2012 Early Look: Orleans Firebirds

Orleans Firebirds
Manager: Kelly Nicholson
2011 Record: 24-17-3

Orleans had some great hot streaks last year and rode one of them to a first-place finish in the East when the regular season ended. There was no streak in the playoffs, though, as the Firebirds were swept by Y-D in surprising fashion.

Despite that ending, it was another great summer in Orleans, where manager Kelly Nicholson always seems to push the right buttons. By my count, the franchise hasn’t had a losing season since 2001.

While most of the mainstays from last year’s first-place team are gone, there’s another solid crop of players coming in. The pitching staff should shape up well and the offense has its stars ready to go.

There’s no reason to think the Firebirds will break that streak this year.

Roster Rundown
Returning Players: 2
Juniors: 9
Sophomores: 18
Freshmen: 2

Notable

On paper, without accounting for roster shuffling by other teams, Orleans has the fewest freshmen of any team in the league, with just two. That doesn’t make the Firebirds the oldest team in the league, but they’re certainly not the youngest.

With another good summer, Trevor Gott could become the first player since the award was instituted to win two Relief Pitcher of the Year awards. Gott won that honor last year and was a closer for Kentucky this spring.

As long as Gott is around there may not be many saves to go around, but you can bet Pat Christensen will be there if a few chances pop up. He’s been a closer for three years with La Salle, something you don’t see very often in college baseball.

A handful of first-round draft picks have gone to college in recent years. Gerrit Cole probably had the most success in that group with three dominating seasons at UCLA on his way to being the top overall pick after his junior year. San Diego’s Dylan Covey went in the first round in 2010 and didn’t sign. He has not had as much success, but he’s still been good. He’s definitely a guy to watch this summer.

Dominic Ficociello played for Team USA last year but it looks like he’s bound for the Cape this year. One of the most highly-though of sophomore hitters in the country, Ficociello could be an anchor in the Orleans lineup.

Conrad Gregor is a likely candidate to join Ficociello in the middle of the order. He had a strong sophomore year, putting up the kind of numbers that signal a huge junior year ahead.

A few weeks ago, if Orleans was making a list of players likely to be late because of the College World Series, Stony Brook’s Brandon McNitt probably wouldn’t have been on it. But that’s the case as the upstart Seawolves are crashing the party. McNitt has had a big hand in the success — he pitched very well in the Super Regional against LSU.

Orleans got a great summer from Hawai’i’s Kolten Wong a few years back. Two more Hawaiians are headed to Orleans this year, and while they may not end up as MVP candidates like Wong, they’re both coming off good years.

Five Players I’m Excited to See
1. Dylan Covey
2. Dominic Ficociello
3. Trevor Gott
4. Austin Kubitza
5. Conrad Gregor

Pitchers

Jarrett Arakawa – LHP – 6’0 180 – Hawai’i – Sophomore
Pat Christensen – RHP – 6’4 200 – La Salle – Junior
Dylan Clark – LHP – 6’5 200 – Elon – Junior
Dylan Covey – RHP – 6’2 200 – San Diego – Sophomore
Kyle Crockett – LHP – 6’2 170 – Virginia – Sophomore
James Farris – RHP – 6’2 213 – Arizona – Sophomore
*Trevor Gott – RHP – 6’0 190 – Kentucky – Sophomore
Kyle Hunter – LHP – 5’11 180 – Dartmouth – Junior
Chase Johnson – RHP – 6’3 190 – Cal Poly – Sophomore
Josh King – RHP – 6’0 171 – Marshall – Sophomore
Austin Kubitza – RHP – 6’5 202 – Rice – Sophomore
Brandon McNitt – RHP – 5’10 170 – Stony Brook – Sophomore
Philip Pfeifer – LHP – 6’0 195 – Vanderbilt – Freshman
Jimmy Reed – LHP – 6’0 163 – Maryland – Junior
Matt Troupe – RHP – 6’2 180 – Arizona – Freshman
Trevor Williams – RHP – 6’3 228 – Arizona State – Sophomore

Jarrett Arakawa – LHP – 6’0 180
Hawai’i
Sophomore

A native of Honolulu, Arakawa had decent luck as a freshman before emerging as a standout starting pitcher this year. Arakawa finished the year with a 7-6 record and a 2.88 ERA. He struck out 70 and walked only 18 in 97 innings pitched.

Pat Christensen – RHP – 6’4 200
La Salle
Junior

Christensen has been a closer since day one at La Salle, and has excelled every step of the way. This year, he saved nine games had a 2.43 ERA an struck out 54 while walking just eight in 44 innings pitched.

