USF Senior Writer Tom Zebold is giving GoUSFBulls.com readers a three-part position preview heading into the Bulls' season opener against Louisville on Saturday, Feb. 16 in Clearwater. This week's installment features a versatile group of infielders that give head coach Lelo Prado a ton of options.

Part I: Outfielders

By TOM ZEBOLD

USF Senior Writer

TAMPA - Lelo Prado's office features a dry-erase board of a baseball field packed with names of players plotted at positions.

USF's veteran head coach has to write really small these days to fit everyone on there, and that's not even taking into consideration all the moves players can make over the course of a game.

"We haven't had that (depth) yet and that's something we've worked on," Prado said with a smile.

USF's depth and versatility definitely will be showcased in an infield that features proven veterans and brand new Bulls packed with potential.

Senior Jimmy Falla will share time with sophomore Buddy Putnam at first base when Falla isn't penciled into the lineup as an outfielder. Falla's defensive skills are steady and the Tampa native's bat made a ton of noise in last year's Big East tournament when he hit .375 with three homers to help the Bulls make the title game for the first time.

"If we can get Jimmy Falla to be consistent every day, we're going to have a great season," Prado said.

Prado won't get nervous when Falla jogs out to right field because of Putnam's ability to produce. The former Bartow (Fla.) High School standout was primarily a first baseman as a freshman when he logged in 37 games of experience. He also provides USF with another left-handed bat.

"He's physically bigger and he's better," Prado said. "If Buddy hits, it gives us options because then you don't have to rush Falla into the infield. If we see a lot of lefties, we can bring Falla into the infield and put a right-handed hitter in the outfield."

Prado also has two good options at second base with the return of sophomore Zac Gilcrease and senior Kyle Copack, who also will see time at third base. Both players are in the midst of a battle for innings and Prado is confident about the situation.

"Both are making the transition to second base and both have done a good job. We can play either one of those guys there," he said.

USF's most concrete position in the infield is at shortstop, a much different story than last preseason. Sophomore Kyle Teaf took over early last season and posted a .934 fielding percentage in 59 games (53 starts).

"Once we put him in there, we settled down defensively and we really took off," Prado said. "He plays the game the right way, he hustles and he brought a lot of energy to the game last year."

Redshirt freshman Nik Alfonso, a Tampa Catholic graduate, will back up Teaf and Prado said he'll come in handy during pressure situations because of his glove.

"He's one of our best defenders and he's working on his offense. I wouldn't be scared to put Alfonso in late in the game for his defense," Prado said.

Third base is another position that could be on a steady rotation this season. Aside from Copack, Prado could go with freshman Levi Borders or freshman Luke Maglich with the one constant being Borders.

"When Borders doesn't catch, he's going to play third. We need to keep his bat in the lineup," Prado said.

Borders, son of MLB veteran catcher Pat Borders, will share time behind the plate with sophomore Blake Sydeski, who recovered well from a concussion early last season. Sydeski missed almost a month because of the injury and wound up hitting .288 in 13 games.

"He was off to having a great freshman year and finished the right way," Prado said. "He's the kind of guy that if we're going to score some runs, he has to play a big role with that bat."

Senior Chris Norton also returns to provide more depth behind the plate and assistant coach Chris Heintz also gets to work with freshman Joe Altieri, a former team captain at Tampa Jesuit.

"Blake and Levi are going to split most of the games. I wouldn't be nervous about putting Norton or Altieri in, too. They just have to swing the bat," Prado said.

Head back to GoUSFBulls.com next Friday to get a look at USF's pitching situation under new pitching coach Lance Carter, a former MLB All-Star with Tampa Bay.