Coming off a successful 2022 campaign, the Toledo Baseball program will be looking to take another step forward in 2023.
The Rockets finished last year with a 33-25 record and earned their first MAC Tournament berth since 2018. The 33 wins were tied for the third-most in program history.
Last season's success coupled with this season's talent, both returning players and newcomers, leaves Toledo well-positioned for another jump in 2023.
"After a very successful 2022 season we have very high expectations for this year's team," said head coach Rob Reinstetle, who is entering his fourth season with the program. "We return a big chunk of our offense, and we recruited well to fill the few holes we did have. Our pitching staff, while untested, is much deeper than last year. I do feel like we are very talented on the mound and I'm excited to see who rises to the occasion and throws the ball well for us. I would expect us to compete for a MAC Regular Season Championship, play in the MAC Tournament, and certainly be in a position to win that and advance to an NCAA Regional."
Coming back are six position players who started 40 or more games last season and seven pitchers who appeared in at least 10 contests. The Rockets' lineup returns 70.2% of its at-bats from last year and 69.7% of runs driven in, a significant portion of one of the better offenses in the MAC.
"Headed into this season I certainly feel really good about the offense," Reinstetle said. "We return the bulk of that group and have some talented hitters returning. Any time you have guys back that have had success and understand our system and way of doing things, that can only be a positive. I feel good with the hitters we recruited to fill the few holes that we did have from last year, and I think a few of these new guys will have a major impact on our team and season. The defense should also be a major strength of this team. We are so athletic and have some really dynamic players out in the field."
An elite defense should help a Toledo pitching staff that lost its top two arms, Kyle Jones and Connor Brandon, to the MLB Draft last summer. Despite the losses, Reinstetle believes an infusion of new talent and progression of returning players sets his team up for success on the mound.
"Our defense should be an asset to our pitching staff as we move through the season," he said. "Our pitching staff is very talented. We lost two guys to the draft, but I feel like we recruited really well and brought in some key pieces to fill those holes. We are a little untested, but I do like the depth and the different looks we have on our pitching staff.
The 2023 edition of the Toledo baseball program will have one unique advantage that every team before it did not. After a turf infield was installed last fall, the Rockets have had the chance to practice outside leading up to Opening Day, giving the team the chance to regularly practice on an actual diamond ahead of the season.
"We have had a great winter practice season," Reinstetle said. "Due to us having new turf we have been able to be outside almost every day, which is very uncommon for this time of year. I think we are much further along than we have been at this time of year compared to past seasons. Being outside has been great for our outfielders to get good live reps and it's always good to have the guys on a real baseball field and practice like we normally do. I feel really good with where we are right now as a team and can't wait to get to play somebody in a different uniform."
Below is a position-by-position rundown of the 2023 Toledo Baseball team:
Infield
Toledo will have a wealth of experience in the infield, with four of the five starting spots being occupied by returning players. Senior Mason Sykes will open the year as the starting first baseman after starting 40 games there last year. A middle-of-the-order power bat, Sykes broke the program record with 16 home runs last year.
"Mason is one of our most versatile guys and played a lot of first base last year," Reinstetle said. "He is also one of the most dangerous bats in the lineup."
A pair of newcomers, junior college transfer Owen Jackson and freshman Wesley Parker, could see time at first base as well.
At second base, sophomore Brian Fry returns after starting 51 games at the keystone last season. A talented defender with impressive range, Fry also provided Toledo with quality at-bats as a true freshman last season. Daunte DeCello, a junior college transfer, will see time at both middle infield spots and third base this year.
The Rockets boast one of the top shortstops not just in the MAC, but in the entire country in junior Jeron Williams. D1Baseball's preseason conference player of the year and one of its 25 best shortstops in the country, Williams was a MAC All-Defensive team selection last season. The Archbold, Ohio native is just as valuable at the plate, posting a .329 batting average a season ago while leading the team in runs scored (48) and stolen bases (23). Williams will be a key cog atop the Rockets' lineup.
"Jeron is an elite defender with a strong arm," Reinstetle said. "He is also our leadoff hitter and the best base stealing threat in the MAC, if not the country."
The lone newcomer likely to open the year in the starting lineup on the infield is freshman Troy Sudbrook, who will be Toledo's starting third baseman. A native of Avon, Ohio, Sudbrook was a two-time all-conference player at Avon High School and a two-time team captain.