Dylan Clark – LHP – 6’5 205
Elon
Junior

After posting a 9.00 ERA as a freshman, Clark became a standout in the rotation for Elon last year and continued the trend this year. He went 9-4 with a 3.76 ERA. He struck out 64 and walked 18 in 88.2 innings pitched.

Dylan Covey – RHP – 6’2 200
San Diego
Sophomore

Based purely on past draft history, Covey will be the most highly-touted player on the Cape this summer. Out of high school in 2010, Covey was selected by the Brewers in the first round, 14th overall. He didn’t sign, though, and headed to San Diego, where he’s been good but not quite as dominant as you might expect. This year, Covey went 6-3 with a 3.32 ERA. He struck out 50 but walked 43.

Kyle Crockett – LHP – 6’2 170
Virginia
Sophomore

Crockett was an outstanding reliever as a freshman last year, putting up a 1.97 ERA in 27 appearances. He just kept right on going this year, finishing the season with a 2.25 ERA in 32 appearances. He struck out 57 and walked only 12 in 60 innings of work.

James Farris – RHP – 6’2 213
Arizona
Sophomore

Farris made only two appearances out of the bullpen in 2011, but despite his lack of experience, he has emerged this year as a reliable third starter for the Omaha-bound Wildcats. Farris is 7-3 with a 4.18 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 99 innings.

Trevor Gott – RHP – 6’0 190
Kentucky
Sophomore

Gott was one of the top relievers on the Cape last summer, earning all-star honors with 12 saves and a 1.29 ERA. He also won the league’s reliever of the year award. This spring, Kentucky wisely kept him in the closer’s role, where he excelled again. Gott finished with nine saves, a 2.16 ERA and 38 strikeouts in just 25 innings pitched.

Kyle Hunter – LHP – 5’11 180
Dartmouth
Junior

Hunter had strong freshman and sophomore seasons at Dartmouth, pitching exactly 62 innings both years and posting an ERA around three to go with good strikeout numbers. His junior year was a bit of a struggle as Hunter finished with an ERA over five.

Chase Johnson – RHP – 6’3 190
Cal Poly
Sophomore

After starting his freshman season in the rotation, Johnson moved to the bullpen and has been a mainstay since. This year, he led the team with 25 appearances and had a 3.34 ERA. He struck out 31 in 35 innings.

Josh King – RHP – 6’0 171
Marshall
Sophomore

King is another guy who had an impressive season as a reliever. Making 23 appearances, he posted a team-best 2.30 ERA to go with 42 strikeouts in 43 innings pitched.

Austin Kubitza – RHP – 6’5 202
Rice
Sophomore

A seventh-round pick out of high school in 2010, Kubitza earned Conference USA Freshman of the Year honors last season when he had a 2.34 ERA and 102 strikeouts. Kubitza reprised his Friday starter role this season, finishing 6-5 with a 2.69 ERA and 73 strikeouts in 80.1 innings.

Brandon McNitt – RHP – 5’10 170
Stony Brook
Sophomore

McNitt came to Stony Brook all the way from California, and of course is now heading to Omaha. He’s had a big hand in the team’s success. The America East Rookie of the Year in 2011, McNitt earned first-team all-conference honors this year. He is 8-2 with a 2.26 ERA and 55 strikeouts in 87.2 innings.

Philip Pfeifer – LHP – 6’0 195
Vanderbilt
Freshman

Pfeifer was a 44th-round pick out of high school but honored his commitment to Vanderbilt. He pitched out of the bullpen as a freshman, putting up a 3.24 ERA in 11 appearances.

Jimmy Reed – LHP – 6’0 163
Maryland
Junior

Reed was the closer for the Terps this season and finished with eight saves and a 2.70 ERA. He struck out 52 in 60 innings. A junior, Reed was drafted this year, going in the 21st round to the Yankees.

Matt Troupe – RHP – 6’2 180
Arizona
Freshman

A 16th-round pick of the Yankees out of high school last year, Troupe has become a valuable bullpen arm for the Wildcats this year. In 22 appearances, he has a 3.90 ERA and he has struck out 39 in 32.1 innings.

Trevor Williams – RHP – 6’3 228
Arizona State
Sophomore

Williams had a tremendous sophomore season with the Sun Devils. On his way to all-conference honors, he went 12-2 with a 2.05 ERA. Though he only struck out 59 in 109.2 innings, he also only walked 13. Williams has been invited to Team USA.

