Virginia Tech Hokies Baseball: 2015 Season Preview

With National Signing Day in the rearview mirror and Buzzketball floundering in ACC play, Hokie Nation can turn their attention to the diamond because college baseball has finally arrived! While the Blacksburg weather has been surprisingly cooperative for the young squad, the Hokies will seek warmer temperatures in Georgia as the Virginia Tech baseball season kicks off this week with a 3-game series with the Mercer Bears. After one of the most successful seasons in school history in 2013 culminated with the Hokies hosting the first NCAA Regional ever in Blacksburg, former head coach Pete Hughes left for Oklahoma University and current skipper Pat Mason inherited a team looking to replace most of its starting lineup. The Hokies limped to a 21-31-1 record in 2014 and will look to improve upon that mark as the season begins on Friday.

Key Returners

Saige Jenco, CF, r-So. — The speedy sophomore started 51 games in 2014 and led the team with 40 walks and 20 stolen bases out of the leadoff spot. Jenco was also second on the team with a .323 batting average and became the first freshman to swipe at least 20 bags since 1983. Fresh off of offseason shoulder surgery, Jenco may need another month or two before he can return to the outfield, but he should be ready to start the season as the top choice at DH.

Sean Keselica, 1B/LHP, Sr. — Keselica returns to Blacksburg for his senior season as one of the premier two-way players in the ACC and will be especially vital to the Hokies success on the mound in 2015. As one of the few Hokies pitchers with experience starting in ACC series, the Hokies will give the ball to Keselica on Friday nights as the team's ace. With 140 career hits, Keselica will also provide some pop in the middle of the Hokies lineup when called upon.

Brendon Hayden, RHP/INF, Sr. — Hayden has been an incredibly productive utility player over the past 3 years in Blacksburg and returns for his senior year as one of the Hokies most dangerous bats. Whether he's manning one of the corner infield spots or setting records as the biggest second basemen of all time, Hayden has consistently delivered solid power numbers for the Hokies, leading the team in home runs and doubles in 2014. With the Hokies desperate for pitching, Hayden may be needed more often this year on the mound where his 6'6'' frame lets him work downhill effectively.

Aaron McGarity, Kit Scheetz, Jon Woodcock — This trio of pitchers will round out the Hokies weekend starting rotation in some manner, but the competition for the final spots is still underway. With Sean Keselica entrenched as the Friday night starter, the Hokies will choose two arms out of these three to complete their rotation. McGarity made 5 starts in 2014 and posted a 4.61 ERA, but as the only righty of the bunch, he should win one of the two remaining starting roles. Scheetz, a former high school teammate of fellow lefty and Virginia ace Nathan Kirby, made 8 starts last year and earned 5 wins, but he had a pedestrian 5.76 ERA and will need to improve for the Hokies to count on him as a weekend starter. Woodcock, another southpaw, had a solid year in 2014 with a 3.71 ERA, but control was a major issue as he issued 28 free passes in just 43 innings, inflating his WHIP to 1.35 even though he only allowed 31 hits.

Key Losses

Mark Zagunis, C — After starting 161 consecutive games for the Hokies, Zagunis was drafted in the third round of the 2014 MLB Draft by the Chicago Cubs and immediately strengthened an already incredibly talented farm system. In 2014, Zagunis joined Tech legend Johnny Oates as one of only two catchers to lead the Hokies in batting average in two separate seasons. Perhaps even more remarkably, Zagunis stole 52 bases over 3 years in Blacksburg as a catcher. Junior Andrew Mogg and Freshman Joe Freiday Jr. will attempt to fill the shoes of Zagunis this season, a task that promises to be next to impossible.

Brad Markey, RHP — After two solid seasons pitching on the weekend (ACC conference games) for the Hokies, Markey was drafted in the 19th round of the 2014 MLB Draft by the Chicago Cubs, joining Zagunis in the top farm system in baseball. Pitching on Friday night in the ACC was unkind to Markey last year as he managed only a 2-8 record, but he still led the team in innings pitched (82), ERA (3.61), and strikeouts (57).

Top Newcomers

Erik Payne, INF, r-Sr. — A former infielder at national powerhouse South Carolina, Payne sat out in 2014 due to transfer rules and should be counted on to contribute immediately for the Hokies. As the only player on the Hokies roster with experience playing in the College World Series in Omaha, Payne will offer familiarity with the post-season that should serve the Hokies well. The Richmond native will likely start at the hot corner and be relied on to serve as a key cog in the middle of the Hokies lineup

2015 Recruiting Class — If you think football recruiting is an inexact science, baseball recruiting is essentially a game of pin the tail on the donkey this early in the year. The Hokies should dress 11 freshmen this season out of the 35 spots allowed on a college baseball roster and many will be forced to contribute immediately. Freshman pitchers will have the biggest opportunity to make an immediate impact with the Hokies returning a staff that struggled in 2014 and remains unproven in ACC play.

This Week (2/9 — 2/15)

The Hokies will head to Georgia on Friday for a 3-game series with the Mercer Bears out of the Atlantic Sun conference. The Bears are coming off of an impressive 2014 season where they posted a 38-17 record, but then quickly bowed out of the Atlantic Sun Tournament after losses to Stetson and East Tennessee State. In college baseball, early season games are always nearly impossible to predict with many teams only having a handful of outdoor practices to work with. With that being said, Mercer should provide the Hokies with a solid measuring stick and if the Hokies can head home to Blacksburg with 2 wins in their pocket, Coach Mason should return a happy camper.

Friday, February 13- VT @ Mercer, 4 P.M.
Saturday, February 14- VT @ Mercer, 2 P.M.
Sunday, February 15- VT @ Mercer, 1 P.M.

Season Outlook

The Virginia Tech baseball program is in an interesting spot right now. After a truly special 2013 season where the Hokies won 40 games, the rough 2014 campaign, while disappointing, was somewhat expected after much of the 2013 squad either graduated or left early in the MLB Draft. Pitching remains the big question mark for the Hokies entering 2015.

With the departure of Brad Markey, Virginia Tech has exactly zero pitchers that are established, successful weekend starters in the ACC. The coaches around the league appear to have taken notice of the question marks surrounding the pitching staff, picking the Hokies to finish in sixth in the ACC Coastal, topping only Pittsburgh. With in-state products Nathan Kirby and Josh Sborz returning to lead UVA's seemingly bottomless stockpile of arms, the 'Hoos once again appear to be the class of the division. UNC, Miami, and Georgia Tech all consistently have top college baseball programs, making the ACC Coastal one of the toughest divisions in the country every year. However, if the Hokies unproven pitching staff can find a few starters to rely on, anything is possible for this squad. The lineup should be extremely potent with tantalizing speed at the top in Saige Jenco and multiple experienced bats in the heart of the order. If the young pitching staff can get comfortable early on in the season in time for ACC play, Hokieball could make an exciting return to Blacksburg in 2015.