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Hurricane Rally
Miami's last College World Series team in 2008 was renowned for its physicality. Between Yonder Alonso, Dennis Raben, Yasmani Grandal, Mark Sobolewski, Joey Terdoslavich and others, scouts and opposing coaches often said Miami's lineup looked like it belonged in Double-A, not in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
That physicality has been missing in recent years, when the Hurricanes have largely relied on smaller, speed-and-contact-oriented players in the lineup. Miami has continued to make regionals, as it has every year since 1972, but the overall talent level has not been up to the program's standards, and neither has its postseason performance.
"We have not been where we needed to be the last three years," Miami recruiting coordinator J.D. Arteaga said. "I really feel that 2010 recruiting class really set us back, not getting any of those guys. If you get one or two of those guys, it makes a big difference."
The Hurricanes had a banner recruiting class lined up for the fall of 2010, but it disintegrated that summer when Luke Jackson, Christian Yelich, Nick Castellanos, A.J. Cole and Yordy Cabrera all signed for seven-figure bonuses.
The Canes learned from that experience. They're still going after those marquee talents—their class this year includes three of the top 11 players in our Top 100, and four of the top 27—but they're making sure they've got insurance.
"You don't have a chance to get them unless you sign them," Arteaga said. "We've covered ourselves with guys who will be coming to school. We did not do a good job of that two years ago with the 2010 class.
"This was a great class locally for us in South Florida—Orlando down south. The majority of them are from the city of Miami. I can't remember a class coming out of the city this good since probably back in the 90s. There's a lot of depth, pitching and hitting—everything you need, really. We were fortunate there, and we got an earlier start than we have in the past, so we were able to get the guys we needed and wanted."
If the Hurricanes lose their top four recruits, Miami natives David Thompson (No. 69) and Brandon Lopez (79) could become the headliners of this class, along with Tampa's Keon Barnum (45). Thompson, who is also committed to play football, offers mammoth righthanded power and arm strength at third base, while Barnum brings serious lefthanded juice. If Miami wants to get more physical again, that duo is a great place to start. The instinctive Lopez could be the shortstop of the future and help out in the bullpen as well.
Miami's class also features a strong group of players who ranked outside the Top 100, led by the athletic, versatile duo of Adrian Marin and Eric Neitzel.
Of course, teams hit the lottery every year—in the last four years, 11 players who ranked in the top 10 on this list have wound up on college campuses the following year—and Miami hopes to get lucky with a couple of its blue-chippers. Flame-throwing righties Walker Weickel (No. 4) and Nick Travieso (27) have monstrous upside, as do ultra-polished outfielder Albert Almora (10) and five-tool shortstop Carlos Correa (11). Weickel, Almora and Travieso are all USA Baseball veterans, and Correa's tool package reminds Arteaga of Alex Rodgriguez, with whom Arteaga grew up.
"If you get one of those two pitchers and one of those hitters that are going to rank that high, the hitters will hit in the middle of your lineup, and the pitchers would be Friday starter-types," Arteaga said. "Those are guys you build around. You get one of each, that would be great. I'm very, very excited about this class."
Hurricane Rally
Miami's last College World Series team in 2008 was renowned for its physicality. Between Yonder Alonso, Dennis Raben, Yasmani Grandal, Mark Sobolewski, Joey Terdoslavich and others, scouts and opposing coaches often said Miami's lineup looked like it belonged in Double-A, not in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
That physicality has been missing in recent years, when the Hurricanes have largely relied on smaller, speed-and-contact-oriented players in the lineup. Miami has continued to make regionals, as it has every year since 1972, but the overall talent level has not been up to the program's standards, and neither has its postseason performance.
"We have not been where we needed to be the last three years," Miami recruiting coordinator J.D. Arteaga said. "I really feel that 2010 recruiting class really set us back, not getting any of those guys. If you get one or two of those guys, it makes a big difference."
The Hurricanes had a banner recruiting class lined up for the fall of 2010, but it disintegrated that summer when Luke Jackson, Christian Yelich, Nick Castellanos, A.J. Cole and Yordy Cabrera all signed for seven-figure bonuses.
The Canes learned from that experience. They're still going after those marquee talents—their class this year includes three of the top 11 players in our Top 100, and four of the top 27—but they're making sure they've got insurance.
"You don't have a chance to get them unless you sign them," Arteaga said. "We've covered ourselves with guys who will be coming to school. We did not do a good job of that two years ago with the 2010 class.
"This was a great class locally for us in South Florida—Orlando down south. The majority of them are from the city of Miami. I can't remember a class coming out of the city this good since probably back in the 90s. There's a lot of depth, pitching and hitting—everything you need, really. We were fortunate there, and we got an earlier start than we have in the past, so we were able to get the guys we needed and wanted."
If the Hurricanes lose their top four recruits, Miami natives David Thompson (No. 69) and Brandon Lopez (79) could become the headliners of this class, along with Tampa's Keon Barnum (45). Thompson, who is also committed to play football, offers mammoth righthanded power and arm strength at third base, while Barnum brings serious lefthanded juice. If Miami wants to get more physical again, that duo is a great place to start. The instinctive Lopez could be the shortstop of the future and help out in the bullpen as well.
Miami's class also features a strong group of players who ranked outside the Top 100, led by the athletic, versatile duo of Adrian Marin and Eric Neitzel.
Of course, teams hit the lottery every year—in the last four years, 11 players who ranked in the top 10 on this list have wound up on college campuses the following year—and Miami hopes to get lucky with a couple of its blue-chippers. Flame-throwing righties Walker Weickel (No. 4) and Nick Travieso (27) have monstrous upside, as do ultra-polished outfielder Albert Almora (10) and five-tool shortstop Carlos Correa (11). Weickel, Almora and Travieso are all USA Baseball veterans, and Correa's tool package reminds Arteaga of Alex Rodgriguez, with whom Arteaga grew up.
"If you get one of those two pitchers and one of those hitters that are going to rank that high, the hitters will hit in the middle of your lineup, and the pitchers would be Friday starter-types," Arteaga said. "Those are guys you build around. You get one of each, that would be great. I'm very, very excited about this class."