BATTING - Good Coaching leads to 109 Homeruns and the Big 12 POY

[Sangre Naranjada]

While it was technically his ball there were three guys trying to find it. People will be talking about that play as a really unfortunate way to lose, but only you and maybe a select few will specifically say it was his fault.

Grade-A TURDs post idoitic opinions like that. And notably, he is also too poor to throw a few bucks at sponsorship.

 

[theiioftx]

Reporting for duty sir!

 

[Chop]

Max Belyeu
as of 6/27/23

0,297 batting avg
0.514 on base %
1 homerun
6 RBI
in 37 ab

for the Santa Barbara Forresters in the California Collegiate Summer Baseball League. (going against some of the better young collegiate pitchers in the game)

It seems that Max has a good eye for the ball. He's off to a good start. He'll likely start in OF for us next year.

 

[Chop]

Max Belyeu
Updated as of 7/4/23

Belyeu keeps on batting well! And he's turned it up a notch this last week or so.

0.377 batting avg
0.604 on base %
1 homerun
8 RBI
in 53 ab

for the Santa Barbara Forresters in the California Collegiate Summer Baseball League. (going against some of the better young collegiate pitchers in the game)

 

[Chop]

Galvan jacked a homerun for the Foresters, but his batting avg is pretty low so far (in limited at bats). OB% 0.333.

 

[Chop]

Cam Constantine
OF
San Luis Obispo Blues

"...Cameron Constantine (Texas), who had two hits, two RBI and a run to fuel the win. He was the best among the batters this week, going 4-for-10 with four RBI in three appearances."

Don't write off Constantine. He's a Junior, and hasn't gotten that many opportunities yet.

 

[Chop]

This sunglasses model is SHOWING UP STRONG at the plate in Summer League ball. 1 homerun in every 12 at bats. Pretty good batting avg and very good OB % too.

 

[Chop]

Casey Cummings
OF
Walnut Creek Crawdads

0.297 batting avg
0.514 on base %
3 homeruns
14 runs
in 37 at bats

 

[Chop]

Our outfield may actually be pretty good this year...

 

[Chop]

Our outfield may actually be pretty good this year...

OUTFIELD

I'd like to see us bring in another top level portal transfer OF. if we don't, and even if Porter Brown is gone (he may or may not go...?), then without any other additions we've still got a fairly solid looking group:

Starters:
Cummings - good bat
Belyeu - good bat


Potential Starters:

Thomas - if we need the bat in the OF, and someone like Scheushler, Boehm, Powell, or a Freshman could play 1st?

Oliver Service - ? Excellent HS bat, against Michigan HS pitchers... Achieved many different regional and national recognitions/awards for his HS play. Everybody's all-star/all-American/all-everything. Listed as a C/OF. Highly likely to be a stud somewhere on the field before he leaves the 40. Kind of lightweight for a Catcher at this point in his baseball career. May ultimately end up at C, but if we need him in the OF next year, he's also listed as an OF. And this young man can bat. Keep an eye on this guy. He could be destined for greatness.

Werchan - so-so bat, but great speed, and he's an exceptional bunter. May not start, but Werchan should see lots of action pinch hitting late in games when we want a bunt, and/or pinch running.

Constantine - hasn't done much, but hasn't really gotten the chance yet. Batting well in Summer ball this year

Blake Peterson - ? Good bat in HS. Bleeds Orange.

Ean Czech - INF/OF - Another high school star, this one from Illinois. His big sister is our star pitcher on the UT softball team.

Of course, if Porter Brown is back, he's obviously one starting OF--bringing another good bat to the plate.

Oh, yeah, maybe Will Gasparino will make it to campus and play OF at the Disch. $2.5 million ain't what it used to be, Will....

 

[Chop]

Oliver Service - ? Excellent HS bat, against Michigan HS pitchers... Achieved many different regional and national recognitions/awards for his HS play. Everybody's all-star/all-American/all-everything. Listed as a C/OF. Highly likely to be a stud somewhere on the field before he leaves the 40. Kind of lightweight for a Catcher at this point in his baseball career. May ultimately end up at C, but if we need him in the OF next year, he's also listed as an OF. And this young man can bat. Keep an eye on this guy. He could be destined for greatness.

