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Photo by: Caitlin Collins
2016 Troy Baseball Preview: Catchers and Designated Hitters
2/15/2016 1:54:00 PM | Baseball
With the 2016 baseball season opening on Friday, TroyTrojans.com will take a position-by-position look at this year's team over the next four days.
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CATCHERS
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There are four guys who have been tabbed to play behind the plate for the upcoming season.
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The frontrunner is local product, Chase Smartt. The Troy, Ala., native is one of the better all-around candidates at the catcher position, with his ability offensively and defensively. The incoming freshman was the No. 31 catcher in the nation and the No. 6 player in the state of Alabama by Perfect Game. As a senior, Smartt hit .523 with seven home runs and 50 RBIs, while only striking out four times all year.
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The most experienced catcher is Tripp Calhoun. The senior saw action in 41 games and started 36 of them. He hit .219 with one home run and 11 RBIs in 2015, but battled an injury late in the year. The Dacula, Ga., native will certainly have a big role defensively.
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Brody Binder is the most explosive offensive option. The Ooltewah, Tenn., native had a .225 batting average and played in 24 games last year. The sophomore has a lot of power and sits at third on the depth chart at catcher, but will factor with his bat in some way.
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Newcomer Tyler Head is nursing an injury and may not be able to start off the season healthy. The freshman would play a limited role for the upcoming season.
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DESIGNATED HITTERS
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With the versatility of the 2016 team, designated hitter is a position that is still unsettled. However, there are a few players that could fit there predominantly when not playing in their primary fielding positions.
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The players who can be featured at designated hitter are sophomore catcher, Binder; junior infielder and outfielder, Joey Denison; senior infielder and outfielder, Austin Hulsey and freshman infielder Hunter Mercer.
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Smartt's Thoughts: Catcher is a position that will see multiple faces. It is one position where injuries can play a huge factor. Hopefully all those guys can stay healthy. Chase is going to get quite a bit of opportunity, but that's a situation where he will have to continue to improve and get better as a young player. Tripp's experience will play a huge role for him, but injuries could factor. Brody will be a solid backup option, but his bat plays a role as well.
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Smartt's Overall Team Thoughts: There is depth at every position of the field. There are also guys that can play multiple positions. Overall, this is a very athletic team in areas that we might not have been as athletic in, in the past. This team will cover more ground defensively and make more plays defensively. The main concern is the youth of the team and the lack of Division I experience. Until the newcomers get in the Division I concept and understand the intensity, those are the main issues.
Â
CATCHERS
Â
There are four guys who have been tabbed to play behind the plate for the upcoming season.
Â
The frontrunner is local product, Chase Smartt. The Troy, Ala., native is one of the better all-around candidates at the catcher position, with his ability offensively and defensively. The incoming freshman was the No. 31 catcher in the nation and the No. 6 player in the state of Alabama by Perfect Game. As a senior, Smartt hit .523 with seven home runs and 50 RBIs, while only striking out four times all year.
Â
The most experienced catcher is Tripp Calhoun. The senior saw action in 41 games and started 36 of them. He hit .219 with one home run and 11 RBIs in 2015, but battled an injury late in the year. The Dacula, Ga., native will certainly have a big role defensively.
Â
Brody Binder is the most explosive offensive option. The Ooltewah, Tenn., native had a .225 batting average and played in 24 games last year. The sophomore has a lot of power and sits at third on the depth chart at catcher, but will factor with his bat in some way.
Â
Newcomer Tyler Head is nursing an injury and may not be able to start off the season healthy. The freshman would play a limited role for the upcoming season.
Â
DESIGNATED HITTERS
Â
With the versatility of the 2016 team, designated hitter is a position that is still unsettled. However, there are a few players that could fit there predominantly when not playing in their primary fielding positions.
Â
The players who can be featured at designated hitter are sophomore catcher, Binder; junior infielder and outfielder, Joey Denison; senior infielder and outfielder, Austin Hulsey and freshman infielder Hunter Mercer.
Â
Smartt's Thoughts: Catcher is a position that will see multiple faces. It is one position where injuries can play a huge factor. Hopefully all those guys can stay healthy. Chase is going to get quite a bit of opportunity, but that's a situation where he will have to continue to improve and get better as a young player. Tripp's experience will play a huge role for him, but injuries could factor. Brody will be a solid backup option, but his bat plays a role as well.
Â
Smartt's Overall Team Thoughts: There is depth at every position of the field. There are also guys that can play multiple positions. Overall, this is a very athletic team in areas that we might not have been as athletic in, in the past. This team will cover more ground defensively and make more plays defensively. The main concern is the youth of the team and the lack of Division I experience. Until the newcomers get in the Division I concept and understand the intensity, those are the main issues.
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