Mohl Likes Bulls' Progress as 2019 Season Nears
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By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA, JAN. 30, 2019 – With the first pitch of the 2019 USF baseball season a little more than two weeks away, second-year head coach
Billy Mohl gave the Bulls a solid progress report during team media day on Wednesday afternoon.
"We've had a good week and a half of practice," Mohl said. "… Overall, it's been a pleasant surprise. We've got another full week of practice this week, three intersquads this week, and just two weeks from Friday we open up."
USF returns 10 pitchers and six position starters from Mohl's 2018 squad that made the program's third NCAA Regional trip in a four-season span. The Bulls lost four players to the MLB Draft but reloaded in a big way with 16 newcomers who give the team much more lineup flexibility than USF's 36-win team in 2018. Check out the first two preseason position previews to learn about the Bulls'
outfield and
infield talent.
"Last year, it was plug-and-play. That same lineup was rolling out there every day," Mohl said. "This year, we have more options and we have more platoons we can play. We have right-left matchups we can go with. As of right now, we'll see how it goes but we have a chance for a lot of competition, especially out in the outfield."
USF's added depth will come in handy during one of the toughest seasons in a while when it comes to the schedule. Twenty-two of 55 games on the slate are against teams that appeared in an NCAA Regional last season, including opening weekend opponent Samford. The Bulls and Bulldogs will meet Feb. 15-17 at USF Baseball Stadium.
Right after Samford, USF hosts No. 6 Florida in a marquee matchup that's set for Tuesday, Feb. 19. Following a three-game series at No. 7 North Carolina (Feb. 22-24), USF Baseball Stadium should be packed once again for USF-No. 13 Florida State on Tuesday, Feb. 26.
"If you look at our first eight games, it's going to be a real grind," Mohl said. "... From a scheduling perspective and the conference we play in, it's good to test ourselves early like that and see how we stack up."
Versatile Hoffman Ready for More Pressure-Packed Innings
After starting his collegiate career as a two-way player, right-hander
Graham Hoffman turned into a valuable bullpen arm for the Bulls in 2018.
The Tampa native struck out 14 in 13 innings as a freshman and got the Bulls out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the fifth inning against UConn at the conference tournament.
"I think that was a big part of last year for me," Hoffman said.
As of right now, Mohl said Hoffman and junior right-hander
Nelson Alvarez (Miami) are battling for the closer role. Mohl noted Hoffman and Alvarez could even take turns closing on different nights, much like the Bulls' 2016 situation with
Andrew Perez and
Joe Cavallaro.
"I've always loved coming in at the end of the game," Hoffman said. "That's always been my favorite thing to do – just come in and throw as hard as you can."
Hoffman initially developed his mental toughness for pressure-packed innings under the guidance of the late Roy Halladay. The 2019 MLB Hall of Fame inductee coached and mentored Hoffman at Calvary Christian High School.
"It was sad that I could only be with him for like a year and a half. He was one of the greatest guys I've ever met in my life," Hoffman said. "He always gave back. He never thought about himself and he always did what was better for us. He did so much for me. He pulled for me everywhere."
Phillips Preparing For Another Productive Season
Mohl feels good about USF's outfield situation that includes star returner
Kyle Phillips.
The senior from Orlando was named to the preseason all-conference team after playing solid defense and finishing second on the 2018 USF squad with a .333 batting average.
Phillips said he learned a lot in his stellar debut season with the Bulls and he's preparing himself even better for the grind in 2019.
"I think what I did differently this offseason was I tried to focus on getting my body more prepared for it," Phillips said. "… I'm really focusing on getting my body right, so I can play the whole season and try to get every game down to where I'm there for the team every day."
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 11th 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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