Oliver Service C/OF, from Michigan, is a 3-sport star. (baseball, hockey, football)

2022 - .410 batting avg; 19 doubles, 4 triples, 8 homeruns, 52 RBI 43 Runs

Here's Service jacking it out of the park.........as a Little Leaguer at the age of 13! Looks like he's had some highly competent batting coaching over the years.

 

[Chop]

Max Belyeu
Updated as of 7/4/23

Belyeu keeps on batting well! And he's turned it up a notch this last week or so.

0.377 batting avg
0.604 on base %
1 homerun
8 RBI
in 53 ab

for the Santa Barbara Forresters in the California Collegiate Summer Baseball League. (going against some of the better young collegiate pitchers in the game)

Belyeu continues to tear it up at Santa Barbara. He’s now batting over 0.400 with 3 homeruns.

 

[Chop]

Casey Cummings
OF
Walnut Creek Crawdads

0.297 batting avg
0.514 on base %
3 homeruns
14 runs
in 37 at bats

Casey Cummings is still on a roll! He’s hit 3 homeruns.

Cummings’ Crawdads teammate Ryan Ellis (St Mary’s) is a rising young 2B to watch.

The Prune Packers’ OF Robbie Hamchuk (San Jose State—WAC player of the year) is on a roll and would be an excellent portal transfer if he wants to play college ball with the big boys. Gumbo DuPlantier is his teammate on the Prune Packers and has recently gotten some good hits for RBIs.

 

[Chop]

"Popcorn! Coke! Beer! Hot Dogs! Prunes!"

(Healdsburg has to be the only stadium in the game where you'll hear the vendors shout that in the stands...)

Healdsburg, just a regular town. A very regular town.

 

[Chop]

Another Longhorn, playing for the Prune Packers.

Schuessler is batting 0.282 with 1 homerun, 7 RBI, 5 strikeouts, and 5 walks in 39 at bats this Summer. He was batting around 0.300, and showing some good power, at UT before he got injured in the 2022 season. Looks like he's working his way back.

 

[Chop]

Belyeu continues to tear it up at Santa Barbara. He’s now batting over 0.400 with 3 homeruns.

7/11/23
Belyeu
Now batting 0.374
OPS 1.017

And with more walks (14) than strikeouts (12)




In Santa Barbara

 

[Chop]

Max Belyeu - California Collegiate League - player

Check out Belyeu's spray chart at the link above. It's a work of art. Dude hits all over the place, mostly towards the middle, with plenty of opposite field hits. Only possible weakness is that there are no hits to the right of where the 2B would play or to 1B. Lots of hits past/over the 2B to RF though. Lots of hits to CF, and hits to LF. Opponents won't be able to run a big defensive shift on him. This guy is a hitting machine.

 

[Chop]

Cummings hits are very left-side/pull-side heavy (spray chart below). Teams will run a shift on him. But he does get hits. And homeruns. And he walks a lot. Not unlike Peyton Powell last year. Good player we've got there.

Casey Cummings - California Collegiate League - player

 

[Chop]

Cam Constantine
OF
San Luis Obispo Blues

"...Cameron Constantine (Texas), who had two hits, two RBI and a run to fuel the win. He was the best among the batters this week, going 4-for-10 with four RBI in three appearances."

Don't write off Constantine. He's a Junior, and hasn't gotten that many opportunities yet.

Constantine is batting 0.250 now. Don't write this guy off yet. Chopped liver he is not. Hopefully, he'll find more and more of a groove as his batting continues to improve. But depending on how the incoming talent pans out, playing time in our OF may be tough to get next year.

 

[Chop]

OUTFIELD

I'd like to see us bring in another top level portal transfer OF. if we don't, and even if Porter Brown is gone (he may or may not go...?), then without any other additions we've still got a fairly solid looking group:

Starters:
Cummings - good bat
Belyeu - good bat


Potential Starters:

Thomas - if we need the bat in the OF, and someone like Scheushler, Boehm, Powell, or a Freshman could play 1st?

Oliver Service - ? Excellent HS bat, against Michigan HS pitchers... Achieved many different regional and national recognitions/awards for his HS play. Everybody's all-star/all-American/all-everything. Listed as a C/OF. Highly likely to be a stud somewhere on the field before he leaves the 40. Kind of lightweight for a Catcher at this point in his baseball career. May ultimately end up at C, but if we need him in the OF next year, he's also listed as an OF. And this young man can bat. Keep an eye on this guy. He could be destined for greatness.

