Troy University Athletics
2023 Troy Baseball Preview: Infielders
2/14/2023 3:00:00 PM | Baseball
TROY, Ala. – With only three days remaining before baseball returns to Troy, the Trojan infield is sure to be a group that you will want to keep an eye on this season.
A mix of youth and a solid upper class returning with plenty of new faces bring experience to the Trojan infield, with Caleb Bartolero, Clay Stearns William Sullivan, and Donovan Whibbs all looking to build off an impressive 2022 season.
"This year, there are going to be some new faces in the Trojan infield, but we are excited about the prospects of this group," head coach Skylar Meade said. "The right side will have two returners in William Sullivan and Donovan Whibbs, who have made significant strides in taking their games to the next level. Newcomer Matt Mercer has also shown tons of progress at first base over the last three months and has tons of pop in the bat.
"On the left side, Tremayne Cobb Jr. has been dynamic at shortstop, as well as Lance Gardiner, who has been very good at shortstop but can slide anywhere in the main three infield spots. Over at third, we have had a multitude of guys working, the two who have been there the most are Ethan Kavanagh and Ben Arnett. Both are exceptional with the bat and have worked their defensive games hard over the last five months. Lastly, Bartolero can do anything on the baseball field besides catching; this year, when he isn't behind the dish, I predict he will see more action at first and third, where his baseball athleticism shines."
Bartolero, a senior, played a variety of positions last season, seeing eight games behind the plate, a game at first base, two at third, 10 in left field, eight in right field, and nine games as the designated hitter. The Trojans will look to his bat once again as he hit .302 on the year with 468 at-bats, 45 hits, 10 doubles, six home runs, 28 runs batted in, and scored 30 runs. He hit three home runs in a single game against Jacksonville State to go along with four RBIs. The Woodstock, Ga. native was one of the three Trojans to have a double-digit hitting streak with a season-long of 10 straight games.
If you are looking for a leader behind the dish, look no further than Clay Stearns. Stearns Started 50 games at the catcher position, including 26 straight games behind the plate. Defensively Stearns is one of the best in the country, leading the Sun Belt Conference in fielding percentages, and his 425 putouts were the fourth-most in the conference. In addition, he caught 13 batters stealing which ranked fifth among catchers.
"On the catching side, we are fortunate to have the best tandem in college baseball in Bartolero and Stearns," Meade said. "Both lead our pitching staff very well as we charge into the season. Their innate ability to keep strikes as strikes is one of the best traits they possess behind the dish.
Whibbs is another senior manning the infield who is coming off a 2022 season where he started all 56 games at second base. His five triples led the Sun Belt Conference, and he was second on the team with 19 multiple-hit games and recorded nine multiple-RBI games, including a four-RBI Day against ULM. The Pensacola native ranked eighth in the conference with 144 assists and a .980 fielding percentage.
One of the most memorable moments last season came off the bat of William Sullivan when he hit a walk-off home run against Louisiana, a part of the Trojan's first-ever program sweep over the Ragin' Cajuns. Sullivan started in 55 games at first base and hit .273 while having the second-most at-bats with 209 in which he had 57 hits, 17 doubles, six home runs, 37 runs batted in, and scored 35 runs. He recorded a .440 slugging percentage with 10 games bringing in multiple RBIs, including four in the Trojan's win over Georgia Tech. He reached base safely in 20 straight games and defensively had the sixth most putouts in the Sun Belt Conference with 403 and fielded 36 double plays, ranking sixth.
Five infielders come to Troy via the transfer portal as Tremayne Cobb Jr, Lance Gardiner, Ben Arnett, Jake Smith, and Ethan Kavanagh all get ready for the first year with the Trojans. Cobb Jr. comes from the University of Hartford, where he led the team in home runs and was second in batting average, hitting .311. The Upper Marlboro, Md. native finished the 2021 season on the all-rookie team and was second-team all-conference; he appeared on the first-team all-conference team in 2022.
Brooks Bryan and Ayden Amis are two in-state products joining the ranks of the Trojan infielders. Bryan is from Opelika, Ala., and Amis is from Andalusia.
