Eastern Michigan Athletics
2020 Baseball Season Preview
2/11/2020 4:48:00 PM | Baseball
The 72nd EMU baseball campaign begins Friday, Feb. 14
Season Preview Video.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University baseball team travels to the Volunteer State, leaving behind the frigid Michigan conditions to open its 2020 season Friday, Feb. 14, in Clarksville, Tenn. After a 2019 campaign that ended without a trip to the Mid-American Conference Tournament, second-year Head Coach Eric Roof and the rest of the team are ready for a new beginning.
Roof enters his sixth season in the Eastern Michigan program, with last year being the first as the skipper. Roof spent one year with the interim-head coach tag after four as an assistant coach. When discussing the upcoming season, he offered "We're always trying to work on something. Our focus right now is to find a way to get one percent better today."
Remaining on staff is pitching coach, A.J. Achter, and hitting/defensive specialist Jonathan Roof, the younger brother of Eric. Joining the staff for the 2020 campaign is volunteer assistant coach Cory Mee. A fixture in Division I baseball, Mee was a standout player at Notre Dame, and has spent the better part of 30 years in coaching ranks. He spent the previous 16 seasons as the head coach of EMU's MAC foe, the University of Toledo.
This season, the Eagles welcome 10 new players to Ypsilanti, many of whom will look to make an immediate impact on the field. The team also features a slew of play-making veterans, welcoming back the likes of team strikeout leader, pitcher Scott Granzotto (Northville, Mich.-Gabriel Richard), and three-time captain, catcher Nick Jones (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview).
Effort is a term that characterizes the EMU dugout going into 2020, and is a word that has been expressed by junior captain Shane Easter (Kalamazoo, Mich.-Comstock) throughout preseason preparations. "We're not taking anything for granted this year," said Easter. "Every day, every practice. We expect everyone around the program to give it their all. That's how we will be successful."
PITCHING
The projected 2020 lineup features a slew of veteran hurlers, highlighted by graduate student Davis Feldman (Warren, Mich.-Brother Rice), who will return to the bump after missing the entire 2019 campaign due to injury. Second-year standout Justin Meis (Pittsburgh, Pa.-Bethel Park) and southpaw Granzotto will also look to have big campaigns for the Green and White.
In Feldman's last fully-healthy season, 2017, he made 19 appearances on the mound, including three starts. The Warren, Mich. product totaled a 4.79 ERA in 47 innings, racking up 28 strikeouts, and notched a pair of wins as well as a pair of save. He was named to the MAC All-Tournament team after throwing a complete game in a 9-1 semifinal win over Central Michigan, May 27, allowing just the one run on five hits while striking out five. The effort helped EMU to its first MAC Tournament Championship game since 2008.
Meis, the only EMU freshman to earn a win on the bump last season, made 14 appearances, including 12 starts, on the mound for EMU in his freshman campaign. He led the team in innings pitched (58), struck out 42 batters, and earned his first career win against Bowling Green, April 7.
Although his season was cut short due to injury in 2019, Granzotto remains a steadfast part of the rotation in 2020. The Northville, Mich. native appeared in 12 games, making nine starts on the mound a season ago, and led the team in strikeouts (47), ERA (3.88), complete games (1), and was second on the team in opponent batting average (.278). Additionally, he became the first Eagle to throw a complete game since 2017 when he tossed a strong nine innings against Bowling Green, April 5.
Elsewhere on the staff, a mix of newcomers and veterans will look to log innings in the midweek starting role and out of the bullpen. Freshman Cameron Wagoner (Tecumseh, Mich.-Tecumseh) highlights the incomers. Despite being drafted in the 22nd round of the 2019 MLB Draft by the Texas Rangers, he chose to attend EMU. Although young, the newcomer from nearby Tecumseh will look to make an impact for the Eagles this season. At the back end of the bullpen, senior captain Caleb Hester (Coloma, Mich.-Coloma) and junior Thomas House (Ross, Ohio-Ross) will return and look to lock down the end of games.
