Saint Louis boasts one of the most experienced outfields in the Atlantic 10 Conference. Returning are corner outfielders senior Trent Leimkuehler and junior Parker Sniatynski. Leimkuehler was a first-team All-Atlantic 10 honoree last season after hitting .297 with a .326 on-base percentage and .502 slugging percentage. Sniatynski earned second-team accolades hitting .321 with a .369 on-base percentage and .392 slugging percentage.
Patrolling center field is junior college transfer Aaron Case, who also will set the table as the Billikens' leadoff hitter. He was a first-team All-Conference selection for Cypress College last season, hitting .273 with 43 runs scored and eight steals. Case displayed great plate awareness in junior college, striking out just 31 times in 222 plate appearances.
Off the bench, SLU has options in junior Kyle Fletcher, sophomore Griffin Robinson and freshman Jake Garella. Robinson was the Billikens' top bench option last year, appearing in 34 games (16 starts). Speedy Fletcher saw time in 24 games last season and is a defensive asset in all three outfield positions. Garella is a high school All-American who can play every position on the diamond.
Head Coach Darin Hendrickson says:
“Our outfield will be a strong part of our team. We plan on starting Parker Sniatynski in left field. He has looked very strong so far this spring. Newcomer Aaron Case will be in center field and hit leadoff. He has been fabulous so far in practice. Senior Trent Leimkuehler will anchor right field. Kyle Fletcher will be in the mix as well as Jake Garella and Griffin Robinson, who can move around as well.”
Behind the plate, the Billikens will rely on junior James Morisano, who made 42 starts at catcher for SLU last season. He hit six home runs as a sophomore and posted a .985 fielding percentage. D1Baseball.com recently named Morisano the 10th-best MLB draft prospect in the Atlantic 10 Conference.
Backing up Morisano are freshmen Ryan Hernandez and Justin Lockwood. Hernandez was a member of the 2015 USA Baseball U18 40-man roster. Lockwood is a local product from Ft. Zumwalt South. He was rated as the third-best catcher in Missouri by Prep Baseball Report and hit .415 with a .526 OBP and .617 SLG as a senior.
Head Coach Darin Hendrickson says:
“Catching will be handled on the weekend by junior James Morisano. He is expected to hit third in the lineup and will be counted on to lead the team in many of the innings behind the plate. Newcomers Ryan Hernandez and Justin Lockwood also are going to be counted on to help the team in very important innings during midweek play.”
Saint Louis opens the 2017 season at the Alamo Irish Classic in San Antonio, Texas, on Feb. 17-19. The Billikens take on Lafayette and Incarnate Word on Friday before playing Notre Dame on Saturday. On Sunday, the top two teams and the bottom two teams in the field will play simultaneously at 11 a.m.
