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Iowa Baseball Season Preview - Outfield

On3 imageby:Kyle Huesmann•02/14/23•

HuesmannKyle

iowa-baseball-season-preview-outfield
Photo by Dennis Scheidt

The HawkeyeReport Iowa Baseball season preview continues on with a look at the outfield. There is plenty to be excited about a group that returns two guys that combined for 85 starts last season. Also added to the group is a transfer from just up the road at Kirkwood that had video game numbers a year ago.

“I would tell you, going into the season, this is as excited as I’ve been about our outfield in a longtime,” said Rick Heller. “When you have basically three centerfielders in the outfield, man that’s great for your pitching staff.”

CF KYLE HUCKSTORF

Huckstorf started 51 games last season for the Hawkeyes, batting .284 with 50 hits, five home runs and 36 RBIs. He really figured things out late in the season with 19 hits in last 13 games, including a six-hit, three-home run night against Indiana in the final series of the regular season. His year finished with a selection to the Big Ten All-Tournament team after hitting a team leading 6/15 (.400) for the week.

“He really started coming on the second half of the season and he took that and he went out in the summer and just continued to work hard on tightening his swing up to put him in a situation where he wasn’t chasing as much,” said Heller. “Kyle’s got some pop in his bat, as much pop on the exit velo stuff as anybody on the team…I feel really excited about what Kyle can do offensively this year and he could have a great breakout year.”

Huckstorf went to play in the Northwoods League over the summer with the Waterloo Bucks and had a successful season. In 22 games, Kyle batted .295 with 26 hits, six doubles and four home runs. That is on track for 66 hits, 15 doubles and ten home runs over a full 56 game college season.

The other thing that Huckstorf provides is his impressive outfield defense. At the end of the regular season last year, he ranked 3rd in the country and 1st in the Big Ten in OAA (outs above average) for outfielders.

LF SAM PETERSEN

Sam Petersen returns after starting 38 games for the Hawkeyes during his true freshman season. He batted .264 on the year with six home runs, seven doubles and 33 RBIs. Petersen had ten multi-hit games on the year and was third on the team in home runs, as well as fourth in RBIs.

“Sam really had a nice freshman year, with some big at bats. Got a lot of experience and then took the same approach as Kyle and he went out this summer and just worked his tail off. Came back way more confident,” said Heller. “Sam is a dynamic player. Has power potential, one of the best runners on the team, his base running has gotten markedly better and his defense is really solid too.”

Petersen played in the Appalachian Summer League with the Kingsport Axmen and had a really promising summer for a team that won the league championship. Over 35 games, Petersen batted .328 with a .478 on-base percentage, including 41 hits, 11 doubles, six home runs and 34 RBIs. That comes out to 65.6 hits, 17.6 doubles, 9.6 home runs and 54.4 RBIs over a 56 game season. Much like Huckstorf, his summer numbers really show the potential for a breakout season this year.

RF CHASE MOSELEY

Kirkwood transfer Chase Moseley put up numbers for the Eagles last season that you normally only in a video game. He batted .464 with a .572 on-base percentage, as well as 91 hits, 13 doubles, 21 home runs and 79 RBIs. Moseley was named a First Team JUCO All-American and was the ICAC Conference Player of the Year.

“He had a crazy year and (Kirkwood assistant) Pete Lauritson said it was the best year he’s every seen and he was basically on half a leg. He had a really long rehab on his hamstring. Once he got here, just shut it down and got with the doctors and tried to set a goal that were not bringing Chase back until he was 100%,” said Heller. “He’s similar to Kyle and (Sam) Petersen when he’s 100%, which he has been since fall. He’s another dynamic player that can really run in addition to swinging the bat.”

Last time, a JUCO All-American transferred to Iowa from Kirkwood, it worked out pretty well. Izaya Fullard earned the distinction as true freshman at Kirkwood back in 2018. Hawkeye fans should be excited to see Moseley fully healthy and in the starting lineup.

WHO IS UP NEXT?

The outfield has a lot of potential, but the depth could be an issue if injuries became a problem. Brayden Frazier decided to return for another season and is a team captain this season. He has appeared in 79 games over the last three seasons and has a career .249 batting average.

After Frazier, things start to a get a little thin. Will Mulflur started 18 games last season, including ten in the outfield. He hit .268 with two home runs and 12 RBIs. Rick Heller called him the best pinch-hit option on the team, but Mulflur will be out for an extended period with a back injury.

If they really got into a pinch, Brennen Dorighi played some outfield at Wofford, while Ben Wilmes made six starts in left field last season. Coach Heller also mentioned the possibility of Gable Mitchell in the outfield if it came down to that type of situation.

FINAL THOUGHT

Rick Heller compared this outfield to the 2015 group of Kris Goodman, Eric Toole and Joel Booker from a defensive standpoint. That is really high praise. From an offensive standpoint, there is a lot of potential. Kyle Huckstorf and Sam Petersen look to be primed for breakout seasons, while Chase Moseley is finally fully healthy. If everything pans out and they stay healthy, this will be a top outfield in the Big Ten.

UP NEXT, we move to the pitching staff to look at the starting rotation. Ty Langenberg looks to be primed for a really big season as the ace of the staff, while a transfer from the west coast could be the Saturday starter. Sunday has several options, including Keaton Anthony.