The rest of the staff will be made up of both fresh and returning faces, who will look to prove themselves early in the season in order to carve out a role come conference play.
CATCHERS
Filling out the back end of the battery in an everyday role will be senior, and returning captain, Nick Jones, who will look to build upon his already impressive career. Jones overcame injury to make 44 appearances, all starts, as the team's primary catcher in 2019. A team captain for the third straight year, he tallied 46 hits, including seven for extra bases, 22 RBIs, and compiled a .317 slugging percentage and .341 on-base percentage. The Battle Creek, Mich. native knocked a career-best four hits in a game against Miami (OH), March 30. He compiled a 12-game hitting streak, good for third-best on team, and added career-best six stolen bases on the year. A sure-handed defender, Jones fielded the catcher position at a .958 clip a season ago.
Backing up Jones will be a mix of his teammates, including redshirt sophomore Eli Gora (Cincinnati, Ohio-Anderson), redshirt junior Mike Monahan (Saline, Mich.-Saline), sophomore Stephen Karis (Zionsville, Ind.-Zionsville Community) and freshman Ryan Lux (Shelby Twp., Mich.-Stevenson).
INFIELD
The infield will anchor the EMU defense this season, offering solid depth and experience as a unit, with numerous players being able to play multiple spots.
First base will likely be locked down by junior college-transfer Christian Bault (Maineville, Ohio-Archbishop Moeller (Lincoln Trail)). Bault played two years as a member of the Lincoln Trails College squad, where he compliled a .365 batting average, .432 on-base percentage and added nine home runs along the way.
After losing former First Team All-MAC selection Zachary Ownings to the Miami Marlins organization, Eagles fans can expect to see different faces on the hot corner this season. Easter has experience at the position, as he played 40 games between the infield and outfield last season, while newcomer Daniel Warkentin (Leamington, Ontartio-Leamington District (Parkland C.C.)) is also known for his third base abilities. Warkentin played in 50 games during the 2019 season at Parkland, where he tallied 53 hits, 43 RBI, and a .323 batting average for the Cobras.
A variety of players will handle the middle section of the infield for the Green and White. Highlighting the returners is second-year shortstop Taylor Hopkins (Mason, Ohio-Archbishop Moeller). Hopkins made 46 appearances, including 45 starts, as the team's primary shortstop in 2019. He tallied 36 hits, including eight extra-base hits, 17 RBIs, and 18 runs in his freshman campaign, the most of any freshman on the team.
Veterans such as seniors Devin Hager (Commerce Twp., Mich.-Walled Lake Northern), redshirt junior Drake Peggs (Knightstown, Ind.-Knightstown Community), and junior Jared Kauffman (Springboro, Ohio-Bishop Fenwick) should all be fixtures within the infield for the Eagles.
OUTFIELD
The outfield will see two out of three starters from the 2019 squad return in 2020, as junior Nate Jones (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview) and redshirt junior Jeff Timko (Rochester Hills, Mich.-Brother Rice) will aim to patrol center and left field, respectively. Jones appeared in 53 games, making 52 starts in 2019. He led all sophomores in games played, at-bats (181), runs (28), hits (42), and RBIs (23), and had 12 multi-hit games and five multi-RBI games, both good for third on the team in 2019. The third-year star also knocked a career-high two home runs, and compiled a .331 slugging percentage, a career-best. Timko made a career-high 53 appearances and 51 starts in left field for the Green and White in 2019. He knocked 52 hits, had 24 RBIs, compiled a .451 slugging percentage and had a .382 on-base percentage, all career-bests. The Rochester Hills, Mich. native led the team with five home runs and tied for the team lead in triples, with five.
Finally, the designated hitter spot will likely see a mix of talented Eagles fill that role. With the depth that the EMU bench offers, numerous players will see an opportunity to make an impact from inside the batter's box in 2020.
