“Gavin Cross might well be the best player in America, a potential top-five-to-10 pick with exciting tools across the board….he’s got legitimate five-tool ability along with a performance track record to match.”
“ Shortstop Tanner Schobel is a winning player who posted an .800 OPS and hit seven homers as a true freshman last spring, then starred in the Cape Cod League….[he] packs surprising punch in his righthanded swing, and he’s a fluid, instinctive defender at a premium position.”
“Virginia Tech was a good offensive club a year ago, ranking fifth in the ACC in scoring, and… offense should be its biggest strength once again. This lineup should have some power, some speed and good length.”
“The Hokies don’t have any established starting pitchers, and coach John Szefc suggested in the fall that his club might have to get creative with a staffwide committee approach to pitching. Virginia Tech also must dramatically improve a defense that ranked last in the ACC (and 231st in the nation) with a dreadful .962 fielding percentage last year.”
“Virginia Tech’s pitching looks as uncertain as any team’s in the ACC, but if some talented young arms emerge, these Hokies could surprise. VT was on track to cruise into regionals before falling apart down the stretch last year, and Szefc hopes that experience imparted some valuable life lessons to his returning players.”