University of Memphis Athletics
Experienced Tigers Open 2017 Baseball Practice
Jan 27, 2017 | Baseball
Six seniors lead Memphis into 2017 season
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – With exactly three weeks until the start of the 2017 season, the Memphis baseball team stepped onto the field of FedExPark for its first team practice of the year Friday.
The Tigers are looking to bounce back from a disappointing season in 2016, finishing sixth in the American Athletic Conference. A much more experienced pitching staff and a veteran lineup could help Memphis see significant improvements in 2017.
"We are a more experienced club, probably in every area. We have more guys coming back that had to play big roles the previous year than ever before," Memphis head coach Daron Schoenrock. "We threw a lot of freshmen on the mound. Those guys have made a jump and we'll see if they have made enough of a jump. We have to get better on the mound and I think we have."
More than 70-percent of the Tigers' innings pitched were by freshmen and sophomores in 2016 and all 10 of those players return this season. This year's pitching staff will be rounded out by the addition of four incoming freshmen pitchers and two junior college transfers.
Connor Alexander and Colton Hathcock will anchor the pitching staff again in 2017. The juniors each pitched more than 80 innings last season and were the team's strikeout leaders.
Five seniors will scatter the Memphis lineup this season. Infielders Andy Bowman, Brandon Grudzielanek, Zach Schritenthal and Trent Turner as well as outfielder Chris Carrier are all expected to make significant contributions.
"We will have some questions to answer with the lineup and how we are going to use the roster. When we really started playing well the last 13 to 14 games last year was when Schritenthal started leading off for us so we are going to look to do that again. There are some very exciting things around the infield too," Schoenrock said.
Grudzielanek was named second team all-conference after starting all 61 games last season and batting .292 with 32 RBI and 39 runs scored. Schritenthal has played in more than 100 games at Memphis and has a career batting average over .260.
Carrier enters the season as an American Athletic Conference Preseason All-Conference player. He has a career batting average of .261 in 115 games played with 65 RBI and 67 runs scored. Carrier started 55 games last season, batting .280 and leading the team with 38 RBI and 45 runs scored.
"We are really excited after all of the work that we put in during the fall and the offseason," Carrier said. "We have a lot of returners to the lineup this year that got a lot of experience last year and a couple newcomers that will fill some needs. We have to take care of the little things, never quit and play with more diligence."
Memphis will have an exciting home schedule at FedExPark, welcoming Tennessee for a three-game series on the opening weekend of the season, Feb. 17-19. The series will mark the first three-game set between the Tigers and Volunteers since 1981 to be played in Memphis. Memphis swept that series and holds a 13-1 record against Tennessee at home.
In addition to the Tennessee series, Memphis baseball fans will have plenty more opportunities to see the Tigers early in the season. Memphis plays 14 of its first 16 games at FedExPark.
"Last year we took a young pitching staff and played a lot of games on the road early so now we are getting those return trips with a more experienced club. The key is, can this club get out to a great start," Schoenrock said.
The Tigers will again play a pair of games downtown at AutoZone Park, welcoming Ole Miss on March 21 and Mississippi State a week later on March 28.
The Tigers are looking to bounce back from a disappointing season in 2016, finishing sixth in the American Athletic Conference. A much more experienced pitching staff and a veteran lineup could help Memphis see significant improvements in 2017.
"We are a more experienced club, probably in every area. We have more guys coming back that had to play big roles the previous year than ever before," Memphis head coach Daron Schoenrock. "We threw a lot of freshmen on the mound. Those guys have made a jump and we'll see if they have made enough of a jump. We have to get better on the mound and I think we have."
More than 70-percent of the Tigers' innings pitched were by freshmen and sophomores in 2016 and all 10 of those players return this season. This year's pitching staff will be rounded out by the addition of four incoming freshmen pitchers and two junior college transfers.
Connor Alexander and Colton Hathcock will anchor the pitching staff again in 2017. The juniors each pitched more than 80 innings last season and were the team's strikeout leaders.
Five seniors will scatter the Memphis lineup this season. Infielders Andy Bowman, Brandon Grudzielanek, Zach Schritenthal and Trent Turner as well as outfielder Chris Carrier are all expected to make significant contributions.
"We will have some questions to answer with the lineup and how we are going to use the roster. When we really started playing well the last 13 to 14 games last year was when Schritenthal started leading off for us so we are going to look to do that again. There are some very exciting things around the infield too," Schoenrock said.
Grudzielanek was named second team all-conference after starting all 61 games last season and batting .292 with 32 RBI and 39 runs scored. Schritenthal has played in more than 100 games at Memphis and has a career batting average over .260.
Carrier enters the season as an American Athletic Conference Preseason All-Conference player. He has a career batting average of .261 in 115 games played with 65 RBI and 67 runs scored. Carrier started 55 games last season, batting .280 and leading the team with 38 RBI and 45 runs scored.
"We are really excited after all of the work that we put in during the fall and the offseason," Carrier said. "We have a lot of returners to the lineup this year that got a lot of experience last year and a couple newcomers that will fill some needs. We have to take care of the little things, never quit and play with more diligence."
Memphis will have an exciting home schedule at FedExPark, welcoming Tennessee for a three-game series on the opening weekend of the season, Feb. 17-19. The series will mark the first three-game set between the Tigers and Volunteers since 1981 to be played in Memphis. Memphis swept that series and holds a 13-1 record against Tennessee at home.
In addition to the Tennessee series, Memphis baseball fans will have plenty more opportunities to see the Tigers early in the season. Memphis plays 14 of its first 16 games at FedExPark.
"Last year we took a young pitching staff and played a lot of games on the road early so now we are getting those return trips with a more experienced club. The key is, can this club get out to a great start," Schoenrock said.
The Tigers will again play a pair of games downtown at AutoZone Park, welcoming Ole Miss on March 21 and Mississippi State a week later on March 28.
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