Defending MWC champ Lobos open spring practice

Head coach Birmingham says he will be leaning heavily on sophomores

Day One of practice for the University of New Mexico baseball team felt a bit like a remedial course.

New faces, many of them facialhair free, were everywhere at Santa Ana Star Field as the Lobos began full preparations for their Feb. 16 season opener against No. 2 Oregon State. UNM coach Ray Birmingham said his team has positions to fill and a lot still to learn in a three-week span.

“Freshmen and sophomores will have to do a lot for us,” Birmingham said. “I think we’ve got enough older players to hold the fort while the kids figure it out,

but they need to be fast learners. They’re about to get thrown into the fire.”

UNM was hit particularly hard by graduation and the major league draft after winning a regular-season Mountain West title in 2017. Three of the Lobos’ top four hitters (Jack Zoellner, Luis Gonzalez and Carl Stajduhar) were drafted by big-league organizations. All four of UNM’s top four starting pitchers (Tyler Stevens, Gonzalez, Johnathon Tripp and Carson Schneider) from last season have also departed.

Holes to fill? Birmingham has them.

In fact, he said just four everyday positions are locked up. Those belong to outfielders Danny Collier and Jared Mang, infielder Hayden Schilling and catchers Daniel Herrera and Robby Campillo.

Birmingham is counting on his veterans to serve as glorified assistant coaches. including Collier, a redshirt senior who qualifies as the Lobos’ elder statesman.

“Yeah, I think only a few of us can legally buy beer,” Collier said with a laugh. “Our biggest job is to help turn freshmen into sophomores as fast as possible. The guys who already are sophomores have some big roles to fill.”

UNM’s 2018 hopes may rest on sophomores more than any other class. Three of them — Justin Slaten, Drew Gillespie and Cody Dye — are projected to be in the starting rotation. All three pitched exclusively in relief last season.

“Those sophomores have talent,” Birmingham said. “They just haven’t been starters at this level. Our starting pitching is untested and those guys have to step up.”

Junior closer Christian Tripp, UNM’s most proven returning pitcher, is confident his youthful teammates will rise to the challenge.

“This team’s going to hit,” Tripp said. “The numbers don’t lie; our hitting will always be there. But if we’re going to win, we’ve got to pitch. The older pitchers understand that, so it’s up to us to bring the young guys around and keep them in line.”

Not all the pressure will be on young players. Senior James Harrington, who has rotated between the starting rotation and the bullpen with varying degrees of success, will be counted on to help anchor the young starting rotation.

“It’s Harrington’s turn to be the man,” Birmingham said. “He’s shown he’s capable. Now he has to show consistency.”

Birmingham conceded UNM has much to accomplish before next month’s opener. The 2018 Lobos will be among the youngest teams he’s had in 11 seasons at UNM, and they’ll face another daunting schedule.

But Collier and Tripp said expectations remain high.

“I’m sure some of the young guys are thinking, ‘We’re opening against Oregon State? I grew up watching those guys on TV,’” Collier said.

“But we play top teams like that every year and it’s awesome. No reason to lower the bar now. We all have to rise to it.”