What will Southern Miss baseball look like on the diamond? Here’s our lineup prediction
The Southern Miss bats got off to a bit of a sluggish start in 2021 before rallying to finish the year strong. A major piece of that offense has moved on to the professional ranks, leaving the Golden Eagles with the some shifting to do.
Star center fielder Reed Trimble was scooped up by the Baltimore Orioles in the second round of the MLB draft after swinging a hot bat to 150 total bases in just 59 games.
His departure has created a swell of competition in the outfield involving at least five players. In the infield, there’s considerably less drama. Every infielder returns from one of the best defenses the Golden Eagles have ever fielded.
In total, eight starters are back in the lineup from a team that rode power and patience to the Oxford Regional a year ago. Southern Miss finished 17th in home runs, 23rd in doubles, 32nd in walks and 43rd in hits nationally.
“Those guys grew up a lot as individuals, as a team,” head coach Scott Berry said at media day. “To return a lot of those guys this campaign is exciting. But I hope that the experiences that we had last year, both from the player side and from the success side, proved to be better for us as we go forward this year.”
Trimble’s departure also leaves a hole in the two-spot in the batting lineup that is hotly contested right now. The competition works out in USM’s favor, which has one of the most experienced positional groups in the conference.
In the field
Catcher
- Jr. Blake Johnson
Southern Miss will have continuity behind the with Johnson back for his second season in the black and gold. Johnson logged heavy innings last year as the primary catcher. He had a stellar year on the field, adding to USM’s elite defensive play by posting a .991 fielding percentage and throwing out 52.4 percent of attempted base thieves.
Johnson struggled to produce a ton of power with his bat in 2021 but spent time in the fall reworking his swing timing and has seen positive results in the spring.
- So. Rodrigo Montenegro
Gabe Montenegro’s brother has joined the roster from Western Oklahoma State and figures to instantly upgrade the offensive production the Golden Eagles will get out of the catcher spot.
According to Johnson, Montenegro is the toughest batter to strikeout on the team. His 32 walks to 15 strikeouts last year in junior college ball back that up.
“He swings the bat extremely well from the left side,” Berry said. “Which I think is a really neat combination for us. Blake (Johnson) is a right-handed hitter, Rodrigo is a left-handed hitter. So it gives us an opportunity to try to match up a little with lineups.”
Berry also said Danny Lynch has been worked at catcher as an emergency option.
Infield
- Jr. Christopher Sargent
Sargent has first base locked down after starting all 61 games on the bag in 2021. He’s also got the cleanup spot in the lineup all to himself after hitting 16 home runs a year ago, the most on the team among returners.
He had three multi-home run games, including a school record-tying three against Southeastern Missouri in Oxford. Sargent struggled with consistency at times and left the year with a .295 on base percentage. A second year at USM should push him well over the .300 line, making him a candidate for several postseason honors.
- Jr. Will McGillis
The versatile McGillis gets a second season at the same position for the first time in his career. The shortstop-turned-first baseman-turned-second baseman was one of the better hitting infielders on the team a year ago.
McGillis tinkered with his swing over the offseason but ultimately stuck with what worked in 2021. As a result, he led the team in extra base hits in the fall and comes into the spring with a hot bat.
- So. Dustin Dickerson
Dickerson has manned the most premium position inside the diamond since he stepped on campus. Dickerson has started all 77 career games at shortstop.
The sophomore did not display much power in his first full season with 41 of his 55 hits being singles. The coaching staff has noted his consistency over the offseason, though, and he could be in line for a new role in the lineup.
- Jr. Danny Lynch
Another highly experienced infielder in the lineup, Lynch has picked up 142 hits in 136 career games. He’s one of the team’s captains and holds down the hot corner well.
Lynch has steadily improved his numbers at USM and is coming off an infield-high .967 OPS. Berry said on media day and at scrimmages that Lynch’s spot in the middle of the order won’t change this season.
Other name to know
- Fr. Creek Robinson
A true freshman, Robinson has stood out as an excellent defender thus far. With potential plans to use Dickerson as a bullpen arm, Robinson will see some spot time at shortstop late in games.
Outfield
- Sr. Gabe Montenegro
A fan favorite, Montenegro likely won’t see his role as the leadoff batter change. His role in the field, however, could look different this year with center field open.
Montenegro is a lock as a starter but has gotten plenty of work in the middle of the outfield in the fall and spring. With his undeniable bat and USM’s dearth of outfielders, Montenegro is a strong candidate to move over from his left field position.
- Jr. Reece Ewing
Ewing was the primary right fielder a year ago and made a couple spot starts at designated hitter, as well. His first season in Hattiesburg saw him become a reliable asset for the Golden Eagles at the plate. Ewing’s patience and coordination led to 33 walks and 44 base hits.
Ewing is a part of the competition in the outfield but will likely retain his role in a corner, especially if he picks up where left off when he hit safely in seven of his last nine games last year.
- So. Slade Wilks
There may not be another player from last year’s roster with as much breakout potential as Wilks. He was the team’s top pinch hitter last year and displayed flashes of enormous power at the plate.
Wilks had just nine hits in nearly 60 at-bats but six of those hits went for extra bases. If Gabe slides over to center, Wilks and Ewing could fill out the corners.
- Fr. Carson Paetow
The Vancleave product possesses good speed and great leather in the outfield. If Berry needs a defensive sub, Paetow will be the first option out of the dugout.
Paetown played summer ball in Georgia where he had 13 RBI in 31 at-bats and made the Sunbelt League All-Star game.
New name to know
- Fr. Bryce Fowler
Fowler has impressed the coaching staff early with his glove work, similar to Robinson in the infield. Fowler will have his chances at the plate as long as he forces his way onto the grass as a late-game defensive option.
Lineup
Berry and staff are tinkering with the order in the spring but the ultimate product could look very similar to what the Golden Eagles ran out last year.
1. CF Gabe Montenegro
“We’ve been working Gabe really hard out (in center),” Berry said. “We know he can play left field. He can really play any position in the outfield. Tremendous outfielder. He really gets a good break on the ball. Not the fastest of outfielders that we’ve had but makes up for it in reaction.”
2. SS Dustin Dickerson
“I really like Dustin Dickerson,” Berry said. “He’s really developed and continued to improve his game offensively.”
3. DH Charlie Fischer
Conference USA’s biggest designated threat is returning and will likely take his place in the three-spot ahead of the power bat again. Fischer led the team in walks with 46 and OBP at .467.
4. 1B Christopher Sargent
5. RF Reece Ewing
6. 3B Danny Lynch
7. LF Slade Wilks
Wilks had multiple two-home run outings during the fall, a good sign the young outfielder is becoming consistent enough to become a full time starter.
8. C Blake Johnson/Rodrigo Montenegro
If Berry chooses to match up his catchers with opposing pitcher arms, Montenegro has the potential to climb the order a couple of spots from here.
9. 2B Will McGillis
With Dickerson moving into the two-hole in our projection, we also move McGillis to the bottom of the order to create some speed ahead of the top of the card.