Troy opens its season with a three-game series against Evansville on Friday, Feb. 17, at 4 p.m. at Riddle Pace Field to kick off the second season of the Skylar Meade era.
A mix of youth and a solid upper class returning with plenty of new faces bring experience to the Trojan infield, with Caleb Bartolero, Clay Stearns William Sullivan, and Donovan Whibbs all looking to build off an impressive 2022 season.
"This year, there are going to be some new faces in the Trojan infield, but we are excited about the prospects of this group," head coach Skylar Meade said. "The right side will have two returners in William Sullivan and Donovan Whibbs, who have made significant strides in taking their games to the next level. Newcomer Matt Mercer has also shown tons of progress at first base over the last three months and has tons of pop in the bat.
"On the left side, Tremayne Cobb Jr. has been dynamic at shortstop, as well as Lance Gardiner, who has been very good at shortstop but can slide anywhere in the main three infield spots. Over at third, we have had a multitude of guys working, the two who have been there the most are Ethan Kavanagh and Ben Arnett. Both are exceptional with the bat and have worked their defensive games hard over the last five months. Lastly, Bartolero can do anything on the baseball field besides catching; this year, when he isn't behind the dish, I predict he will see more action at first and third, where his baseball athleticism shines."
Bartolero, a senior, played a variety of positions last season, seeing eight games behind the plate, a game at first base, two at third, 10 in left field, eight in right field, and nine games as the designated hitter. The Trojans will look to his bat once again as he hit .302 on the year with 468 at-bats, 45 hits, 10 doubles, six home runs, 28 runs batted in, and scored 30 runs. He hit three home runs in a single game against Jacksonville State to go along with four RBIs. The Woodstock, Ga. native was one of the three Trojans to have a double-digit hitting streak with a season-long of 10 straight games.
If you are looking for a leader behind the dish, look no further than Clay Stearns. Stearns Started 50 games at the catcher position, including 26 straight games behind the plate. Defensively Stearns is one of the best in the country, leading the Sun Belt Conference in fielding percentages, and his 425 putouts were the fourth-most in the conference. In addition, he caught 13 batters stealing which ranked fifth among catchers.
"On the catching side, we are fortunate to have the best tandem in college baseball in Bartolero and Stearns," Meade said. "Both lead our pitching staff very well as we charge into the season. Their innate ability to keep strikes as strikes is one of the best traits they possess behind the dish.
Whibbs is another senior manning the infield who is coming off a 2022 season where he started all 56 games at second base. His five triples led the Sun Belt Conference, and he was second on the team with 19 multiple-hit games and recorded nine multiple-RBI games, including a four-RBI Day against ULM. The Pensacola native ranked eighth in the conference with 144 assists and a .980 fielding percentage.
One of the most memorable moments last season came off the bat of William Sullivan when he hit a walk-off home run against Louisiana, a part of the Trojan's first-ever program sweep over the Ragin' Cajuns. Sullivan started in 55 games at first base and hit .273 while having the second-most at-bats with 209 in which he had 57 hits, 17 doubles, six home runs, 37 runs batted in, and scored 35 runs. He recorded a .440 slugging percentage with 10 games bringing in multiple RBIs, including four in the Trojan's win over Georgia Tech. He reached base safely in 20 straight games and defensively had the sixth most putouts in the Sun Belt Conference with 403 and fielded 36 double plays, ranking sixth.
Five infielders come to Troy via the transfer portal as Tremayne Cobb Jr, Lance Gardiner, Ben Arnett, Jake Smith, and Ethan Kavanagh all get ready for the first year with the Trojans. Cobb Jr. comes from the University of Hartford, where he led the team in home runs and was second in batting average, hitting .311. The Upper Marlboro, Md. native finished the 2021 season on the all-rookie team and was second-team all-conference; he appeared on the first-team all-conference team in 2022.
Brooks Bryan and Ayden Amis are two in-state products joining the ranks of the Trojan infielders. Bryan is from Opelika, Ala., and Amis is from Andalusia.
Troy opens its season with a three-game series against Evansville on Friday, Feb. 17, at 4 p.m. at Riddle Pace Field to kick off the second season of the Skylar Meade era.
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