D1 Baseball's Annual preview.
They have UNCW winning the South division pick, and NU is the North pick,
D1 has UNCW beating out NU and CofC to win the tournament, but they say all 3 could play in a regional.
https://twitter.com/aaronfitt/status/136...10624?s=20
NORTHEASTERN
In six seasons under head coach
Mike Glavine, Northeastern has become one of the top programs in the Northeast. The Huskies won back-to-back CAA regular-season titles in 2017-18, snapped a 15-year NCAA tournament drought with an at-large bid in ’18, and jumped out to a 10-5 start in 2020, punctuated by a big road series win at Florida Atlantic. Northeastern is clearly the team to beat in the CAA’s North Division this year, but it’s unclear how the modified schedule could impact NU’s RPI and at-large chances. Regardless, these Huskies appear to have a regional-caliber roster, highlighted by potentially the best pitching talent of the Glavine era and a lineup loaded with speed and athleticism.
The Huskies aren’t likely to hit a bushel of home runs, but they will be able to keep pressure on opposing defenses with their speed and contact skills, and they should defend at a very high level. Speedsters
Spenser Smith and
Scott Holzwasser should form an elite double-play tandem, and Smith’s bat is starting to make strides, putting him on the draft radar for this summer. He’s a 6.5 runner with superb range at shortstop, and Holzwasser can hit for average with sneaky pop in his righthanded stick.
Ian Fair is a rock-solid defender at the hot corner who established himself as a valuable run producer over his first two seasons; he got off to a slow start in 2020 but should be one of the favorites for league player of the year honors in 2021.
Corey Diloreto is another athletic defender at first base with some pop from the right side, and
Teddy Beaudet is a rock behind the plate, where he is an agile defender with a strong arm. He got off to a great start with the bat last spring as well.
The outfield also looks dynamic. Center fielder
Ben Malgeri, a New Mexico JC transfer who began his career at Holy Cross, rates as one of the CAA’s top pro prospects for 2021, with 6.5 speed that really plays on defense and on the basepaths, emerging righthanded power and a mature approach. He’s a good enough defender to force incumbent CF
Jared Dupere (.359/.394/.578) to right field. Dupere also features an exciting power/speed package, and if he can reduce his swing-and-miss rate he could put up a monster season.
Jeff Costello brings additional speed to the left-field spot and could be a breakout candidate after putting together a strong fall.
On the mound, Northeastern has four power-armed rotation candidates who are all capable of touching 95 mph. 5YR SR righty
Kyle Murphy has been a fixture in the rotation over the last two years, and if he can continue to reduce his walk rate, he could make a run at CAA pitcher of the year honors. Murphy pitches at 91-93, bumps 95, and can miss bats with his slider and changeup, in addition to mixing in a curveball for strikes. 2YR FR
Sebastian Keane was the highest-profile recruit in Northeastern history as an unsigned 11th-round pick in 2019, and he got off to a solid start as a true freshman last year, posting a 24-6 K-BB mark in 20 innings over four starts. He has worked hard to refine his changeup and curveball, complementing his 92-96 mph heater and swing-and-miss slider. Fellow 2YR FR RHP
Cam Schlittler was the surprise of Northeastern camp this fall, turning himself into a real prospect by running his heater up to 96 on scout day and pitching in the 90-94 range for most of the fall. He features a hard 12-to-6 curveball, an effective power changeup and a slider that coaches say “is close to becoming plus-plus.” And veteran
Brian Rodriguez pitched at 90-93 and touched 95 this fall, showing the ability to pound the zone with his solid changeup and slider as well.
But the biggest arm on the staff belongs to 4YR JR righthander
Brandon Dufault, who is back to anchor the bullpen after posting a 0.96 ERA and four saves a year ago. Dufault pitches comfortably in the mid-90s and touches 97-98 along with a swing-and-miss changeup and a slider that continues to develop. If that slider really clicks, he could vault up draft boards in a big way. Also keep an eye on true freshman
Michael Gemma, a projectable 6-foot-5 righty who showed mid-90s heat this fall as well. And 6-foot-7 lefthander
James Quinlivan is an intriguing pick to click; he had Tommy John out of high school but returned to action and ran his heater up to 93 mph this fall. With so much firepower on the mound, Northeastern has a legitimate chance to actually win a regional if it can find its way into the postseason.
Baseball America preview...
1. Northeastern (10-5)
After getting swept in a tough opening series at Alabama, Northeastern won 10 of its next 12 games to end the 2020 season. The Huskies return a veteran group in the lineup from that team that should be strong defensively and has plenty of speed, led by fifth-year senior second baseman
Scott Holzwasser (.293/.438/.414), who led the team with five stolen bases in 2020. He’s anchored by fifth-year junior catcher
Teddy Beaudet (.378/.477/.541), who was excellent in his first season as starter after an encouraging summer in the New England Collegiate Baseball League, third-year sophomore right fielder
Jared Dupere (.359/.394/.578), outfielder
Ben Malgeri, whose plus speed and power make him an intriguing draft prospect, and fifth-year junior third baseman
Ian Fair (.258/.343/.290), the 2020 CAA Preseason Player of the Year who should be able to return to his strong 2019 form. On the mound, the Huskies are hurt by the loss of starter
Sam Jacobsak, who signed a nondrafted free agent deal with the Phillies, but still return a talented group led by
Sebastian Keane (3-1, 4.50) and Friday starter fifth-year senior righthander
Kyle Murphy (2-2, 3.00), who ranks fifth all-time in Northeastern history with 68 appearances. Sunday starter second-year freshman righthander
Cam Schlittler (1-0, 1.32) gives the team a third weekend starter who can throw in the mid 90s, and fourth-year junior righthander
Brandon Dufault (0.96, 4 SV) returns to close, giving Northeastern a potent mix of talent and experience.
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