"Troy is a converted high school shortstop with good hands, a strong arm, and is very athletic," Reinstetle said. "He also was one of our better hitters in the fall."
One of the most experienced spots on the roster will be catcher, where Trey Wright started 44 games in 2022. Wright and sophomore Brayden White, who started 14 games behind the dish last season, will once again split catching duties. Senior Marcus Strother, who shas started 53 games at catcher in his Toledo career, will provide depth at the position.
Junior college transfer sophomore Owen Jackson will begin the year as the starting designated hitter.
"Owen is a proven bat having been named a two-time JUCO All-American," Reinstetle said. "He has tremendous hitting ability and some big-time power."
DeCello and Strother, as well as freshman Wesley Parker and senior Kade Wroot, will be part of a large group that could get at-bats at DH this year.
Outfield
Toledo returns two of its starters from 2022, sophomore Caden Konczak and junior Scott Mackiewicz.
Konczak started 23 games in left field as a true freshman last year and Mackiewicz started 57 games in center field. Both will reprise their starting roles this season.
"We should have a very talented and athletic outfield," Reinstetle said. "Scott played really well in center field last season and was once again an important presence at the plate. Caden had a very productive fall and won the left field job. He is a terrific outfielder."
2022 Second-Team All-MAC selection sophomore Garret Pike will take over in right field from John Servello, who started nearly every game there since 2018. Pike hit a team-best .344 last year as the primary DH while slugging six home runs and tallying 29 RBI.
"Garret is a fast runner and athletic, so putting him in the outfield will really put his talent on display," Reinstetle said.
Sykes, who started 14 games in the outfield last season, and Kade Wroot could see time out on the grass as well.
Pitchers
Sophomore Brennan McCune pitched in 14 games last season, all in relief, but flashed enough potential and improved enough this offseason to earn a spot in the starting rotation.
"Brennan probably has the best raw stuff on the team," Reinstetle said. "His fastball is in the 92-95 range and he was up to 97 this past fall. Mix in his power slider in the mid-80's and a changeup, and he has all the pitches to be a quality starter. Last season he cut his teeth mainly as a bullpen guy, so he has some good innings under his belt."
Also winning a spot in the rotation to open the year is redshirt freshman Dane Hall. Hall did not appear in any games in 2022, but grew by leaps and bounds as a player since the end of the season.
"Dane didn't throw a pitch for us last year, but is by far our most improved player," Reinstetle said. "He spent last year as a two-way guy, but dropped hitting to focus on his pitching. That has paid off for him in a huge way. He throws from a different slot that is really hard for hitters to pick up. He has good stuff with a fastball/slider/changeup combo that should play well for him."
Rounding out the starting rotation will be Toledo native and Virginia Tech transfer Noah Johnson. A former high school standout at St. Francis de Sales, Johnson played three years for the Hokies. The majority of his playing time came in 2021, when he pitched in 16 games and struck out 20 batters.
"Noah is a 6-6 lefty with good stuff," Reinstetle said. "He came to us from Virginia Tech, where he pitched out of their bullpen. He has shown this fall and winter that he has all the makings to be a good weekend starter."
The Rockets' bullpen has a chance to be one of their strengths this season. Returners Cal McAninch and Camryzn Szynski will look to provide stability in the back end of the pen and highlight a talented crop of relievers.
"I think we are really deep in our bullpen this year," Reinstetle said. "Not just depth, but we have arms with quality stuff and a great mix of angles and looks for hitters to try and figure out."
McAninch tied for second in the MAC with six saves last year and posted a 3.24 ERA across 50.0 innings. Szynski saw time as both a starter and reliever, tallying 42 strikeouts in 53.1 innings while owning a 3.71 ERA.
A pair of southpaws will also pitch important innings for Toledo in freshman RJ Shunck and Indiana transfer junior Jack Walker.
"RJ has been outstanding," Reinstetle said. "I could easily see him as a future weekend starter with his demeanor and raw ability. Jack is in a similar boat, I could see him being a starter in the future as well."
Patrick Dillon, Matt LeLito, Kyle Pijaszek, Yianni Skeriotis, and Nathan Leininger should also provide depth out of the bullpen for Toledo.
