Troy University Athletics
Baseball Season Preview - Infield & Catchers
2/13/2024 2:56:00 PM | Baseball
TROY, Ala. – Opening day for the Troy baseball team is just around the corner, and an explosive infield and catching group is preparing to take the field.
The Trojan infield and catcher group is headlined by returning seniors Tremayne Cobb Jr., Ethan Kavanagh, Lance Gardiner and Kyle Mock, plus newcomers Aidan Gilroy, Blake Sutton and Will Butcher.
Cobb enters his second season with the Trojans after transferring from Hartford. The 6-foot-1 shortstop appeared in 53 games for Troy in 2023, hitting an even .300 batting average with nine home runs and 43 RBIs.
He finished second for Troy in stolen bases with 14 and third with a .416 on-base percentage. Cobb was the only player for the Trojans to record five or more hits in a single game last season after his 5-for-6 performance against Georgia Southern.
Kavanagh is also entering his second season at Troy. The JUCO product put up big numbers in his debut campaign, starting in 62 games last season and hitting at a .314 clip with 71 hits and 38 RBIs.
"Ethan Kavanagh is one of the best bat-to-ball skill guys there is," head coach Skylar Meade said. "He's added on about 15 pounds of muscle, and he's improved his skills defensively. He's going to go out there and start at second for us and be our two-hole hitter to start the year, and I have full belief that he is going to be a superstar for us."
Gardiner serves as one of Troy's key utility players. The versatile senior can play anywhere in the infield and can slide out deep if the situation calls for it.
"Lance Gardiner is our super-utility guy," Meade said. "You could see him slide into the outfield at times. We believe in Lance. There were big moments late last year, and the ball was in Lance's hands. Everyone wants to be the guy that gets five at-bats and hits the homers, but there's a lot of ways to be a winning player, and Lance is a winning player, a winning kid and a great leader."
A fifth-year senior, Mock has primarily played as an outfielder for the Trojans. However, Mock will see plenty of action as Troy's backup first baseman. The Orlando, Florida, native is a career .273 hitter with 121 hits, 16 home runs and 90 RBIs.
Some key newcomers for the Trojan infield and behind the plate include a trio of senior four-year transfers in Sutton, Butcher and Gilroy, who fill holes left by departing seniors.
Sutton, a transfer from High Point, will serve as Troy's primary backstop. The fifth-year senior has played 151 games in his career. The 6-foot-3 catcher finished his 2023 campaign with 13 home runs and 40 hits, setting his career-high with a .497 slugging percentage.
"He has shown some offensive prowess and has been impressive for us in the preseason," Meade said. "He's crazy talented and has a chance to be a pro after his time here. He plays catcher like a shortstop. The movements are different and smooth. He was able to refine that and improve his blocking."
Butcher, a transfer from the Charlotte, is a former Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American. The 6-foot-2 senior will man first base for Troy. Butcher brings power, hitting 29 home runs in his career with 132 RBIs.
Gilroy, a transfer from Western Kentucky, will play at the hot corner for the Trojans. Gilroy had the best season of his career in 2023, hitting a .317 clip with 65 hits and 37 RBIs.
Some other key players are sophomore catcher Brooks Bryan and true freshman Peyton Watts.
Bryan was the Trojans' third catcher behind seniors Clay Stearns and Caleb Bartolero in 2023, knocking 13 hits with four homers and 12 RBIs.
"He has continued to show improvements in all aspects of his game and, most importantly, his catching ability," Meade said. "He's got a lot of leadership qualities that resonate with the pitchers."
Watts is a true freshman who joined the Trojans this past fall. The Oxford, Alabama, native has high potential, earning a 9.5 grade from Perfect Game and was named to the Alabama 6A All-State team as a senior. In 2023, Watts had a .409 batting average with four homers, nine triples, 24 doubles and 17 stolen bases.
"The future superstar is Peyton Watts; if anyone has come to see us play, you'll notice that he has all the moxie and talent," Meade said. "He could go yard, he could hit a single and steal second or third, he could make any play in the infield. He is a future superstar shortstop but could play third and second, and you have to love his versatility."
