Hot Stove: New Bats to Impact OU in 2017

NORMAN, Okla. – The University of Oklahoma baseball team welcomed 17 newcomers for the 2017 season at the beginning of the fall semester. As each new class has arrived in Norman over the last four falls, the goal in recruiting has remained the same for head coach Pete Hughes and hitting coach Mike Anderson; to greatly improve the Sooners' speed and defense.

The newest crop of Oklahoma hitters and fielders finished off its first fall ball season; a six-week long stretch of intense workouts, strength and conditioning, practices and intrasquad scrimmages. It all leads up to opening day when they take the field for the first time wearing the crimson and cream out in California come February. Collectively, it's a diverse group of talent, representing the country from coast-to-coast, that immediately add depth and versatility to the Sooner program.

#24 | Jeremiah Adams | Fr. | Mattapoisett, Mass.

Adams (pictured at top) comes to Oklahoma from Tabor Academy in Massachusetts; where he was a four-year letterwinner and three-time All-Colonial League First Team selection. He took the majority of his reps at third base this fall, but as one of the top athletes on the team will contribute in a variety of different areas throughout the season. Adams, who hit .375 in the Fall World Series, will also provide a right-handed bat to the OU outfield, while also setting up behind the plate as a backup option at catcher.

Hughes on Adams:

“Jeremiah Adams showed improvement all the way to the end of the fall. That's what workers do and kids with upside get better every week. We saw that at the end of the fall he was a different hitter. The more reps he gets, the closer he is going to be get to being a contributing factor for us. He's a winner; a big athlete that can run and just one of those New England kids that played three sports. He comes out here and he's battling for his life, because it's the first time he's ever played baseball for a full year.”

Anderson on Adams:

“Unique. He had a few home runs for us this fall. He has got a lot of potential. I think out of all our freshman, you might say he has the most potential to do something for us from a power perspective. Defensively, he's adequate in the infield and the outfield; a great utility guy. If he can get the offensive part of his game going, Coach Hughes will find a place for him in the lineup.”

#21 | Lorin Archibald | Jr. | Renton, Wash.

Archibald, a left-handed hitting first baseman, played his first two years of college ball at the junior college level for Lower Columbia College in Longview, Wash. He was named to the All-Northwest Athletic Conference First Team in 2015 and the All-NWAC Second Team in 2016. As a freshman, Archibald hit .325 with a .460 slugging percentage and 38 RBI in 49 games. He improved upon his hitting as a sophomore with a .360 average and .447 slugging and .444 on-base percentage. A power threat, Archibald will be looked to for starts right away, particularly against right-handed pitching, at first or DH in the middle of the OU lineup. In the Sooners' Fall World Series, he drew a team-high five walks and played an error-free first base.

Hughes on Archibald:

“Lorin Archibald had a very good fall. He's a very advanced hitter and proved to be a more than adequate defender at first base, so he proved that he could give us a mature lefty bat in some of our lineup options.”

Anderson on Archibald:

“He's a bigger guy, that you hope would have some power, but he's a guy that's going to hit for average. He's a good gap-to-gap guy and did a really good job for us defensively at first. He started off with a slow fall. I think the transition was a big jump, but he ended the fall really strong. He has developed some power, we'll see if that starts to take off in the offseason.”

#16 | Ke'one Givens | Fr. | Jones, Okla.

Speed and versatility are the defining skills of Givens, who stands just 5-foot-8. A natural middle infielder, he began to take on center field responsibilities late in his high school career, which translate well for his future in the college game. Givens played three years of varsity baseball at Jones High School, where he was an All-State Honorable Mention as a senior.

Hughes on Givens:

“Keone Givens could be our fastest player on the team. He certainly will be a base-stealing threat as his career moves on. Right now since we're so left-handed in our outfield, I'm going to try to establish him out there and get him to feel comfortable. I'll also get him to work on being a really good offensive player, because with his legs he does bring an element to the game that you need in college baseball, which is speed.”

Anderson on Givens:

“Ke'one has a lot of pop and potential in a smaller body. He does a really good job of pulling the baseball. He is going to have to learn to go the other way a lot. He's still got a ways to go in learning the outfield, but he's got good speed and his aggression is really good. His biggest asset is that he knows how to run the bases.”

#40 | Brady Lindsly | Fr. | Keller, Texas

Lindsly was recognized as a Perfect Game All-Region Second Team pick as a senior in 2016. A strong defensive catcher behind the plate, despite moving to shortstop in high school, he had one of the best offensive falls of any Sooner this season. A left-handed hitting catcher, Lindsly will get the opportunity to earn at-bats right away, particularly against right-handed starters.

Hughes on Lindsly:

“Brady Lindsly was our top offensive player this fall. He's a kid that's going to hit first right away and he's proven that. He's going to be able to catch for us. As a freshman that was a question mark we had coming in, but we feel great about that right now. He wasn't the everyday catcher on his high school team; he played short. He was one of those kids where he blew up his last year; physically.”

Anderson on Lindsly:

“Brady is a pretty exciting young man. He came in and had an exceptional fall. He has really good zone discipline; a really good idea at the plate. On the defensive side, he's really learning how to work with [pitching coach] Skip Johnson. He's a freshman that I think has the ability to be in the lineup quite a bit.”

#12 | Brylie Ware | So. | Sedgwick, Kan.

Ware hit everything he saw in 2016. As a freshman at Neosho County Community College, he was named the NJCAA Player of the Year, while winning the NJCAA Triple Crown with a .589 batting average, 29 home runs and 122 RBI. Ware, a three-time 3A All-State honoree in Kansas, also led the country with 121 hits and 120 runs scores in just 61 games played. He hit .500 in the Oklahoma Fall World Series and drove in three runs with a double. The ability to hit for average and drive the ball to the gap was evident in fall ball, but the power numbers will take time following the transition from JuCo to the Big 12.

Hughes on Ware:

“Brylie has a mature approach, the ball is always in play. He uses the middle of the field and changes his approach with two strikes. He's pretty impressive in that regard. He's going to hit for average before the power comes. I think the power might be there, because the kid can hit spin. When you can do that, the ball is going to be in play. He's going to hit for us, but we need to tap into that power a little bit more.”

Anderson on Ware:

“Brylie Ware comes in as one of the most heralded junior college kids around. He comes in after winning a Triple Crown and. I think everyone is wondering, can he transition that to Division I baseball? He did really well defensively and after a slow start was one of our top hitters. He's going to hit for average, doubles and RBIs, but the power could come. Truth is, he just has to be a guy we can count on. He was clutch in junior college and he was clutch this fall. He really knows how to play the game.”

#4 | Brandon Zaragoza | Fr. | Moore, Okla.

A local product from Westmoore High School, Zaragoza was a three-time letterwinner and earned All-State Large West honors as a senior. Possessing soft and quick hands, his game as a middle infielder translates immediately to being a valuable asset at the collegiate level.

Hughes on Zaragoza:

“Zaragoza was a great surprise. He fit right in and proved he could play shortstop at this level right now. He was more adequate offensively than what we wanted. I think he hit .250 or .260 in fall ball and got some big hits. We want him to get settled in offensively, but everything comes off at him playing in the middle of the field, playing fast and making every play. We think he's going to be able to do that.”

Anderson on Zaragoza:

“What a presence he's been defensively in the middle infield. At shortstop or second base, he has got a chance to be a premier players, defensively. I think our biggest thing is to make sure, that as a freshman, he can produce in our seven, eight or nine hole. He'll need to produce runs, turn the lineup over and collect RBIs when he can. Defensively, we know he can produce. Now, we need to make sure that there's an offensive threat in there.”