doing the best we can do to help him out with the arm issue.
“Ali Knowles has had a very good fall. He is a guy who has battled through various injuries in his career at Troy and he appears to be as healthy as he's ever been. He has been able to train better, longer and more this fall with team than he ever has. That training has brought about some consistency that we've been hoping and looking for, and he is playing with a lot of confidence. He is possibly the best defender in the outfield that I have ever coached, and I've had some pretty good ones. He is special in the outfield and can help you win games on defense.
“Chase Mathis is another corner guy who is a left-handed hitting senior. He has really brought about some more consistency and played very well for us up to this point and will get plenty of at-bats. The same can be said for senior Josh McDorman as he is coming back from a non-throwing shoulder surgery he had a year ago.
“Sophomore Jo-El Bennett has steadily improved all of the skills – defensively, offensively and on the base paths – and is doing things that I think will help the team. Transfer David Hall shows a lot of hitability with some raw power and will possibly be the designated hitter after hurting his foot in the fall. We really like his bat and think that he will be a middle of the order, run-producing type hitter.
“Clay Holcomb is another good-defending outfielder. He is a young player who is still trying to work on his offensive game but will see some time helping out in whatever role we need him. Hunter Skipper is a freshman who had hip surgery in the fall and is not quite ready to get involved to this day.”
TroyTrojans.com will preview the upcoming season over the next four days with a breakdown of each position followed by a preview of the weekend series with the Rattlers.
Monday – Outfield
Tuesday – Infield / Catchers
Wednesday – Pitchers
Thursday – Weekend Preview
The Breakdown
The Trojans enter the 2013 season with a talented pool of seven outfielders that have seen collegiate action. The depth and versatility of the position will allow head coach Bobby Pierce to mix and match his lineups to fit almost any matchup or situation.
Junior Danny Collins moves from third base to the outfield this season and earned one of three spots on the Sun Belt Preseason All-Conference Team. Collins hit .318 with a team-leading 12 home runs and 31 extra-base hits last year. He will see time at both corner outfield slots and could also act as Troy's designated hitter and slide into first base occasionally.
Senior Josh McDorman started 26 games in 2011 and was going to be a key piece of Troy's outfield last season before an injury ended his season after just nine games. McDorman can play all of the outfield positions for the Trojans and will provide a good pop with the bat.
Chase Mathis gives the Trojans another veteran bat in the corner outfield after the senior hit four home runs and posted a .457 slugging percentage over 28 starts last season.
The Trojans have plenty of speed to choose from in center field between junior Ali Knowles and sophomore Clay Holcomb. Knowles is considered one the best defensive outfielders in the nation and has showed a lot of progress in his offensive game in fall and spring practice. Holcomb finished eighth in the Sun Belt last season with 12 stolen bases and added four outfield assists.
Sophomore Jo-El Bennett passed on Major League Baseball coming out of high school after the Pittsburgh Pirates selected him with their 11th round selection. Bennett started 34 games as a true freshman last season and Perfect Game named him to their Sun Belt All-Conference team for the 2013 season.
Junior college transfer David Hall joins the Trojan outfield this season following a breakout sophomore campaign at Indian River CC that saw him hit at a .373 clip with 10 doubles and 11 home runs. Hall is expected to be Troy's opening day designated hitter.
Redshirt freshman Hunter Skipper has been battling injuries throughout the fall and spring.
Pierce Says:
“We decided to take Danny's athleticism to the outfield. This move was made due to the fact that his arm has not recovered from an injury he sustained in junior college to the form is needed to play third base. Outfielders have fewer throws to make and there are ways to protect his arm. Running wise, athleticism and fly ball judgment is all very good and the bat has to be in the lineup, so it's a matter of utilizing his skills and doing the best we can do to help him out with the arm issue.
“Ali Knowles has had a very good fall. He is a guy who has battled through various injuries in his career at Troy and he appears to be as healthy as he's ever been. He has been able to train better, longer and more this fall with team than he ever has. That training has brought about some consistency that we've been hoping and looking for, and he is playing with a lot of confidence. He is possibly the best defender in the outfield that I have ever coached, and I've had some pretty good ones. He is special in the outfield and can help you win games on defense.
“Chase Mathis is another corner guy who is a left-handed hitting senior. He has really brought about some more consistency and played very well for us up to this point and will get plenty of at-bats. The same can be said for senior Josh McDorman as he is coming back from a non-throwing shoulder surgery he had a year ago.
“Sophomore Jo-El Bennett has steadily improved all of the skills – defensively, offensively and on the base paths – and is doing things that I think will help the team. Transfer David Hall shows a lot of hitability with some raw power and will possibly be the designated hitter after hurting his foot in the fall. We really like his bat and think that he will be a middle of the order, run-producing type hitter.
“Clay Holcomb is another good-defending outfielder. He is a young player who is still trying to work on his offensive game but will see some time helping out in whatever role we need him. Hunter Skipper is a freshman who had hip surgery in the fall and is not quite ready to get involved to this day.”
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