BYU baseball: Three most-important Cougars of 2017
BYU baseball is gearing up for a Georgia road trip this weekend. The Cougars have a solid team, but these three are the most important.
BYU baseball will open its season against No. 21 Georgia Tech on Feb. 17. After that, the Cougars will play Kennesaw State and Georgia State as part of the Atlanta Challenge.
The Cougars started last season 23-3 before getting bit by the injury bug and limping to a 37-17 finish.
Now healthy, head coach Mike Littlewood’s squad is aiming at a West Coast Conference title and a NCAA tournament appearance.
BYU baseball has the right pieces. The Cougars hit for power and for average. They’re disciplined at the plate, have the back end of the bullpen in place, and have an ace.
But these three players will be the most important for BYU baseball.
Maverik Buffo, RHP
Buffo was another Cougar that went down with an injury in 2016. He went 6-2 with a 3.63 ERA in 11 starts last season, but also failed to reach the second inning four times. Last year he was the No. 2 to Mike Rucker’s ace, but he’ll need to become a No. 1 for the Cougars this season.
He’s got good control and can get punch outs (35 strikeouts in 44+ innings last season) and will be on the bump on Opening Day against Georgia Tech.
It’s going to be crucial that Buffo is a collected presence on the mound for the Cougars every time he takes the bump. The back end of the rotation is still fairly unproven, but Buffo silencing opposing bats will go a long way towards BYU’s success in 2017.
Kyle Dean, OF
Dean missed most of last season with a stress fracture in his back, resulting in him taking a medical redshirt for 2016. But, when he was healthy, he was a force in the middle of the lineup. Dean hit .286 with five home runs in 16 games last season, but he’s got a ton of upside.
He attended Ranco Bernardo High School in California – a school that’s no stranger to MLB talent – and was an Under Armour All American in high school.
Dean has every tool to be an incredible outfielder. He’s got a good arm, great range and is patient at the plate. He’ll be a crucial piece in the middle of BYU’s lineup.
Colton Shaver, C/1B
Shaver led the Cougars with 10 home runs and 57 RBI last season, and will once again look to anchor the middle of the lineup.
He spent most of the offseason trying to improve his defensive range and footwork – something that may prove to be a severely underrated aspect of his game.
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Shaver and Dean will be a strong combo in the No.3 and No. 4 spots in the batting order. With the back end of the starting rotation in question, BYU baseball might need to rely on its bats. Shaver will undoubtedly be ready to deliver.