Nick Sullivan hit .296 with three homers and 31 RBIs in 2008.-Courtesy: Scott Bruhn/NU Media Relations
FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
The strength of Nebraska’s offensive depth will be in the outfield, as the Huskers welcome back three players – DJ Belfonte, Nick Sullivan and Dan Johnston – who made at least 10 starts in the outfield in 2007. In addition, the Huskers have several newcomers who could fill outfield roles, including Adam Bailey, Boomer Collins, Khiry Cooper, Seth Hood and Kash Kalkowski.
A two-year starter in right field, Belfonte will move over to center field this spring to make better use of his athleticism. Last year, he hit .241 with a homer and 37 RBIs, pacing the Huskers in doubles (15), triples (three), sacrifice flies (six) and stolen bases (14). He comes off a strong summer in the Cape Cod League and the coaching staff is anticipating a bounce-back year.
“DJ is one of the hardest workers in our program and is someone his teammates look to for leadership,” Anderson said. “He has made some adjustments in his swing and can be a very disciplined hitter at the plate. We need him to find ways to get on base so we can use his speed and generate offense from the top of the lineup.”
Sullivan rebounded from an injury-plagued 2007 season to put together his best year as a Husker. He batted .296 with three homers and 31 RBIs in 38 starts, primarily platooning against right-handers. Sullivan ranked fifth on the team in RBIs, sixth in doubles (nine) and fourth in homers while giving the Huskers some power from the left side.
“Nick is a great team guy and has outstanding work habits,” Anderson said. “People finally had a chance to see what Nick could do fully healthy, and he really helped us in left field last year. His goal is to keep working so he can be in the lineup every day, and we can use him at either corner outfield spot.
Johnston appeared in 33 games, hitting .260 with 11 RBIs as a true freshman. He served a variety of roles as the Huskers’ primary utility player in 2008, but will likely miss all of the upcoming season following shoulder surgery.
Bailey comes to Nebraska after earning all-conference honors at South Mountain (Ariz.) Community College. He hit .400 with 21 doubles and 40 RBIs, while also working out of the bullpen. Bailey turned in an impressive fall and will likely challenge for the starting spot in right field.
Collins earned all-state honors last spring for Waxahachie (Texas) High School, hitting .522 with nine homers, 35 RBIs and 23 stolen bases to lead his team to a runner-up finish. He enjoyed a strong fall, impressing the coaches with his skill set and work ethic and putting himself in line for playing time at any of the outfield spots.
Cooper joined the baseball team full time in January after his football obligations. A two-time all-state performer, Cooper hit .366 as a senior and was a fifth-round draft pick by the Los Angeles Angels. He missed fall drills and has worked hard to catch up. He could see time in center field this spring.
Hood is another player who has a bright future in the Husker program. The Moline, Ill., native was a first-team all-metro pick, hitting .387 with three homers and 40 RBIs last season. He will add to the outfield depth this season and will look to find a role to earn playing time.
In addition to his pitching duties, Kalkowski is also getting a look in the outfield to take advantage of his skills. The three-time all-state pick hit .460 with four homers, 32 RBIs and 27 stolen bases to lead Grand Island to a state title.
