Whenever a program hands the keys over to a new head coach, there is expected to be a bit of a transition period. Currently, Arizona State is in that period of time under head coach Tracy Smith, who is headed into his second season at the helm.
Last season, led by a group of veterans on the mound and in the lineup, the Sun Devils had a solid 2015 season and ended their campaign in the Fullerton Regional. Heading into 2016, they’ll be a little younger and a little more inexperienced as Smith rebuilds the program, but Colby Woodmansee is one holdover who will ably provide star power.
Last season, his first as a regular and the team’s starting shortstop, Woodmansee hit .308 with 18 doubles, five home runs, and 44 RBI. With a .968 fielding percentage, he also showed that he can handle a premium defensive position.
His performance and skill were enough to put him on the radar for the 2016 MLB Draft. In the fall, D1Baseball.com named him the 32nd-best prospect in the country. Baseball America has also named him 59th-best college prospect in the nation. Finally, Collegiate Baseball named him a preseason Second Team All-American.
As alluded to, ASU will lean on him to lead an inexperienced offense in the coming season. R.J. Ybarra and Brian Serven are quality hitters who have been around for a while, and they’ll be back, but four key pieces from last year’s offense, Johnny Sewald, Trever Allen, Dalton DiNatale, and Jake Peevyhouse, have moved on to pro ball.
Smith is an accomplished recruiter, and his Indiana offenses were always dangerous, so there’s little doubt that the next round of stars on offense are on campus now or will be soon, but for the time being, Woodmansee will be a great leader to have to help bridge that gap.
