USF Athletics

USF Baseball Preseason Position Preview: Infield

January 25, 2019

POSITION PREVIEW NO. 1: OUTFIELD
 
By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer

TAMPA, JAN. 24, 2019 – With a solid mix of returners and fresh talent, USF head coach Billy Mohl likes what the Bulls will bring to the infield in 2019.

All-conference first baseman Joe Genord returns for his senior season along with trusty Tyler Dietrich, who has plenty of help at catcher this season. USF has lots to work with at the other infield positions while the battle for the shortstop spot is heating up between two promising freshmen.

After learning about USF's deep outfield, let's take a closer look at the Bulls patrolling the infield as the program gets closer to its season-opening home series against Samford that's set for Feb. 15-17.

Catcher
When it came to catching in 2018, it was up to Tyler Dietrich and USF's iron man delivered.

The senior from Naples, Fla., caught in all 59 games and logged in 514.1 innings to lead the nation. The American's all-tournament team member also made noise with his bat, cranking out a career-best 14 doubles and 15 multi-hit games while driving in 36 runs.

"Tyler is a huge piece," Mohl said. "What he did last year was incredible."

Dietrich is slated to start once again, but he'll have a plethora of relief with the Bulls packing the cupboard with five catchers for 2019.

"Last year, we went through the whole year with one catcher. I didn't want to be in that position again," Mohl said.

Catching relief starts with Tampa native Jake Sullivan, who will make his USF debut after sitting out last season due to NCAA transfer rules. The redshirt sophomore began his collegiate career at Dallas Baptist after earning numerous All-America honors at Durant High School in Plant City.

"He'll be the No. 2 behind Dietrich," Mohl said.

Versatile Jordan Santos (Tampa) enters the catching mix following two seasons at Miami Dade College, where he batted .356 and scored 28 runs in 30 games.

USF also welcomes up-and-coming freshmen Julio Cortez and Danny Gutcher.

Cortez (Weston, Fla.) had a stellar senior prep season, batting .330 with 27 RBI at American Heritage High School in Plantation, Fla., where he was a four-year letter winner.

Gutcher (Tampa) has stayed at home to play for the Bulls after posting a career batting average of .338 at Gaither High School, which won a state title in his sophomore season.

First Base
USF is pumped about preseason all-conference pick Joe Genord returning to first base, where he started 46 games during his 2018 all-conference campaign that included a team-high 16 homers, 11 doubles and 53 RBI.

Genord (Lake Worth, Fla.) ranks sixth in program history with 31 career home runs and he holds the USF record with homers in four straight games (March 13-17, 2018).

"It was huge getting Joe Genord back, having his power back in the lineup and him being a senior," Mohl said. "He's our key piece. He'll hit in the four-hole and play a really good first base for us."

Junior newcomer Austin Bodrato also can play first base in addition to his defensive skills that will be utilized in the outfield. The Northvale, N.J., native played for Santa Fe College last season and Florida in 2017.

Mohl also is confident about putting more Bulls at first base if needed.

"We can move any of the infielders over to first base," he said.

Second Base
Like the other infield positions, USF has numerous names it can pencil in at second base, including senior returner JD Dutka.

Dutka (Suwanee, Ga.) put together an impressive debut season with the Bulls in 2018, starting 56 games at second and hitting .299 with 17 doubles (21 extra-base hits). The former Florida Southwestern State College standout also tied for fifth on the 2018 USF squad with 36 runs scored and reached base safely in 21 straight games.

"He's solid and a good college player," Mohl said. "We also might move him to third base throughout the course of the spring. We'll see."

Mohl said USF has been working out Jordan Santos at second base in addition to his catching duties and second base options continue with returning senior Jordan Feist.

Feist (Brandon, Fla.) played in 19 games as a first-year Bull in 2018 after a productive start to his college career at Pasco-Hernando State College. From 2016-17, the former Brandon High School star scored 50 total runs and hit .304 as a sophomore at PHSC.

"Jordan is kind of our utility infielder. He can play third, short, second," Mohl said. "He's kind of the heart and the soul of the team. Jordan is a great teammate and late in the game you'll probably see him in the field somewhere. He's a really good defensive player."

Shortstop
This position is up for grabs now that 2018 star shortstop Coco Montes is doing big things in the minor leagues for the Colorado Rockies organization.

Freshmen Nick Gonzalez and Dylan Buck are now competing for the job after showing leadership skills at the prep level. Gonzalez (Tampa) served as team captain for Alonso High School as a senior while Buck was a two-time team captain at Lakewood Ranch (Fla.) High School.

"Nicky Gonzalez is one of the better defenders I've ever seen as far as a true freshman," Mohl said. "He can really pick it. From a defensive standpoint, he could play every day."

Third Base
Freshman Dylan Buck is a busy man this fall, competing for the starting shortstop position along with showcasing his talent at third base.

"Dylan Buck is going to have a really good career here. He can play short or third, and what's really intriguing about him is his bat as a freshman," Mohl said. "He's going to be a guy who will hit in the middle of our order eventually down the road."

Another option for the Bulls at third is JD Dutka, who did a whole lot for the Bulls at second in 2018.

"One of those guys will play third base," Mohl said. "We'll just see how that goes."
 
About USF Baseball
The University of South Florida baseball team is one of the fastest rising programs in the country. The Bulls reached the NCAA Regionals in 2015 for the first time in 13 years and followed that success with a 42-19 record and second NCAA regional trip in three years in 2017. The Bulls continued the success under first-year head coach Billy Mohl in 2018, reaching 36 wins and advancing to the semifinals of the conference tournament for the first time since 2012, while being ranked in multiple polls for the final two months. USF earned its third NCAA Regional berth in the last four seasons and had six all-conference selections in 2018. The team had four players drafted in the 2018 MLB Draft, including the program's fourth first rounder, Shane McClanahan. Junior third baseman David Villarwas taken in the 11^th round after tallying 24 doubles and hitting better than .370, being named first team all-conference and an All-American. The USF Baseball program has won five conference titles and the Bulls have made 13 NCAA tournament appearances.
 
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