Texas Tech Fall Ball review, 2017 starter projections

Texas Tech Fall Ball is now over, and it was capped off with the five game intrasquad Red & Black series. The Black team dominated the event, winning four of five behind big showings from a number of different bats.

So who were the players that stood out? What will things look like in the spring for Tim Tadlocks' bunch? I take a closer look below.

Jr. 2B Michael Davis - Davis has been a mainstay for the Red Raiders in the infield over the last two seasons as a defensive standout at 2nd. His bat has been up and down at times, however, as he struck out too much and wasn't necessarily one of Tech's monsters in the lineup last spring. He definitely turned heads this fall, however, knocking the ball around and finding a groove throughout the Red & Black series, starting things off with a 4-4, 3 RBI day in the series opener and going a home run shy of hitting the cycle. If Davis continues to show off his bat once the season rolls around, he could become a real factor in this lineup.

Jr. OF Connor Beck - Beck, a JUCO transfer and former TCU Horned Frog, is likely one of the most talented players on this roster, including at the plate. Beck knocked a two run homer out of the park in game two and hit a walk-off single to win the final game of the series for the black team. Overall the junior had three multi hit days in the series, showing off some real power with his bat with some doubles and a triple. Beck's a gifted outfielder and candidate for the lead off spot due to his speed, too. Beck is a big time talent that likely played his way into a starting position in the outfield for the Red Raiders.

Jr. 1B/DH Zach Rheams - Another JUCO transfer, Rheams is a player that could play either first base or carve out a niche as the every-day DH for this 2017 squad, and it looks like the latter is the more likely destination. Rheams put together a four hit performance in the opening game of the Red & Black and continued to show some promising pop throughout the five game set. Tech needs to find a way to replace Cory Raley's production as the DH, and they may get it in Rheams.

Jr. LHP Jacob Patterson - Patterson has been mostly a situational relief pitcher for the Red Raiders so far in his career, only making 13 appearances last season. But that's all definitely going to change in the spring, as the junior lefty was the best pitcher in the Red & Black, and by a good margin. He showed great command, got strikeouts, and limited his walks in his appearances, and with the progress he's made, he may very well be Tech's top long reliever and first in line to replace the bullpen production void left behind by Hayden Howard and Robert Dugger.

Fr. INF Brian Klein - One of the many true freshmen in this class, Klein was penciled in to be Michael Davis' backup at 2nd. I wonder if that could change now, however, as Klein was fantastic both at the plate and in the infield for the Red Raiders throughout the Red & Black. He showed some good pop and patience for a youngster at the plate, and he made a handful of great snags and stops at 2nd on some tough balls. Watch out for Klein to find a spot somewhere if he continues to play this well.

Fr. RHP John Henry Gonzalez - Gonzalez might be a youngster, but depending on the health of Dylan Dusek, he very well could end up being this team's Sunday starter in Big 12 play. Gonzalez tossed four innings of run free baseball in his start in game two, striking out three and allowing only one hit in that time frame. Gonzalez had some tougher outings later in the series but showed some good grit and worked himself out of a few jams, too. If you're looking for the next young pitcher to emerge for the Red Raiders, it very well may be Gonzalez.

With Fall Ball in the books, here's how I see things shaking out if the Red Raiders were to play a game tomorrow...

There are obviously a number of mainstays and returning starters that will anchor this team defensively, including Tanner Gardner in center, Michael Davis at 2nd, and Orlando Garcia at short stop. From there we'll see some new faces and shuffling around, however. You'll likely see Hunter Hargrove slide on over to 1st base, a natural move with Eric Gutierrez now gone.

However, after that there are going to be quite a few interesting position battles and newcomers out there for the Red Raiders. As stated above, Conner Beck played himself into a starting role in the outfield, likely in left. Right field will be interesting to watch as returning sophomore Cody Farhat, who played some a season ago, Ryan Long who's made the transition from 3rd base into the outfield, and JUCO newcomer Cameron Warren will all battle for the final spot in right field.

True freshman Josh Jung has seemingly locked up the starting role at third base, however, as he's shown off some defensive prowess and power at the plate to do so.

Catcher will be an interesting battle to watch. It will likely be a battle of two freshmen with Michael Berglund and Clay Koelzer. Koelzer has potential to be a middle of the lineup type of player sooner than later and has the bigger bat of the two, but Berglund is likley ahead defensively at the moment. That being said, I'd expect Berguland to be the every day catcher initially.

This is certainly going to be an interesting year to see how the every day lineup shakes out, simply because there are so many unknowns. Gone is the power of Stephen Smith, Tyler Neslony, Cory Raley, and Eric Gutierrez.

That means Hargrove and Gardner are likely your three and four hole in some order, Garcia will likely bat in the two hole, and that leaves room to sandwich the two JUCO power bats of Connor Beck and Zach Rheams as the leadoff and five hole batters respectively. After that it will be a bit of a guessing game.

Davis' position in the lineup will be interesting to follow, as you wonder if he might be used as a second leadoff man in the nine spot.

Its no secret that the strength of this team will lie in it's starting pitching, particularly with Martin and Gingery as arguably the best 1-2 combo in the Big 12 for Friday and Saturday contests.

They've got plenty of competition behind them the rest of the way, however, as Gonzalez showed flashes this fall, and Harpenau, Lanning, and Shetter all certainly have shown in the past that they're more than capable of taking up the mantle as the Sunday starter, too.

The X-factor and unknown here lies with Dylan Dusek. He's still rehabing, and after throwing a bit in the fall he was shelved after trying to do a bit too much too soon. That being said, i don't think there's a clear idea of what Dusek is going to give you yet. Will he be a full blown starter? Will he be reliever? Will he be limited to only a few innings a week? It's a total unknown at this point.

If he is able to get fully healthy, however, he'd almost certainly be in contention to make this starting rotation one of the saltiest in college baseball.

With Hayden Howard and Robert Dugger off to the majors, the Red Raiders are going to have to replace a whole lot of innings in the bullpen in 2017. That duo was fantastic for Tech, and they essentially became the late inning workhorses for Tech once conference play began.

Now, we'll have a whole host of new faces on the back end. As stated earlier, Patterson looks to be the top replacement for long relief, but don't sleep on the idea of Shetter moving from a starting role into the pen for the same purpose, either.

One thing that seems to be coming to fruition is that true freshman righty Josh Jung, who will also likely start at third, could very well be the closer for this team.

He's a low 90s thrower that only pitched a little bit this fall, but that was because the coaching staff felt like he was already where they wanted him to be developmentally for the role.