The Eagles begin the 2020 campaign this Friday, Feb. 14, when they battle Austin Peay for the first game of a three-game set down in Clarksville, Tenn. For the most up-to-date information on all things EMU baseball, visit EMUEagles.com or follow the team on social media at @EMU_Baseball.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University baseball team travels to the Volunteer State, leaving behind the frigid Michigan conditions to open its 2020 season Friday, Feb. 14, in Clarksville, Tenn. After a 2019 campaign that ended without a trip to the Mid-American Conference Tournament, second-year Head Coach Eric Roof and the rest of the team are ready for a new beginning.
Roof enters his sixth season in the Eastern Michigan program, with last year being the first as the skipper. Roof spent one year with the interim-head coach tag after four as an assistant coach. When discussing the upcoming season, he offered "We're always trying to work on something. Our focus right now is to find a way to get one percent better today."
Remaining on staff is pitching coach, A.J. Achter, and hitting/defensive specialist Jonathan Roof, the younger brother of Eric. Joining the staff for the 2020 campaign is volunteer assistant coach Cory Mee. A fixture in Division I baseball, Mee was a standout player at Notre Dame, and has spent the better part of 30 years in coaching ranks. He spent the previous 16 seasons as the head coach of EMU's MAC foe, the University of Toledo.
This season, the Eagles welcome 10 new players to Ypsilanti, many of whom will look to make an immediate impact on the field. The team also features a slew of play-making veterans, welcoming back the likes of team strikeout leader, pitcher Scott Granzotto (Northville, Mich.-Gabriel Richard), and three-time captain, catcher Nick Jones (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview).
Effort is a term that characterizes the EMU dugout going into 2020, and is a word that has been expressed by junior captain Shane Easter (Kalamazoo, Mich.-Comstock) throughout preseason preparations. "We're not taking anything for granted this year," said Easter. "Every day, every practice. We expect everyone around the program to give it their all. That's how we will be successful."
PITCHING
The projected 2020 lineup features a slew of veteran hurlers, highlighted by graduate student Davis Feldman (Warren, Mich.-Brother Rice), who will return to the bump after missing the entire 2019 campaign due to injury. Second-year standout Justin Meis (Pittsburgh, Pa.-Bethel Park) and southpaw Granzotto will also look to have big campaigns for the Green and White.
In Feldman's last fully-healthy season, 2017, he made 19 appearances on the mound, including three starts. The Warren, Mich. product totaled a 4.79 ERA in 47 innings, racking up 28 strikeouts, and notched a pair of wins as well as a pair of save. He was named to the MAC All-Tournament team after throwing a complete game in a 9-1 semifinal win over Central Michigan, May 27, allowing just the one run on five hits while striking out five. The effort helped EMU to its first MAC Tournament Championship game since 2008.
Meis, the only EMU freshman to earn a win on the bump last season, made 14 appearances, including 12 starts, on the mound for EMU in his freshman campaign. He led the team in innings pitched (58), struck out 42 batters, and earned his first career win against Bowling Green, April 7.
Although his season was cut short due to injury in 2019, Granzotto remains a steadfast part of the rotation in 2020. The Northville, Mich. native appeared in 12 games, making nine starts on the mound a season ago, and led the team in strikeouts (47), ERA (3.88), complete games (1), and was second on the team in opponent batting average (.278). Additionally, he became the first Eagle to throw a complete game since 2017 when he tossed a strong nine innings against Bowling Green, April 5.
Elsewhere on the staff, a mix of newcomers and veterans will look to log innings in the midweek starting role and out of the bullpen. Freshman Cameron Wagoner (Tecumseh, Mich.-Tecumseh) highlights the incomers. Despite being drafted in the 22nd round of the 2019 MLB Draft by the Texas Rangers, he chose to attend EMU. Although young, the newcomer from nearby Tecumseh will look to make an impact for the Eagles this season. At the back end of the bullpen, senior captain Caleb Hester (Coloma, Mich.-Coloma) and junior Thomas House (Ross, Ohio-Ross) will return and look to lock down the end of games.
The rest of the staff will be made up of both fresh and returning faces, who will look to prove themselves early in the season in order to carve out a role come conference play.