Troy's infield and catcher depth rounds out with seniors Ben Arnett and Jayden Sloan, juniors Jakob Wax, Parker Sessions and Jason Hawkins, and freshmen Ty Denton and Cooper Smith.
The Trojan infield and catcher group is headlined by returning seniors Tremayne Cobb Jr., Ethan Kavanagh, Lance Gardiner and Kyle Mock, plus newcomers Aidan Gilroy, Blake Sutton and Will Butcher.
Cobb enters his second season with the Trojans after transferring from Hartford. The 6-foot-1 shortstop appeared in 53 games for Troy in 2023, hitting an even .300 batting average with nine home runs and 43 RBIs.
He finished second for Troy in stolen bases with 14 and third with a .416 on-base percentage. Cobb was the only player for the Trojans to record five or more hits in a single game last season after his 5-for-6 performance against Georgia Southern.
Kavanagh is also entering his second season at Troy. The JUCO product put up big numbers in his debut campaign, starting in 62 games last season and hitting at a .314 clip with 71 hits and 38 RBIs.
"Ethan Kavanagh is one of the best bat-to-ball skill guys there is," head coach Skylar Meade said. "He's added on about 15 pounds of muscle, and he's improved his skills defensively. He's going to go out there and start at second for us and be our two-hole hitter to start the year, and I have full belief that he is going to be a superstar for us."
Gardiner serves as one of Troy's key utility players. The versatile senior can play anywhere in the infield and can slide out deep if the situation calls for it.
"Lance Gardiner is our super-utility guy," Meade said. "You could see him slide into the outfield at times. We believe in Lance. There were big moments late last year, and the ball was in Lance's hands. Everyone wants to be the guy that gets five at-bats and hits the homers, but there's a lot of ways to be a winning player, and Lance is a winning player, a winning kid and a great leader."
A fifth-year senior, Mock has primarily played as an outfielder for the Trojans. However, Mock will see plenty of action as Troy's backup first baseman. The Orlando, Florida, native is a career .273 hitter with 121 hits, 16 home runs and 90 RBIs.
Some key newcomers for the Trojan infield and behind the plate include a trio of senior four-year transfers in Sutton, Butcher and Gilroy, who fill holes left by departing seniors.
Sutton, a transfer from High Point, will serve as Troy's primary backstop. The fifth-year senior has played 151 games in his career. The 6-foot-3 catcher finished his 2023 campaign with 13 home runs and 40 hits, setting his career-high with a .497 slugging percentage.
"He has shown some offensive prowess and has been impressive for us in the preseason," Meade said. "He's crazy talented and has a chance to be a pro after his time here. He plays catcher like a shortstop. The movements are different and smooth. He was able to refine that and improve his blocking."
Butcher, a transfer from the Charlotte, is a former Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American. The 6-foot-2 senior will man first base for Troy. Butcher brings power, hitting 29 home runs in his career with 132 RBIs.
Gilroy, a transfer from Western Kentucky, will play at the hot corner for the Trojans. Gilroy had the best season of his career in 2023, hitting a .317 clip with 65 hits and 37 RBIs.
Some other key players are sophomore catcher Brooks Bryan and true freshman Peyton Watts.
Bryan was the Trojans' third catcher behind seniors Clay Stearns and Caleb Bartolero in 2023, knocking 13 hits with four homers and 12 RBIs.
"He has continued to show improvements in all aspects of his game and, most importantly, his catching ability," Meade said. "He's got a lot of leadership qualities that resonate with the pitchers."
Watts is a true freshman who joined the Trojans this past fall. The Oxford, Alabama, native has high potential, earning a 9.5 grade from Perfect Game and was named to the Alabama 6A All-State team as a senior. In 2023, Watts had a .409 batting average with four homers, nine triples, 24 doubles and 17 stolen bases.
"The future superstar is Peyton Watts; if anyone has come to see us play, you'll notice that he has all the moxie and talent," Meade said. "He could go yard, he could hit a single and steal second or third, he could make any play in the infield. He is a future superstar shortstop but could play third and second, and you have to love his versatility."
Troy's infield and catcher depth rounds out with seniors Ben Arnett and Jayden Sloan, juniors Jakob Wax, Parker Sessions and Jason Hawkins, and freshmen Ty Denton and Cooper Smith.
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