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About Kentucky
- After dropping three of their first five, the Wildcats have won their last seven straight, including a home opening doubleheader vs. Murray State. Right-handed pitcher Kyle Cody was named the Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week by Collegiate Baseball and also Co-Pitcher of the Week by the Southeastern Conference, coming off of a seven-inning, no-hit start against Nebraska-Omaha this week. UK as a team is batting .312, good for 22nd in the country.
Grant Receiving National Buzz
- Senior captain Andrew Grant has been receiving a lot of notice early in 2015. The 6-4 right-handed starter was named the Atlantic 10's fourth-ranked prospect for the 2015 Draft in Baseball America's season preview. Grant was also named the conference's ninth-ranked prospect according to D1Baseball.com.
Experienced Arms
- The Minutemen bring one of the deepest pitching staffs in recent memory to the field in 2015 with nine of 11 hurlers who saw action last season returning this spring. Senior captains Conor LeBlanc (180) and Andrew Grant (142.1) have each logged over 140 innings in their careers, while redshirt junior Tim Cassidy is back for his third season after tossing 22.1 innings in his return from injury in 2014. Junior Brandon Walsh is also back in the starting rotation after starting four games last year, where he had a team-leading 3.02 ERA for UMass.
- Mike Geannelis also has starting experience, though primarily saw action as a reliever as a rookie in 2014 and led the team in wins with a 4-3 recored over 14 appearances.
Geannelis Looks To Build On Stellar Rookie Campaign
- Last year's Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year, Mike Geannelis, is returning in 2015 and looking to start the year as hot as he finished it. In his last 11 games, Geannelis had 18 hits, raising his average from .300 on April 13 to finishing the year at .347. Geannelis also led the team in wins, picking up 4 wins with a 4.85 ERA. The then-freshman struck out 16 hitters in 29.2 innings.
Mac Is Back
- After missing all of 2014 due to injury and receiving a medical redshirt in 2014, second baseman/designated hitter Rob McLam returns to the Minutemen lineup. McLam batted .311 in 2013 and .337 in 2012, leading the team in both seasons. He was named an All-Atlantic 10 Second Team selection in 2013.
Dual Threat
- Junior pitcher/catcher Brandon Walsh isn't only expected to start on the mound this year, but see action again behind the plate, as well. The two-way player had a breakout year in 2014, where he jumped his career batting average from .167 to .255. Walsh also appeared in 16 games on the mound for the Minutemen last season, starting four and leading the team with a 3.02 ERA. Not only did he strike out 35 hitters in 44.2 innings, but threw out 10 potential base stealers from behind the plate, as well. He drove in 16 runs and scored 14.
Next Up
- The Minutemen will head south next weekend to the Tampa, Fla., area to play Army and Harvard, March 14-15.
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