Versatility, upside common among Mat-Su position players

PALMER — As Mat-Su Miners head coach Ben Taylor looks at his roster and the collection of position players assembled for the 2014 season, the second-year skipper is thrilled about the potential.

There are the .300 hitters and proven run-producers. But there are also the players who are waiting for their shot to shine. Taylor said he loves that combination.

“Some of the unproven guys are hungry. They have jobs (at their schools) that are theirs to lose this coming fall. I think that’s exciting,” Taylor said.

Taylor said the roster has to include the proven talent. But he also wants the players who are eager to commit themselves, and fight for their baseball futures.

The current roster includes three catchers, five outfielders and six infielders. Taylor said many of the position players on the roster provide the coaching staff with versatility and flexibility.

Taylor said the Miners opted to start the season with three catchers on the roster: Texas A&M junior Mitchell Nau, Grand Canyon freshman Josh Meyer and Stanford freshman Matt Decker.

“This could possibly be difficult or could be really easy,” Taylor said. “Why am I carrying three? I’ve never finished a season with my original catching corps in nine years of coaching. In some years I’ve finished with one. In some years I’ve finished with none.”

Taylor said all three catchers are very different, which helps.

“Mitchell is a proven offensive catcher,” Taylor said of Nau, the Texas Collegiate League Player of the Year last summer. “It wouldn’t shock me if Mitchell hit in the middle of the lineup every day, at catcher or (designated hitter). Josh Meyer is a huge defensive catcher. He has a big arm, can shut down the running game defensively. Matt Decker is the wild card.”

Taylor said Decker was one of the top catchers in the nation coming out of high school, but missed his freshman season at Stanford due to injury.

“He’s got a lot to earn, a lot to prove,” Taylor said. “It’s kind of exciting.”

The Miners currently have six infielders on the roster. The group includes University of Washington junior Andrew Ely, an All-Pac 12 selection, and Tennessee infielder Nick Senzel, who was recently named Freshman All-American.

Ely started 56 games for the Huskies, hitting .302 with 60 hits, 37 runs and 32 RBI. Taylor said Ely could be Mat-Su’s second baseman and hit in the middle of the lineup.

Senzel had a big year for a Tennessee team that includes two of Mat-Su’s top players from 2013, A.J. Simcox and Christian Stewart. Senzel started 53 games for the Vols, and finished with a .315 batting average, second to only Stewart on the team. He also scored 37 runs, drove in 39 runs and stole 14 bases. Taylor said Senzel could hit in the No. 3 spot in the Mat-Su batting order.

The list of infielders also includes Grand Canyon University shortstop Paul Panaccione.

“Paul is a fantastic defensive shortstop; great speed, great arm,” Taylor said. “He’s arguably the top defensive infielder in the state of Arizona. That’s a big compliment considering the two other big schools.”

Panaccione also finished with 20 stolen bases at Grand Canyon.

UNC-Willmington sophomore Terrence Connelly, Tennessee freshman Jordan Rodgers and Utah freshman Hunter Simmons round out the group of infielders. Rodgers is a former high school baseball player of the year in Tennessee, and could be the Vols’ everyday third baseman next year. Simmons is an RBI guy with right-handed power, Taylor said. Connelly started 56 games as a sophomore, and scored 33 runs.

Taylor is also excited about the five outfielders currently on the team.

“The outfield could be super, super athletic,” Taylor said. “The outfield is a little unproven in some spots, but could be really, really exciting for us.”

Taylor said players such as Rice freshman Dayne Wunderlich and Stanford sophomore Jonny Locher spent their college season playing behind standouts on their squad. But Taylor said these are the type of players hungry to come to the ABL to establish themselves. Locher is a former member of Team USA’s U-16 team, and nearly made the U-18 squad.

Taylor said Washington State freshman Cameron Frost is, “a real speedster, super athletic.” Grand Canyon sophomore Brandon Smith could be the wild card of the bunch, Taylor said.

“He’s 6-foot-3, 195 pounds, super athletic, very fast, with power,” Taylor said. “He’s a really toolsy guy. If Brandon can put it all together for us, he could be a very special player.”

The latest addition, UC Santa Barbara sophomore Cameron Newell, could be a big addition to the team.

“He was a middle-of-the-lineup guy for them for the last two years as a left-hander. He kind of fell into our laps,” Taylor said.