Position Players

Kevin Brown – OF – 6’0 193 – Bryant – Junior
Dominic Ficociello – 1B – 6’4 185 – Arkansas – Sophomore
Jay Gonzalez – OF – 5’9 168 – Auburn – Sophomore
*Reed Gragnani – OF – 5’11 180 – Virginia – Junior
Conrad Gregor – INF/OF – 6’3 220 – Vanderbilt – Sophomore
Jake Hernandez – C – 6’1 195 – Southern California – Sophomore
Pi’ikea Kitamura – INF – 6’1 195 – Hawai’i – Junior
Cody Kulp – OF – 6’2 204 – Shippensburg – Junior
A.J. La Bruna – SS – 5’10 165 – Duke – Sophomore
Michael Montville – OF – 6’2 200 – Maryland – Sophomore
J.T. Riddle – OF/SS – 6’3 185 – Kentucky – Sophomore
Max Rossiter – C – 5’11 184 – Arizona State – Junior
Derek Toadvine – SS/CF – 5’11 165 – Kent State – Sophomore

Kevin Brown – OF – 6’0 193
Bryant
Junior

Brown has been a standout since day one at Bryant. He was the NEC Rookie of the Year in 2010 before turning in a solid sophomore season last year. This season, Brown hit .281 with a team-best nine home runs, 16 doubles and 35 RBI.

Dominic Ficociello – 1B – 6’4 185
Arkansas
Sophomore

A 23rd-round pick out of high school, Ficociello has been mentioned as one of the top prospects in his class since he arrived at Arkansas last year, and he hasn’t disappointed. After hitting .335 with 50 RBI last year, Ficociello batted .301 this year with six home runs and 40 RBI. He spent last summer with Team USA.

Jay Gonzalez – OF – 5’9 168
Auburn
Sophomore

Gonzalez hit under .200 in limited action last year but got more of a chance to play this year and made the most of it. Gonzalez batted .308 with 13 doubles and 19 RBI. He also stole a team-high 30 bases. Out of high school in 2010, he was a 27th-round pick of the Red Sox.

Reed Gragnani – OF – 5’11 180
Virginia
Junior

Like Gonzalez, Gragnani was also a 27th-round pick of the Red Sox, getting selected in the 2009 draft. Since then, he’s been a steady performer for the Cavaliers and he hit .311 in 24 games with Orleans last summer. This spring, Gragnani batted .362 in 20 games.

Conrad Gregor – INF/OF – 6’3 220
Vanderbilt
Sophomore

Gregor wad drafted in the 40th round out of high school but headed for Nashville and promptly hit .353 as a freshman last year. There was no sophomore slump this year, as Gregor hit .328 with three home runs, 20 doubles and 35 RBI. He also had a team-best .439 on-base percentage.

Jake Hernandez – C – 6’1 195
Southern California
Sophomore

A 22nd round pick of the Tigers out of high school, Hernandez hit only .200 in limited action last year. He had more success this year, finishing with a .286 average.

Pi’ikea Kitamura – INF – 6’1 195
Hawai’i
Junior

Kitamura took over the shortstop position for Hawai’i this year and earned first-team all-WAC honors with a great season. He hit .311 with nine doubles and 29 RBI.

Cody Kulp – OF – 6’2 204
Shippensburg
Junior

Kulp has had a good career at Shippensburg, a D-II school in Pennsylvania and he’s hinted that he can compete at a higher level. Last summer, he was tabbed as the No. 2 prospect in the New York Collegiate Baseball League by Perfect Game. This spring, Kulp hit .304 with four home runs and 32 RBI.

A.J. La Bruna – SS – 5’10 165
Duke
Sophomore

La Bruna has been the starting shortstop for the Blue Devils since he arrived on campus. He hasn’t shined with the bat yet, hitting .241 last year and batting .207 this year.

Michael Montville – OF – 6’2 200
Maryland
Sophomore

Montville hit .211 in spot duty as a freshman. He saw some more action this year and finished at .234 with four home runs and 16 RBI.

J.T. Riddle – OF/SS – 6’3 185
Kentucky
Sophomore

Riddle was a 35th-round pick out of high school. After an impressive freshman season, he earned all-star honors in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League and was named by Baseball America as the circuit’s third-best prospect. This spring, Riddle hit .279 with five homers and 38 RBI.

Max Rossiter – C – 5’11 184
Arizona State
Junior

A junior college transfer, Rossiter has an immediate impact in his first season with the Sun Devils. He hit .326 with two home runs, nine doubles and 18 RBI. Rossiter was a 46th-round draft pick after his sophomore year in the juco ranks.

Derek Toadvine – SS/CF – 5’11 165
Kent State
Sophomore

Toadvine has been a mainstay in the lineup for the Omaha-bound Golden Flashes. He’s hitting .255 with 15 RBI while holding down the second base job.