Pac-12 Baseball Team Preview: UW Looking To Get Back To Winning Ways

The Washington Huskies could have the tools to rebound in 2018

By Joe Londergan@joehio_ Feb 16, 2018, 11:00am PST

Last Season: 28-26 (14-16 Conference)
Head Coach: Lindsay Meggs
Best Returning Batter: Willie Maciver (.292)
Best Returning Fielder: Levi Jordan (79 putouts)
Best Returning Pitcher: Joe Demers (3.35 ERA)

The Skinny

Now in his ninth season, head coach Lindsey Meggs has taken the Huskies to two NCAA tournaments (2014 & 2016). Last season, however, UW didn’t live up to expectations finishing seventh in the Pac-12 after being projected to finish in the top four. With the 2018 season set to begin, it’s something of a reverse scenario. UW is projected to finish seventh, but they may have enough talent to get back into the top four. What could trip them up is a lack of overall experience

Their biggest strength is fielding, particularly their seasoned infield. Senior second baseman Levi Jordan heads up that group and boasted an impressive .986 fielding percentage last season. Also keep an eye on shortstop AJ Graffanino who Meggs has described as “as talented of a shortstop as anybody in our league.”

2018 Diamond Dawgs.#GoHuskies pic.twitter.com/QMqr24jO8t
— UW Baseball (@UW_Baseball) January 19, 2018

Graffanino will also be an important piece of UW’s offense, which needs to improve drastically in 2017. UW scored the third fewest runs in the league in 2017 (270), the second fewest hits (468), and the third lowest team batting average at .348.

In the starting pitching rotation, Joe Demers is the only one with significant experience. The rest of the lineup will be comprised of freshmen and sophomores who will need to develop quickly. Luckily for that group, their non-conference schedule isn’t particularly strong so they have a little time to cut their teeth before league play begins. When that time comes though, there’s almost no room for error if they want to get back to the postseason.

Number To Know: 53

The Huskies turned more double plays than any other team in the league in 2017 with 53.

Games Against OSU:

March 23rd, 24th, and 25th in Corvallis

Pac-12 Baseball Team Previews: