Indiana Baseball Opens 2019 Season in Memphis — Meet the Hoosiers

The Jeff Mercer era is set to begin at Indiana.

With the temperatures still frigid in Bloomington, that means the Hoosiers will make their annual trek south to start the season.  This year, IU will spend most of the month of February in Tennessee.

Indiana opens its 2019 baseball season this weekend in Memphis.

Indiana at Memphis

Friday – 5:00 p.m. (POSTPONED)

Saturday – 1:00 p.m. (DOUBLEHEADER)

Sunday – 2:00 p.m.

(All games should be available to be streamed live here.)

You can always see the complete IU baseball schedule and results from our baseball drop down menu.

Following that season opening series with the Tigers, IU will travel to Knoxville to take on the Tennessee Volunteers.

MEET THE NEW MAN IN CHARGE

Mercer came to IU from Wright State in July of 2018.  In his two seasons leading the Raiders, the Indiana native posted a 77-38 record, a regular season and conference tournament title, and an appearance in the 2018 Stanford NCAA Regional.  WSU also achieved the program’s first ever national ranking in 2017 under Mercer’s direction.

The bar was set high at Indiana by Mercer’s predecessors.  Since 2008, Indiana leads the Big Ten in total wins, conference wins and NCAA tournament appearances.

Mercer is replacing Chris Lemonis, who compiled a record of 141-91-2 in four seasons at Indiana.  The Hoosiers reached the NCAA tournament in three out of four seasons under his direction.

Prior to Lemonis, Tracy Smith took IU to three NCAA tournaments in a six year run that included the 2013 College World Series.

MEET THE HOOSIERS

Infield

Indiana lost Luke Miller to the MLB Draft, but otherwise return a wealth of talent.

Catcher – Ryan Fineman (.284, 7 HR, 37 RBI)

First Base – Matt Lloyd (also DH, .275, 9 HR, 41 RBI)

Second Base – Justin Walker (.248, 22 RBI)

Shortstop – Jeremy Houston (.207, 23 RBI, 12 SB)

Third Base – Scotty Bradley (.326, 7 HR, 19 RBI)

Key Reserves – Drew Ashley, Cole Barr, Cade Bunnell, Wyatt Cross, Jake Skrine, Jeff Holtz

Outfield

The Hoosiers lost right fielder and four year star Logan Sowers but still have a lot of returning production including All-Big Ten talent Matt Gorski, who was named the No. 32 Draft Eligible Prospect by Perfect Game earlier this year.

CF – Logan Kaletha (.261, 8 HR, 31 RBI)

RF – Matt Gorski (.356, 8 HR, 40 RBI)

LF – Elijah Dunham / Sam Crail / Ashley

Key Reserves – Grant Richardson, Tyler Van Pelt, Carter Bridge

Starting Pitchers

The Hoosiers lost two high end starters to the MLB Draft in Jonathan Stiever and Tim Herrin but will anchored by returning ace Pauly Milto and a promising newcomer.

Pauly Milto (8-2, 2.03 ERA)

Tanner Gordon (9-2, 2.06 ERA at John A. Logan College)

Tommy Sommer (2-1, 3.07 ERA)

Relief Pitchers

Cal Krueger (3.02 ERA, 3 saves)

Matt Lloyd (1.54 ERA, 7 saves)

Cam Beauchamp (will also start, 4-1, 3.78 ERA)

Andrew Saalfrank (will also start, 1-3, 3.79 ERA)

Connor Manous (will also start, 1-2, 3.00 ERA)

Other pitchers to know — Gabe Bierman, Ty Bothwell, McCade Brown, Brad Busald, Michael Dunkelberger, Alex Franklin, Nathan Kappers, Matt Litwicki, Austin Long, Braden Scott, Grant Sloan, and Braydon Tucker.

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