AREA COLLEGE BASEBALL CAPSULES
NO. 4 STANFORD
Head coach: David Esquer (182-72, 5 years at Stanford) 2022: 47-18, 21-9 Pac-12 (1st)
Opening series: 3 at Cal State Fullerton (Friday-Sunday)
It’s often said that teams are built — particularly on defense — up the middle. In that case, Stanford has a lot replace. Gone from last year’s team to pro ball are Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year Alex Williams, catcher Kody Huff (.315, 13 HRs), second baseman Brett Barrera (team-leading .351), shortstop Adam Crampton (Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year) and center fielder Brock Jones (,324, 21 HRs). “That’s a lot of talent and that’s a lot of reasons why we were back-to-back College World Series participants," Esquer said. “But we’ve replaced good players with good players.” Stanford certainly has plenty of good position players returning, including first baseman Carter Graham (.331, 22 HRs), outfielder Eddie Park (.318), infielder Tommy Troy (.339), who spent much of last season as a DH but figures to open 2023 at third base, and Drew Bowser (18 HRs), who has played third the past two seasons but will begin this year at second. The Cardinal offense probably will revolve around switch-hitting right fielder Braden Montgomery, who had 18 homers last season en route to becoming the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year. Montgomery also struck out 28 in 182⁄3 innings on the mound. Esquer said Montgomery is “blessed … with that lightning bolt on his right arm” and will play a role in the Cardinal’s bullpen. Stanford returns the bulk of its pitching staff, most notably lefty Quinn Mathews, a 19th-round pick by Tampa Bay who opted to stay in college. “As good as all of our freshmen recruits (are), we don’t have a better recruit than Quinn Mathews returning,” Esquer said. “We didn’t expect him to come back. He did everything for us a year ago.” Mathews began last season as a starter, then became the Cardinal’s most reliable reliever. He went 9-2 with a 3.08 ERA and nine saves. He is scheduled to be Stanford’s Friday starter in 2023.