2021 Season Preview
February 17, 2021 04:52 PM | Baseball
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Finally, baseball is back in Morgantown.
After an excruciating wait of what-will-be 345 days between games, the West Virginia University baseball team has its eyes set on making up for lost time in 2021. And with a roster full of key contributors and no lack of motivation, the college baseball world is already taking notice of what is brewing at Monongalia County Ballpark.
Led by head coach Randy Mazey, West Virginia again plans to trek through the ultra-competitive Big 12 Conference in hopes of returning to the NCAA Tournament for the third time since 2017. To do so, this talented group of Mountaineers must continue on the path it was headed last season before its premature end. With assets all over the diamond, though, there's no doubt WVU will be ready for what promises to be one of the most action-packed seasons in college baseball history.
"We have all this experience back; it wasn't from our senior class, but we have several guys on this team right now that wouldn't be here if the (MLB) Draft would've been normal," Mazey said. "That gives us some really good, experienced players that we think are going to have success here and have proven they can have success here. The talent at the Power 5 level is going to be through the roof this year. I think every team in the Big 12 is probably going to say this is the best team they've had in a while."
Here's what to know heading into the exciting, new season, which begins on Feb. 19, at Georgia State:
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUBaseball on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
After an excruciating wait of what-will-be 345 days between games, the West Virginia University baseball team has its eyes set on making up for lost time in 2021. And with a roster full of key contributors and no lack of motivation, the college baseball world is already taking notice of what is brewing at Monongalia County Ballpark.
Led by head coach Randy Mazey, West Virginia again plans to trek through the ultra-competitive Big 12 Conference in hopes of returning to the NCAA Tournament for the third time since 2017. To do so, this talented group of Mountaineers must continue on the path it was headed last season before its premature end. With assets all over the diamond, though, there's no doubt WVU will be ready for what promises to be one of the most action-packed seasons in college baseball history.
"We have all this experience back; it wasn't from our senior class, but we have several guys on this team right now that wouldn't be here if the (MLB) Draft would've been normal," Mazey said. "That gives us some really good, experienced players that we think are going to have success here and have proven they can have success here. The talent at the Power 5 level is going to be through the roof this year. I think every team in the Big 12 is probably going to say this is the best team they've had in a while."
Here's what to know heading into the exciting, new season, which begins on Feb. 19, at Georgia State:
- The 2021 campaign marks the 129th year and 126th season of baseball at WVU. The Mountaineers are the second-oldest program in the Big 12.
- WVU received unprecedented attention this winter, earning the highest preseason ranking in program history. The Mountaineers were placed No. 14 in D1Baseball.com's Preseason Top 25.
- West Virginia also appeared at No. 21 in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) preseason poll and No. 22 in the USA TODAY NCAA Baseball Coaches Preseason Poll.
- Mazey enters his ninth season at the helm in Morgantown and owns a mark of 238-181 at WVU. In 14 seasons as a head coach, Mazey, the fourth-winningest skipper in program history, is 425-341-2.
- In his time at WVU, Mazey has led the Mountaineers to at least 33 wins four times in eight seasons. Under Mazey's tutelage, WVU also has finished in the top four of the Big 12 standings four times since 2013. Of note, West Virginia did not play any conference games last season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The Mountaineers are entering their ninth season in the Big 12 this spring. WVU is one of two teams to reach the Big 12 Championship Semifinals in each of the last four times the conference tournament was held (2016-19).
- WVU welcomes back 25 returners from the 2020 squad, which posted an 11-5 record. That includes eight of nine starters on the lineup card.
- All 25 players that return from last season's club received an extra year of eligibility by the NCAA after the 2020 season was cut short due to COVID-19.
- A trio of Mountaineers earned Preseason All-Big 12 honors. Senior infielder Tyler Doanes, senior catcher/designated hitter Paul McIntosh and senior left-handed pitcher Jackson Wolf were recognized by the conference.
- Doanes has started a team-high 104 games in his Mountaineer career, including 37 in a row.
- Wolf was named a Preseason All-America Third Team selection by the NCBWA, the first to earn the recognition since Braden Zarbnisky was tabbed a preseason first-teamer in 2018.
- WVU was picked to finish sixth in the Big 12 Preseason Coaches' Poll.
- West Virginia's freshman class was ranked No. 21 nationally in D1Baseball's Top 25 Newcomer Rankings. It also received top-40 national recognition by Perfect Game.
- Twelve newcomers join the program, including 10 freshmen and two transfers. Fifth-year senior outfielder Hudson Byorick has joined the club from Wofford, while junior left-handed pitcher Adam Tulloch also has arrived in Morgantown following a stint at the College of Central Florida.
- Fifth-year senior infielder Kevin Brophy, Doanes, McIntosh, junior outfielder Austin Davis and sophomore catcher/infielder Matt McCormick return for the Mountaineers after appearing in all 16 games in 2020.
- Brophy has made starts in each of the last four seasons, including five in 2017, 16 in 2018, 42 in 2019 and 16 in 2020.
- In the starting rotation, Wolf, sophomore lefty Jake Carr and sophomore right-hander Tyler Strechay all made four starts on the mound last spring. The trio combined to start 12 of the squad's 16 games a year ago.
- Wolf finished No. 3 in the Big 12 in ERA (1.05), opposing batting average (.157) and was No. 4 in innings pitched (25.2) last spring.
- Four of WVU's top five relievers are ready to roll in 2021. Junior righties Zach Ottinger (9.0 innings pitched) and Madison Jeffrey (6.1 IP) and sophomore right-handers Skylar Gonzalez (8.1 IP) and Jacob Watters (7.2 IP) saw at least six innings of work out of the bullpen last season.
- The Mountaineer bullpen was terrific in 2020, combining to allow just one run in its final 28.0 innings pitched on the year.
- McIntosh led the way in production with 14 RBIs in 2020, ahead of McCormick (11), Davis (10) and Doanes (10).
- Scott hit a team-leading three triples in limited action last year, good for No. 10 nationally and No. 3 in the Big 12.
- The Mountaineers were once again active on the base paths last season, swiping 39 bags and ranking No. 8 in the country in the category. Doanes stole seven bases last season, while Davis stole six and Scott swiped four. What's more, Doanes has tallied 27 stolen bases in the last two years to lead the team.
- On the mound, Carr's team-leading WHIP of 0.72 ranked No. 32 nationally and No. 4 in the Big 12. Wolf ranked just behind his teammate in the Big 12 at 0.74.
- Players from 16 states represent the 2021 Mountaineers this season. A team-high seven players are in-state products, while five hail from Florida and Virginia. WVU also has four players from Georgia and two each from Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Wisconsin.
- West Virginia's roster is made up of 10 freshmen, 11 sophomores, three redshirt sophomores, seven juniors, one redshirt junior, three seniors and two fifth-year seniors.
- The Mountaineers' position breakdown includes four catchers, 10 infielders, six outfielders, 13 right-handed pitchers and six left-handed pitchers.
- WVU's schedule features 48 games, including 28 at Monongalia County Ballpark in Morgantown. The club is set for its home opener on March 5, against Kent State.
- What's more, West Virginia has the opportunity to play 15 consecutive games at The Mon, which would tie for the third-longest homestand in program history. WVU last played 15 straight home games in 2008.
- This spring marks the seventh season for the Mountaineers at Monongalia County Ballpark. In all, the squad is 78-43 at the facility.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUBaseball on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
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