Baseball America has released the MVC Preview .
TLDR version:
Birds are picked to finish second in the league behind Dallas Baptist, and Ryan Cermak is picked to be the Frosh of the year.
TLDR version:
Birds are picked to finish second in the league behind Dallas Baptist, and Ryan Cermak is picked to be the Frosh of the year.
Things clicked for the Redbirds under first-year head coach Steve Holm in 2019, and while they saw a number of talented players depart due to the draft and graduation after the season, they still bring back a veteran club. Offensively, shortstop Joe Butler (.319/.370/.450), a good athlete who has played a number of positions in his career, outfielders Jack Butler (.304/.370/.444) and Jordan Libman (.299/.421/.376) provide a quality foundation. Getting first baseman Jake McCaw and outfielder Ryan Hutchinson back from injury will help as well. Illinois State lost all three members of its weekend rotation from last year, and replacing that production is a concern, but it hopes it has some of the answers already in-house. Righthander Brady Huffman projects to lead the rotation. He missed all of last season due to injury, but two years ago, he was the team’s Friday starter. Lefthander Colton Johnson (4-1, 4.61) will slot in behind him after serving mostly in relief in 2019. But Johnson was last seen in an ISU uniform throwing 7.1 quality innings in a regional final against Louisville. Freshman lefthander Trey Krause and junior righthander Brett Wicklund (4-4, 4.50) project to start games as well, whether in the Sunday spot or in the midweek. Bullpen roles will have to be hammered out as time goes on, but there’s no question who will be closing, with lefthander Jacob Gilmore (3.71, 11 SV) back.