Iowa Baseball Season Preview - Infield

The HawkeyeReport Iowa Baseball season preview starts with a look around the infield. The Hawkeyes return just two starters from last season, but there is plenty of optimism with the group. Brendan Sher, Izaya Fullard and Peyton Williams are no longer on the roster, but a couple of transfers have helped rebuild the infield.

FIRST BASE

Wofford transfer Brennen Dorighi takes over at first base after Peyton Williams was drafted in the seventh round by the Toronto Blue Jays. Dorighi spent four years with the Terriers and appeared in 118 games, including 81 starts. This past season, he was a First Team All-SoCon selection after hitting .339 with nine home runs and 12 doubles. At one point during the season, Dorighi had a 31 game on-base streak and had multiple RBIs in 14 games, which tied for the team lead. Wofford finished the season with a 42-16 record and just missed the NCAA Tournament.

“Can’t say enough about what Brennen’s brought to our program and stepping in to fill Peyton Williams shoes to this point,” said Rick Heller. “He’s a really professional hitter. He’s going to give you a solid at bat…He’s just a really good hitter to all fields. Doubles power with home run power occasionally and I think Brennen is set up to have really solid year.”

“He’s a great leader. I mean, if you come in and you’re only here a semester and you’re named a captain, it tells you a lot about your makeup and the type of kid he is.”

Pulling an All-SoCon selection out of SEC country and keeping him from a joining a different southern program could end up being a big steal for the Hawkeyes.

True freshman Blake Guerin out of Shoreview, MN is the other first baseman. Perfect Game rates Guerin as the #2 overall and #1 1B prospect in the state of Minnesota for the class of 2022. He won East Metro Player of the Year, an award won by former Tennessee OF and 2019 MLB Draft pick Drew Gilbert.

SECOND BASE

Last year, second base had quite a bit of rotation with Izaya Fullard dealing with a hand injury for the first half of the season. Five players started at the position and now Fullard departs after four years with the team, so the spot will be turned over to someone new this season.

Junior Sam Hojnar transferred in from Heartland CC and started 23 games last season, including 12 at second base. He had some bad luck midseason and missed nearly a month with an illness. Hojnar batted .273 on the year with seven doubles, including a season-best 5/11 (.455) weekend against Indiana to end the regular season. Now, Sam is in the conversation for the starting job at second base, but has dealt with a back issue this spring.

“When he’s at 100%, he’s a force offensively and he’s a very good defender. Keeping Sam’s workload managed has been the big issue for all of us,” said Heller. “He’s done a really good job of managing it and gives us a left handed bat in the lineup that’s a threat and he showed way more power when his back was healthy this fall.”

The Iowa City native and true freshman Gable Mitchell will likely see starts at second base as well. Heller mentioned that he brings some flexibility to the infield, as he can play solid defense at 2B, SS and 3B. He also adds speed to the lineup with the ability to steal bases and bunt for hits. As a senior at Iowa City High, Mitchell batted .482 with a .613 on-base percentage. He drew an impressive 36 walks to eight strikeouts, while he scored 55 runs and stole 25 bases.

“Gable’s offense, I feel like has really improved, especially in the last two or three weeks. He’s really starting to figure some things out with his swing and he’s getting his best swing off in the scrimmages, which is great to see,” said Heller. “He brings a lot of intangibles to the table with how hard he plays and how tough he is.”

SHORTSTOP

Michael Seegers is the only full-time returning starter on the infield, having started 54 games last season at shortstop. He batted .286 with 31 RBIs and 43 runs scored in the leadoff role in the batting order. Seegers hit safely in 37 games and reached base in 45 of 54 games. He also is an elite defender, making just four errors on 183 chances (.979) last year.

“With Michael at short, he brings on of the top defensive shortstops in the country. He was one of the top six or seven finalists for the Gold Glove at short last year and then I would tell you he has really improved offensively,” said Heller. “In the leadoff role, having a year of experience and watching him in the fall, he was just a way more confident player.”

Over the summer, Seegers played in the Northwoods League with the Lakeshore Chinooks. He batted .293, with a .406 on-base percentage, as well as 46 hits and 27 walks to 25 strikeouts. He also stole 29 bases in just 42 games played.

“Came back from summer ball a way more confident player and I just feel really good about where Michael’s at…His bunting improved, his two strike stuff’s improved, he’s not chasing as much offensively and his running confidence is improved.”

