(Photo: Brady Klain/WCSN)
It’s not often that freshman make an immediate impact to a NCAA Division I program.
For the Arizona State baseball team, that has already happened, and first pitch isn’t for another month.
ASU has one of the strongest freshman classes in the country. Alika Williams, Drew Swift, Gage Workman, Trevor Hauver, Boyd Vander Kooi and Spencer Torkelson will enter Phoenix Municipal Stadium with a serious chance to start Opening Day.
Not only do the underclassmen bring in talent, but they also add a newfound energy. Coming off arguably of the worst season in program history, head coach Tracy Smith was eager to talk positively on the clubhouse energy.
“The locker is awesome,” Smith said. “There’s an energy and a vibe. It’s fun to be there.”
Swift, Workman and Williams all have an opportunity to start in the middle infield, as the latter has shined on the diamond with his reliable glove and uncoachable instincts. Coming from out of state (San Diego, California), Williams praised the upperclassman for taking him—and the other freshman—under their wings.
“They’ve been really cool to us,” the 6-foot-2 freshman infielder said. “We’re all gelling really well together. I definitely feel like there’s going to be a lot more success (this season).
Swift and Workman were two of the hottest prospects in Arizona, and will both have strong opportunities to start and contribute in the every day lineup.
Swift has enjoyed his first few months as a Sun Devil, and explained how close the freshmen really are.
“I tell everyone, the day I got here the seniors took us under their wings and it’s been great,” Swift said. “We hang out a bunch, and we really like to go to basketball games.”
Workman, whose father is a former Sun Devil baseball player, will also have a great chance to play a great amount of time in the middle infield.
The Queen Creek, Ariz. native explained how important the summer workouts were for the team’s chemistry.
“A lot of us came over (in the) summer and we were really all we had” Workman said.
Smith said at ASU’s Media Day noted that several freshman could very well be starters come Opening Day Feb. 16 against Miami (Ohio). He stated that Vander Kooi has a good chance to find the starting pitching rotation, while Torkelson is in contention to nab the open first base spot and Hauver could consistently find himself in left field.
If all of these very possible scenarios play out, then the Sun Devils could find themselves with freshman players starting at five positions and a starting spot—something that many teams cannot say.
This freshman class is notably special.
Yes, they have some talent…
A lot of it, actually.
But it’s the chemistry the crew has already shown, and the selflessness of the collective unit that could pair incredibly well.
Newly-hired pitching coach Mike Cather complimented the boys and the connection they seem to built among each other in such a short period of time.
“This is a unit, these guys all are together,” Cather said. “There’s drive for these guys to be the best they can be.”
The added energy and spark from the freshman class this season is one worth watching. The vibe in the clubhouse should and will be instrumental in the team’s success or lack thereof this season.
With the talent across the board, and a newly rejuvenated clubhouse, the Sun Devils could very well be back on their way to a nationally recognized program.
