The RoundHouse | 2/17/2023 2:39:00 PM

 Listen to a podcast with Shockers Jordan Rogers and Caden Favors
 Listen to a podcast with interim coach Loren Hibbs

By Paul Suellentrop
 
Wichita State baseball gets rolling with a throwback series at Long Beach State. The schools met 53 times, but not since 2015. They are proud programs in similar positions trying to move back up the ladder in college baseball.
 
Interim coach Loren Hibbs will make his first trip to Blair Field. The teams met for the first time in the 1991 College World Series and the Shockers first traveled to California in 1994, after Hibbs left his position as assistant coach and moved to Charlotte as the head man.
 
"We're on the same track – we're both trying to get to the same end," Hibbs said. "They'll be back in Wichita next year, so I think it's great for our fan base."
 
What are the basics on this team?
 
Wichita State went 21-36 last season. It returns its top three hitters in Brock Rodden and third baseman Sawyre Thornhill and outfielder Chuck Ingram.
 
Starters such as outfielders Jordan Rogers and Seth Stroh and pitcher/DH Payton Tolle also played important roles in 2022. Tolle, expected to hit cleanup, hit .317 with three home runs and seven doubles as a freshman. Rogers, a redshirt sophomore, hit .349 in his last 27 games in 2022 as he nailed down the starting spot in left field.
 
On the mound, Tolle, Cameron Bye and Caden Favors are the top returners.
 
Rodden, selected by the Oakland A's in the 10^th round, is joined by Ingram, Tolle and Bye on the American Athletic Conference's preseason all-conference team.
 
The Shockers added eight junior-college transfers.
 
Hibbs wants to use Wichita State's speed to produce a more aggressive offense than in recent seasons.
 
"We're going to play a lot faster," he said. "There's going to be a lot more motion, a lot more hit and run, a lot more steals, a lot more things to try to create offense."
 
Last season in 24 conference games, the Shockers hit .276 to rank fourth in the American. Their 148 runs tied Tulane for fourth. They stole 10 bases in 21 attempts, both near the bottom of the conference.
Cutting down on strikeouts would also help the offense. Wichita State struck out 514 times last season and registered the lowest on-base percentage (.355) in the AAC.
 
Who do I need to watch?
 
Rodden is coming off one of Wichita State's finest recent offensive seasons. His 17 home runs are the most for a Shocker since Drew Moffitt hit 26 in 2004. He also led the Shockers by hitting .338 with 51 runs and 73 hits.
 
He started 48 games at second base last season and may play shortstop as Hibbs experiment with lineups early in the season. He will likely hit second for the Shockers early in the season.
 
"He played short in junior college, so that's not a new thing for him," Hibbs said. "He hit leadoff in junior college, and he may end up hitting three-hole for us. He's got the energy and attitude we want to play with."
 
How about a newcomer who will add to the lineup?
 
First baseman Garrett Pennington, a transfer from NCAA Division II Central Missouri, will step into the top of the batting order, likely hitting third.
 
Pennington, a junior from Lenexa, hit .397 with 11 home runs and a team-leading 23 doubles for Central Missouri, which went 46-9 and advanced to NCAA Division II regional play. He earned All-Central Region second team honors at designated hitter and first-team All-MIAA honors.
 
"Big power guy, big contact guy," Rogers said. "You can tell he's putting in the work and taking it seriously. He's going to be a guy who we can rely on."
 
Jack Little, a freshman utility player, grabbed people's attention with his speed. Shortstop David Herring, a transfer from Cowley College, also figures prominently in the plans. Kyte McDonald, who played two seasons at Mississippi State, is locked in as the team's center fielder and leadoff hitter.
 
At catcher, transfer Mauricio Millan will get a chance to replace three-year starter Ross Cadena.
 
How does the rotation look?
 
This is Wichita State's biggest question. Last season's earned run average of 5.97 is the program's highest since 2016 (also 5.97). Other than COVID-shortened 2020, the Shockers have been under 4.50 once in the past seven seasons (3.91 in 2018).
 
Newcomer Clark Candiotti starts the opener against Long Beach State. Tolle will start the second game, followed by transfer Grant Adler in the finale.
 
Tolle, a sophomore, went 4-6 with a 4.48 ERA in 2022. Adler, from Wichita, earned All-Region VI and Jayhawk Conference East Division Pitcher of the Year honors at Cowley last spring.
 
That puts the bullpen in the hands of several experienced arms. The departure of Connor Holden, with six saves and a 2.78 ERA last season, leaves a hole at closer.
 
Favors, a lefty, finished 2022 strong by allowing one earned run and 11 hits in his final 21 regular-season innings. He is a key figure because of his versatility. He can start or throw in relief.
 
Bye went 5-2 with a 3.76 ERA in 10 starts and 17 appearances. He moved into the starting rotation in early March and held conference champion ECU scoreless over eight innings in a 5-0 win in April.
 
Lefty Jace Miner performed well in several midweek games against Big 12 opponents, including four scoreless innings against Oklahoma in May.
 
 What is the key stretch to the season?
 
Last season's team started 0-6. In 2021, the Shockers went 1-3 before winning five in a row on their way to a 31-23 record. In 2019, Wichita State started 1-5.
 
You get it. Too often in recent seasons the Shockers put themselves in a hole in February. Wichita State plays seven road games before opening at home vs. Oakland on March 3.
 
It would be helpful to return to Eck Stadium with a winning record and build from there.
 
The most challenging stretch might start with an early April trip to Oklahoma State, followed by Houston's visit to Eck Stadium. The Cougars are picked second in the AAC. The Shockers conclude that stretch playing at 2022 NCAA runner-up Oklahoma before heading to Tulane.

Paul Suellentrop writes about Wichita State athletics for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.