THIRD BASE

After playing 125 games over four seasons, Brendan Sher is no longer on the roster. He started 26 games at third base last season, while Andy Nelson who started 13 games is out for the season after getting Tommy John surgery in December.

Despite that, Rick Heller and the rest of the coaching staff are really excited to see Pasadena City College transfer Raider Tello take over at the hot corner. Last year with the Lancers, Tello batted .403 with a .454 on-base percentage, as well as 77 hits, 19 doubles, eight home runs and 53 RBIs. He broke four Pasadena CC batting records and was a Third Team ABCA All-America Pacific Association selection.

“He’s just a really tough out and a really good hitter. You’re not California JUCO Player of the Year without being a good hitter…He brings a really good glove too. He’s a solid defender at third base,” said Heller. “I can’t say enough good things about the teammate that Raider Tello is and he’s going to be one of the guys that’s the heart and soul of this team.”

CATCHER

After Austin Martin was the full-time catcher in 2021, it felt like the position was a bit of a revolving door last season for the Hawkeyes. Brett McCleary (16), Ben Tallman (26) and Cade Moss (13) each started games, but combined to bat just .241 on the season. They will be looking for a bit more consistency from the group this season.

“As we start the season, Cade (Moss) will be the starting catcher,” said Heller. “He’s done a great job with his receiving, his blocking and his throwing has been consistent.”

Moss was a spark in the linup late in the year and started 11 of the last 13 games. Over that 13 game stretch, Cade batted .378, including four multi-hit games. He was 6/17 (.353) at the Big Ten Tournament to end the year.

Ben Tallman and Ben Wilmes will back up Moss to start the season. Tallman batted .244 on the season with 14 runs and 11 RBIs. Ten of his 20 hits on the season came in a five game hot-stretch in April, but he batted just 10/63 (.159) over his other 30 appearances. Ben Wilmes made the move from infield to catcher this fall and has been trying to make up some ground with the details of the catching position. As a true freshman last year, Wilmes started 21 games and batted .234. Despite moving to catcher, Rick Heller mentioned that he could be someone that is used in the infield if needed, so they have a bit of flexibility that way.

“The good thing is, we’ve got an experienced backup in Ben Tallman. I feel like Ben’s in a way better place than he was at any point last season. Then, Ben Wilmes has been working really hard to catch up and pick up the finer points of catching. Wilmes has the savvy and the mindset that you want in a catcher and he’s athletic.”

Although there were some struggles with the offensive production from the catching position, Heller mentioned that the more important thing is what they bring on the defensive side.

“I’m not going to downplay it, we’ve got to get something out of the position, but on this team, for me, it’s handling the pitching because we have a pitching staff that’s not really easy to catch….At the end of the day, the catcher that the pitchers want to throw to is going to be the one starting and the one that is going to keep the ball from going to the backstop and the one that’s going to steal the most strikes on fringe pitches.”

DESIGNATED HITTER

All the talk lately has been on Keaton Anthony the pitcher and what he can contribute to the pitching staff this season. Keaton Anthony the hitter was Big Ten Freshman of the Year last season and will be the designated hitter for the Hawkeyes this season. He batted .361, including 22 doubles, 14 home runs and 55 RBIs. Keaton was a Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American and a Second Team All-Big Ten selection.

“Keaton is going to be there, every game, every at bat if he’s healthy,” said Heller. “There’s no debate with Keaton. He wants it. He wants to be out there (on the mound) and he wants to hit.”

“I’m sure guys have all these scouting reports on me, but that’s not going to change who I am,” said Anthony. “I’m just going to continue to be who I am and just take my approach in the box day in and day out.”

FINAL THOUGHT

Although the Hawkeyes return just one full-time starter on the infield from last season, Iowa fans should feel pretty good about the guys that are here this season. The two transfers Brennen Dorighi and Raider Tello are expected to be big bats in the lineup, while both have the numbers to back it up at their previous stops. Heller is happy with the strides Michael Seegers has made at the plate and his glove in the field is as good as anyone in the Big Ten. Second base and catcher have good defensive options, but the question is, what can they get from those two spots offensively?

UP NEXT, we move to the outfield to look at a group that could very well be the strength of the team. Two returning starters are joined by a Kirkwood transfer that put up crazy numbers last season with the Eagles.