2014 Danbury Westerners Preview

Joey Swinarski at a PG Tourney /Perfect Game

NECBL.com has released the first of their team previews for the upcoming season, so I've decided to breakdown the lineups, rotation and bullpens of every teams to accompany their players to watch. Every team will be previewed by the season opener on June 5th.

Danbury missed the playoffs for the first time since 2009 last year, going 17-26. The oldest current franchise in the league celebrates their 20th season and look to win their first championship.

Assistant general manager Dylan Elber said in an interview with the New England Baseball Journal that this team has upside. "We have a very young and talented team," Elber said. "Although some of these players redshirted or didn't get too much playing time at their school's this year, they will have the opportunity to break out this summer.

Rotation

Like Elber said, many players redshirted or sat out- so stats aren't readily available. I'll do my best to draft a sample rotation. LIU Post senior Joey Arena headlines the list as he's posted a 1.75 ERA and a 0.83 WHIP over 10 starts and 61.2 innings. After Arena, Mississippi State's Glenn Irby didn't pitch this spring but was the #3 left-handed high school pitcher in Indiana (Perfect Game). Tulane's Corey Merrill (1.27 WHIP over 51 innings), Hartford's Brian Murphy (4.35 ERA over nine starts) and Mississippi State freshman Levi Mintz (2013 Alabama Class 1A Pitcher of the Year) round out the rotation.

Bullpen:
The Westerners brought in several strong relievers, including a lights out closer and a strong supporting cast. St Johns Joseph Kuzia didn't allow an earned run in his first 25 appearances and now has a 0.97 ERA over 37 innings- along with 13 saves, 17th in the country. Kuzia's supporting cast includes Seton Hall's Sam Burum (4.15 ERA, 17 appearances), Nebraska's Max Knutson (5.06 ERA, 5.1 innings) and Columbia's Ryan Marks (0.82 ERA, 1.00 WHIP over 11 appearances).

Offense:
Danbury stole AJ Ryan from the Mountaineers and three former MLB draftees make up their lineup, including Mississippi State's Joey Swinarski. Swinarski graduated from high school a year early but was projected as a 2014 Top-10 round pick and was given a 9.5 grade by Perfect Game USA.

Lineup
C         Brennan Morgan (R)
Kennesaw St junior hit .252 with 28 RBIs and 32 runs
1B       AJ Ryan (L)
2013 Mountaineer hit .343 this spring at Dayton, 33 RBIs
2B       Emmanuel Cruz (R)
SNHU sophomore hit .295 with 42 runs and 21 stolen bases
SS       Vimael Machin (L)
VCU senior was drafted by San Diego in the 29th rd in 2011
3B       Joe Poduslenko (R)
Seton Hall sophomore hit .353 in limited action, five stolen bases
OF       Chris DelDebbio (R)
Hartford junior hit .263 with 31 runs and 22 RBIs, six stolen bases
OF        Jake Ring (L)
Missouri sophomore hit .210 with 15 runs and 10 RBIs, 14 walks
OF        Joey Swinarski (R)
Projected as a top-10 round pick before graduating HS early to attend MSU
DH        Alex Tuccio (R)
Returning Westerner, hit .254 last summer with nine runs and 14 RBIs

Rotation
LH         Joey Arena
LIU Post senior had a 1.75 ERA over 10 starts, 0.83 WHIP
LH         Glenn Irby
Mississippi St, #3 LHP out of high school in Indiana
RH         Corey Merill
Tulane sophomore had a 1.27 WHIP over nine starts

RH         Brian Murphy
Hartford junior has 4.35 ERA over 39 innings
RH         Levi Mintz
Mintz was named Alabama HS Class 1A Pitcher of the Year in 2013

Player to Watch:
Joey Swinarski. The Mississippi State freshman was projected as a Top-10 round draft pick before graduating high school early. Baseball America's Clint Longencker scouted the 6-3 outfielder in September last year. "Swinarski could develop into an impact hitter at the college level with some developmental strides. He has good bat speed and some leverage in his swing that could enable him to grow into average or better power as his frame fills. Swinarski, who is very intelligent, has some looseness to his hands and natural hitting ability."