College Preview Capsules: No. 10 UCLA

No. 10 UCLA

2015 Record (Ranking): 45-16 (7). RPI: 6.

Coach (Record at school): John Savage (394-270-1, 11 years).

Postseason History: 20 regionals (active streak: 1), 5 CWS trips (last in 2013), 1 national title (2013).

In 2015 UCLA was a clear national title contender, entering the NCAA tournament as the No. 1 overall seed before red-hot Maryland upset the host Bruins in the Los Angeles Regional at Jackie Robinson Stadium.

The core of that UCLA group is gone, taken by the draft and graduation. The Bruins lost seven significant pieces: shortstop Kevin Kramer, third baseman Chris Keck, outfielder Ty Moore, starters James Kaprielian, Grant Watson, Cody Poteet and closer David Berg.

2016 Lineup
Pos.	Name, Year	AVG	OBP	SLG	HR	RBI	SB
C	Darrell Miller, R-Jr.	.257	.324	.351	2	27	0
1B	Sean Bouchard, So.	.239	.352	.370	2	9	4
2B	Trent Chatterton, Sr.	.280	.359	.370	2	28	0
3B	Luke Persico, Jr.	.285	.357	.386	3	43	11
SS	Nick Valaika, So.	.150	.150	.200	0	2	0
LF	Brett Stephens, Jr.	.298	.382	.424	2	22	12
CF	Christoph Bono, R-Sr.	.241	.332	.397	2	30	5
RF	Eric Filia, R-Sr.	DNP—Suspended
DH	Kort Peterson, Jr.	.274	.341	.360	0	17	15
Pos.	Name, Year	W	L	ERA	IP	SO	SV
RHP	Grant Dyer, Jr.	4	2	1.83	59	65	0
RHP	Griffin Canning, So.	7	1	2.97	64	66	0
RHP	Kyle Molnar, Fr.	HS—Aliso Viejo, Calif.
RP	Brian Gadbsy, Fr.	HS—La Crescenta, Calif.

It’s a lot to lose, but there’s still plenty of reason for optimism this year. The Bruins have another wave of talent ready to contribute.

“We have some answers to some serious questions,” coach John Savage said. “I think you have to look at our left side (defensively), would be one question. Our closer would be another question. And then obviously the weekend starting pitching.”

On the left side of the infield, the Bruins will replace Kramer at short with sophomore Nick Valaika and Keck at third base with junior Luke Persico. Valaika is a familiar name to baseball fans, as he has three brothers who have played pro baseball, including Pat, the starting shortstop on UCLA’s national championship team in 2013. Persico moves to third after playing second base, first base and right field in his first two seasons. Savage said he envisions Persico improving his prospect status at third base, where his arm and hands should play well.

As far as the pitching staff, junior righthander Grant Dyer moves from a set-up role to the rotation, and Savage said he’s taken a big jump, throwing his fastball 90-93 mph with a wipeout curveball and an improved changeup and cutter. He’s joined by sophomore righthander Griffin Canning, a model of consistency during a Freshman All-American season a year ago. Talented freshmen Kyle Molnar and lefthander Justin Hooper are in the starting mix as well—both with significant prospect pedigrees, though Molnar has better present control and Hooper a more powerful arsenal.

And Berg’s replacement? Freshman righthander Brian Gadsby will get the first crack at it. Savage said he likes Gadsby’s fearlessness and athleticism. Like Berg, he drops his arm angle and can throw from various slots. He has even taken Berg’s No. 26 jersey.

“He’s studied Berg over the last four years, so he knows Berg well,” Savage said. “I think he’s up to that challenge.”

While those are the questions for the Bruins, they do return a fair amount of experience, as well. Junior Darrell Miller Jr. will start behind the plate, senior Trent Chatterton will play second, and the outfield is loaded with athleticism. The return of Eric Filia, who missed each of the last two seasons due to injury and academic suspension, respectively, is an expected boost. Filia, an all-CWS performer in 2013 whose eight RBIs were tops in the Series, batted .340 with six home runs in 262 at-bats in the Northwoods League last summer and should be an impact middle-of-the-order bat.

His return gives Savage an extra piece to work with as he reaches his 10th season as the Bruins’ coach, with three Pacific-12 Conference championships in the last five seasons.

“We feel good about our position players,” Savage said. “We do have a pretty good mix of left-right, and a pretty good mix of experience . . . We feel we have the talent. There’s just some questions to be answered.”