Werchan - so-so bat, but great speed, and he's an exceptional bunter. May not start, but Werchan should see lots of action pinch hitting late in games when we want a bunt, and/or pinch running.

Constantine - hasn't done much, but hasn't really gotten the chance yet. Batting well in Summer ball this year

Blake Peterson - ? Good bat in HS. Bleeds Orange.

Ean Czech - INF/OF - Another high school star, this one from Illinois. His big sister is our star pitcher on the UT softball team.

Of course, if Porter Brown is back, he's obviously one starting OF--bringing another good bat to the plate.

Oh, yeah, maybe Will Gasparino will make it to campus and play OF at the Disch. $2.5 million ain't what it used to be, Will....

And, this just in from Twitter, Porter Brown IS coming back!

 

[Chop]

Belyeu
as of 7/15/2023

Batting Avg. 0.380
OPS 1.029
3 Homeruns
15 Strikeouts
15 Walks
in 79 at bats

 

[Chop]

Flores has worked his batting avg up to 0.233

Another 17 point improvement, and he'll be there for a SS.

Galvan has been struggling at the plate. He and Schuesler may be in a battle for the starting C spot at the start of the year. Oliver Service (or another newcomer) could take the starting C spot if Schuesler's bat doesn't come back after his injury, and Galvan keeps struggling at the plate. Coach could always move Powell back to Catcher if he has to.

Both Flores and Galvan are Santa Barbara Foresters teammates of Belyeu (who has been killing it at the plate).

 

[Chop]

Schuessler is batting 0.268 with a homerun, 7 walks, and 5 strikeouts in 41 at bats over 16 games for the Prune Packers.

He will challenge for the starting Catcher spot right out of the gate this year. But keep an eye on Oliver Service (or even Powell) if Schuessler, Galvan, etc. aren't getting it done at the plate, or behind the plate.

 

[Chop]

(not Schuessler, but a funny picture nonetheless...)

 

[Chop]

I think Belyeu is following the path blazed by Powell last year. A guy who mostly rode the bench, then had a really good Summer where he batted well, followed by a really good year at the plate for the Horns.

 

[Chop]

Belyeu
as of 7/15/2023

Batting Avg. 0.380
OPS 1.029
3 Homeruns
15 Strikeouts
15 Walks
in 79 at bats

BELYEU’s stats are holding up after another weekend of Summer ball.

Batting Avg 0.386
OPS 1.027

Not a flash in the pan.

 

[Chop]

Schuessler is batting 0.268 with a homerun, 7 walks, and 5 strikeouts in 41 at bats over 16 games for the Prune Packers.

He will challenge for the starting Catcher spot right out of the gate this year. But keep an eye on Oliver Service (or even Powell) if Schuessler, Galvan, etc. aren't getting it done at the plate, or behind the plate.

Schuesler’s on base % is up to 0.360. Not bad for a catcher.

 

[Chop]

Casey Cummings is still on a roll! He’s hit 3 homeruns.

Cummings’ Crawdads teammate Ryan Ellis (St Mary’s) is a rising young 2B to watch.

The Prune Packers’ OF Robbie Hamchuk (San Jose State—WAC player of the year) is on a roll and would be an excellent portal transfer if he wants to play college ball with the big boys. Gumbo DuPlantier is his teammate on the Prune Packers and has recently gotten some good hits for RBIs.

Belyeu is a top 5 hitter in the California Summer League (maybe a top 3 hitter). Casey Cummings' Walnut Creek Crawdads teammate Ryan Ellis (infielder, St. Mary's) is also tearing it up. Robbie Hamchuck (outfielder, San Jose St) is likewise destroying the Healdsburg Prune Packers' stats sheet, and with plenty of at bats (like Belyeu).

 

[Chop]

Schuesller

Batting 0.273 with 8 strikeouts and 8 walks this Summer. Schuesller may go into next season as the leader for the starting catcher spot, but it will be a battle with Galvan, Service, and other(s)...

Healdsburg Prune Packers - California Collegiate League - team stats

 

[Chop]

Flores is now batting 0.270 with 2 homeruns.

He's our starting SS unless and until somebody beats him out. It's good to see his bat come alive. This has been a good Summer for him. He's a star in the field. Big time natural talent.

https://calsummerball.com/teams/santa-barbara-foresters-111233/