Cal State-Fullerton Titans
Overall rank: #6
Conference rank: #1 Big West
Cal State Fullerton Team Page
Teams with 40 victories are among the favorites to end up at the College World Series. Cal State-Fullerton was an exception last year. The Titans won the Big West Conference championship, their 25th conference title, but they saw the season cut painfully short with two losses in NCAA regional action following a victory over Illinois.
2011: 41-17, 19-5
2011 Postseason: Lost in Fullerton regional (beat Illinois, lost to Stanford and Illinois)
Coach: Rick Vandenhook
Field Players:
The loss of first baseman/pitcher Nick Ramirez, who clubbed nine home runs a year ago, will be painfully noticed by a team that hit just 17 total round-trippers. Luckily for the Titans, the top three hitters return. Outfielder Michael Lorenzen (see Who to Watch) leads a talented group of returning hitters that also includes first baseman Carlos Lopez (.342 average, two home runs, 34 runs batted in, 8-for-8 in stolen-base attempts) and infielder Richy Pedroza (.331-0-22, nine doubles, nine steals). Infielder Anthony Trajano (.313-0-23, five steals), catcher Jared Deacon (.298-0-12) and outfielder Ivory Thomas (.294-1-17, 20 steals) are also back, with Thomas providing some strong power on the bases along with Lorenzen. Since the team lost 13 players last year, the Titans will rely on solid reserves like outfielder Greg Velazquez (.344-1-12 in 64 at-bats) and catcher Casey Watkins (.286, 8-for-28 in limited action).
Pitchers:
This is an area where the Titans could have a problem. Noe Ramirez, Nick Ramirez, Tyler Pill and Colin O’Connell all were drafted by major-league organizations. Together, these four combined for a 23-9 record and 301 strikeouts, all while walking just 60 batters. Major League Baseball scouts would salivate at numbers like that, so naturally it shouldn’t be a surprise to see the Boston Red Sox draft Noe Ramirez, the Milwaukee Brewers take Nick Ramirez, the New York Mets take Pill and the Oakland Athletics select O’Connell. As a result, the Titans start over at pitcher, although the cupboard isn’t bare. Dylan Floro (4-2, 4.23 ERA, 13 walks, 39 strikeouts) and Christian Coronado (1-1, 5.06, six walks, 15 K’s) will be counted on at first. Most every pitcher on the Fullerton roster is a freshman.
Who to Watch:
While Michael Lorenzen doesn’t have the home-run pop of Nick Ramirez, he can certainly hit the ball. Lorenzen batted .342 with two home runs and 31 runs batted in, and he swiped 19 bases in 26 attempts. The team would like him to cut down on his strikeouts (24 in 146 AB, about a 1-in-6 whiff rate), but otherwise he is an effective leader on the field. The club wishes he could pitch, but that’s out of Fullerton’s hands. Lorenzen can hit for extra bases, with eight doubles and three triples, so he makes up for a lack of home-run pop with a little extra-base power.
Final Projection:
While Fullerton should be a lock for its 26th conference title, so much hinges on the freshmen. If freshmen pitchers can’t get the job done, it could be a long season by Titan standards. Still, the Big West is not a powerful conference, although college baseball in California is certainly powerful. Even if Fullerton drops to 30 victories, a trip to the NCAA regional should be no problem. If even one or two freshmen light up the scoreboard, the victory rate could go up.
Projected Postseason: NCAA
Returning Leaders:
At bats: Richy Pedroza, IF, 163
Hits: Richy Pedroza, IF, 54; Carlos Lopez, 1B, 54
Home Runs: Carlos Lopez, 1B, 2; Michael Lorenzen, OF, 2
RBIs: Carlos Lopez, 1B, 34
Runs: Ivory Thomas, OF, 46
Stolen Bases: Ivory Thomas, OF, 20
Wins: Dylan Floro, P, 4
Innings Pitched: Dylan Floro, P, 55.1
Strikeouts: Dylan Floro, P, 39
Saves: Dylan Floro, P, 1
