STATESBORO – After the 2023 season,
Rodney Hennon says that there was one key focus during the staff's evaluation of the season and what to do moving forward, and that was how to improve.
"We weren't playing our best baseball late in the year last year," he says. "I take a lot of pride in our teams getting better and playing our best baseball down the stretch, so that's what we have to focus on, getting better."
So, what did the Eagles do to get better?
For starters, Georgia Southern hit the portal hard, coming out with a lot of great pieces to help compliment the returning core group of players and the new freshmen. 19 of the 40 on the active roster are brand new to the program, and four more are returning from injuries from the 2023 season. Combine those figures together, and 23 of the 40 players are "new" to the 2024.
What has stuck out to Hennon is the buy-in that the new players are exhibiting, and how well they mesh with the returning guard in Statesboro.
"You can attribute the buy-in to the leaders we have. We've got some guys in the clubhouse that set a good example every day; they come out, practice hard, whether it's the weight room, the field, or in class, and they take care of their business. They also aren't afraid to hold each out accountable, and I think that's something special when guys are willing to get out of their comfort zone and do that."
Two of the team's captains,
Sam Blancato and
Jarrett Brown, have played a lot of baseball at Georgia Southern. They know to be successful, they have to step up and be leaders, and Hennon says they both have done a great job at that.
"Sam was a unanimous choice to be one of our captains, and I think that's pretty impressive. He's a grinder, he's had to earn everything he gotten during his time with the program, but I think it speaks to his toughness and grit."
"
Jarrett Brown is also an outstanding leader and one of our team captains as well. He's gotten better every year that he's been with the program and will be starting at third base for his fourth season. He's probably our most experience guy as far as playing time. He also leads by example, maybe not the most outspoken guy, but the way he carries himself and shows guys how to work is special."
Moving over to the pitching side, the first player that Hennon mentioned was
Ty Fisher, the Eagles Friday starter for the previous two years. Hennon had high praises of Fisher and his game, and explained what makes him successful.
"Ty has pitched a lot of big innings for us these last two years. I think he would tell you that last year was a little frustrating for him, but that's how you grow. I think Ty has worked hard this offseason, and having a guy that's a proven winner and is experienced and durable will pay dividends for us. I think being able to surround him with some of the guys we brough in will collectively make everyone better."
Two more returning pitchers,
Mitchell Gross and
Ben Johnson, were named captains by their teammates, and will see new roles on the pitching staff compared to what Eagle Nation saw last year.
"Mitchell was one of our more consistent arms last year and we're looking at making him a starter in the weekend rotation," Hennon explained. "He did both [starting and relieving] last year, but I think he's a little more comfortable and has taken it upon himself to have more of a leadership role."
"In terms of Ben, the thing we all appreciate about Ben is he'll do whatever is asked of him. He's started, he's come out of the pen, he's willing to do it all. He's a team guy. Going into the season, we'd like for Ben to close for us. He's been in those big moments, he's going the swing and miss stuff, he can get you a big strikeout or two, he's able to bounce back. Having an experienced guy like that late in the game is great."
Other returning pitchers that Hennon mentions are
Ga'von Wray,
Jake Martin, and
Thomas Higgins, the latter two returning from injuries that prevented them from playing in 2023.
"If you ask the guys in the locker room, you'll find Ga'von is one of the most respected guys in there. He's worked hard during the offseason, and he's done a bit of both [starting and relieving] too, so he's a guy we can lean on if we need a start or some length out of the bullpen."
Martin and Higgins had a big impact on the 2022 season, with Hennon noting they had around 75 innings pitched between the two of them that season. Hennon also says Higgins is going to have a big role in the new season.
"The plan is for him to get the ball on Friday night. He's continued to work and progressed, and he's capable of being a big part of things this year."
Swinging to the other side of the dish, behind every pitcher is a catcher, and the Eagles have plenty of options for the catching position.
Sean White returns after missing the 2023 season, and
JD Kaiser also returns after starting 38 games last season.
"They're both swinging the bat well, and our pitchers have a lot of confidence in those guys. We feel good about that position going in."
One of the new transfers,
Daniel Haab, sits as the third catcher on the roster. He'll see the lion's share of his time in the outfield, but he can play the catcher position as well. Hennon likens him to Christian Avant, who was the Eagles' emergency catcher during his career.
Speaking of transfers, the Eagles' fifth captain is
T.J. McKenzie, a graduate transfer from Vanderbilt. McKenzie has had a great fall for Georgia Southern and was named a team captain by his teammates for this season.
"I think it speaks to his character, to be named a captain in his first year with the program. There's a lot of maturity and athleticism in him. He can run, has good arm strength in center field, he has a chance to make an impact in the top or middle of the order."
Josh Tate and
Cade Parker are two other names Hennon mentions. Tate is a sophomore transfer from Georgia, who has been seeing a lot of time in the outfield through practice. Hennon notes that Tate is likely one of the fastest players on the team and notes his athleticism.
Cade Parker has been in a battle for the second base spot, splitting some time in practice with
Jarrett Jenkins.
Rounding out the infield is
Luke Odden, a transfer from Wabash Valley, who was the runner-up in the Junior College World Series. Odden is the leading candidate to take over the shortstop position, and Hennon also likes Odden in the nine-hole on the lineup, describing him as another leadoff man.
The DH position is another one with some intrigue to it, as several players are vying for the spot. Names that were mentioned include
Corey Dowdell,
AJ Wenrich,
JP Herrholz, and
Sean Smith. Dowdell and Wenrich have played the DH spot here and are familiar names to fans. Herrholz and Smith are transfers from Santa Fe and Mississippi Gulf Coast, respectively.
New pitchers round out the preview, with plenty of new names on staff. Saywer Osborne and
Jacob Phillips stand out to Coach Hennon. Phillips had an impressive fall and Hennon notes the breaking ball has improved since he's arrived in Statesboro.
While
Davis Smith is not new to the staff, he will pitch for the first time for the Blue and White this year. Smith has battled back from injures and other setbacks, and he will finally get his time.
"He gives us some velocity, despite not having pitched in a while. He's a more mature young man who gives us another arm in the back end."
If anyone knows Coach Hennon, they know he always crafts a schedule that tests his team before conference play, and 2024 is no exception. Starting with Maryland before hosting the annual Tuesday night game against Georgia Tech before traveling to Mississippi State, along with Campbell at home a week later, the Eagles have a tough schedule to start the year. It's all about testing your team and resume building.
"I'm a big believer in playing a tough schedule. You're trying to challenge your team and learn as much about your group as you can. But you're also trying to build a resume and be in the mix for an at-large spot late in the year, should you not win your tournament. RPI and strength of schedule is a big factor in that decision."
The Eagles look to turn the page in 2024, starting against the Maryland Terrapins. First pitch on Friday night is set for 6:30 p.m. at J.I. Clements Stadium.
