2004 Baseball Preview: Outfielders

Speed will be the defining characteristic in the outfield this season. The small nucleus of experienced returning backups and the host of new talent possesses a tremendous amount of speed which Cochell expects to be the group's greatest asset this season.

"We have excellent speed in the outfield which will allow us to do a lot of the things we hope to do," said Cochell. "It's so important in the outfield to be able to cut balls off before they get into the alleys and to not allow a single to turn into a double and doubles into triples. We feel like the athletes we have in place will be able to help us achieve this goal."

Cochell also believes that this collective speed will be able to help the team with their offensive scheme as well. With power not considered to be a strength at this position, the coaches expect the players to use their speed as one of their offensive weapons as well. Nearly 75 percent of the stolen bases during the fall intrasquad games came from the outfielders.

"The speed that is going to aid us in the outfield is also going to be able to allow us to do what we want to do offensively," continued Cochell. "We have skill players who can bunt and run and create some problems for the defense on the basepaths, too."

One of the few outfielders who has a chance to exhibit some power at the plate, senior Andrew McGuire is expected to hold down a starting job in right field. With just 60 at bats to his credit in 2003, McGuire still managed to finish third on the team in home runs with four. Furthermore, nearly half of his 15 hits went for extra bases.

Sophomore LaFringe Hayes owns the most starting experience in the outfield of all of the returners. Hayes started nine games, including six of the last nine games, in left field and batted a solid .250 at the plate while swiping three bases in four attempts. The Broadview, Ill., native will begin the year battling for the starting job in his second season, but is still expected to garner a lot of playing time in the field as well as potentially see some time as the team's designated hitter against righthanded pitching.

After spending the 2003 season on the team as a redshirt learning the game at the Division I level, freshman Blake Hurlbutt blossomed from that experience in the fall and also became a leading candidate to start in left field. He emerged as one of the top hitters in the fall and also added a solid defensive effort in the field. As one of only two switchhitters on the team, Hurlbutt batted better than .300 against both lefthanders and righthanders during fall practice.

A third member of the team vying for playing time in left field is junior Brandon Jones. As was the case the last two seasons, Jones joins the team after missing fall practices due to his obligation as a top wide receiver on the Sooners' nationally-ranked football team. In each of his past two seasons, Jones' tremendous athletic ability has allowed him to catch up with the rest of the team and eventually work his way into starting roles. With starting assignments in right and center field over his last two years, Jones has the ability to see time at the two other outfield positions as well.

The final starting job in the outfield will also have a new face patrolling its territory. Replacing All-Big 12 performer Reggie Willits in center field will be newcomer Jeff Scuderi. Scuderi continued to put up impressive numbers upon his arrival in Norman after earning Junior College All-America honors at Saddleback Junior College in 2003. At Saddleback, Scuderi hit at a .432 pace with team-leading totals of 99 hits, 68 runs scored, 26 doubles and 22 stolen bases. During fall workouts, he posted the third highest batting average on the team and finished tied for the team lead in doubles.

Backing up Scuderi in center will be speedy true freshman Aaron Ivey. Ivey joined the Sooners following an accomplished prep career at Putnam City North High School where he earned All-State honors in both baseball and football. Known for his great speed, the local talent has a chance to be one of the fastest players Cochell has ever coached. Ivey backed up his reputation as a speedster by swiping a team-high 12 bases during the fall.

Another speedy outfielder who has the ability to see action at any of the three outfield positions is sophomore Scott Rooker. Rooker saw action in 16 games last season in a variety of roles including as a backup and starter in the outfield and in pinchrunning and pinchhitting situations. Entering his second full season, the Dallas, Texas, native has benefitted from a productive summer in which he garnered All-Star status in the New York Collegiate Baseball League after ranking as one of the league leaders in several categories including RBI, triples, walks and stolen bases.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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