CATCHERS
Filling out the back end of the battery in an everyday role will be senior, and returning captain, Nick Jones, who will look to build upon his already impressive career. Jones overcame injury to make 44 appearances, all starts, as the team's primary catcher in 2019. A team captain for the third straight year, he tallied 46 hits, including seven for extra bases, 22 RBIs, and compiled a .317 slugging percentage and .341 on-base percentage. The Battle Creek, Mich. native knocked a career-best four hits in a game against Miami (OH), March 30. He compiled a 12-game hitting streak, good for third-best on team, and added career-best six stolen bases on the year. A sure-handed defender, Jones fielded the catcher position at a .958 clip a season ago.
Backing up Jones will be a mix of his teammates, including redshirt sophomore Eli Gora (Cincinnati, Ohio-Anderson), redshirt junior Mike Monahan (Saline, Mich.-Saline), sophomore Stephen Karis (Zionsville, Ind.-Zionsville Community) and freshman Ryan Lux (Shelby Twp., Mich.-Stevenson).
INFIELD
The infield will anchor the EMU defense this season, offering solid depth and experience as a unit, with numerous players being able to play multiple spots.
First base will likely be locked down by junior college-transfer Christian Bault (Maineville, Ohio-Archbishop Moeller (Lincoln Trail)). Bault played two years as a member of the Lincoln Trails College squad, where he compliled a .365 batting average, .432 on-base percentage and added nine home runs along the way.
After losing former First Team All-MAC selection Zachary Ownings to the Miami Marlins organization, Eagles fans can expect to see different faces on the hot corner this season. Easter has experience at the position, as he played 40 games between the infield and outfield last season, while newcomer Daniel Warkentin (Leamington, Ontartio-Leamington District (Parkland C.C.)) is also known for his third base abilities. Warkentin played in 50 games during the 2019 season at Parkland, where he tallied 53 hits, 43 RBI, and a .323 batting average for the Cobras.
A variety of players will handle the middle section of the infield for the Green and White. Highlighting the returners is second-year shortstop Taylor Hopkins (Mason, Ohio-Archbishop Moeller). Hopkins made 46 appearances, including 45 starts, as the team's primary shortstop in 2019. He tallied 36 hits, including eight extra-base hits, 17 RBIs, and 18 runs in his freshman campaign, the most of any freshman on the team.
Veterans such as seniors Devin Hager (Commerce Twp., Mich.-Walled Lake Northern), redshirt junior Drake Peggs (Knightstown, Ind.-Knightstown Community), and junior Jared Kauffman (Springboro, Ohio-Bishop Fenwick) should all be fixtures within the infield for the Eagles.
OUTFIELD
The outfield will see two out of three starters from the 2019 squad return in 2020, as junior Nate Jones (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview) and redshirt junior Jeff Timko (Rochester Hills, Mich.-Brother Rice) will aim to patrol center and left field, respectively. Jones appeared in 53 games, making 52 starts in 2019. He led all sophomores in games played, at-bats (181), runs (28), hits (42), and RBIs (23), and had 12 multi-hit games and five multi-RBI games, both good for third on the team in 2019. The third-year star also knocked a career-high two home runs, and compiled a .331 slugging percentage, a career-best. Timko made a career-high 53 appearances and 51 starts in left field for the Green and White in 2019. He knocked 52 hits, had 24 RBIs, compiled a .451 slugging percentage and had a .382 on-base percentage, all career-bests. The Rochester Hills, Mich. native led the team with five home runs and tied for the team lead in triples, with five.
Finally, the designated hitter spot will likely see a mix of talented Eagles fill that role. With the depth that the EMU bench offers, numerous players will see an opportunity to make an impact from inside the batter's box in 2020.
The Eagles begin the 2020 campaign this Friday, Feb. 14, when they battle Austin Peay for the first game of a three-game set down in Clarksville, Tenn. For the most up-to-date information on all things EMU baseball, visit EMUEagles.com or follow the team on social media at @EMU_Baseball.
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