Boston College (2018 Record: 17-32, 7-22)
It was not a very good season for Boston College in 2018 as they finished with the worst record in the ACC and missed the conference tournament.
Returning Players
Center fielder Dante Baldelli has the potential for a breakout season after hitting .235 last year with 29 runs scored and 19 stolen bases. Brian Dempsey led the team in hitting last year with a .319 average and will play a middle infield position.
Dan Metzdorf is a veteran starter who will anchor the weekend rotation after posting a 5.74 ERA a season ago with 61 strikeouts in 69 innings pitched.
Newcomers
Sal Frelick is a versatile athlete who will look to contribute right away either on the infield or in the outfield. Mason Pelio has the stuff to be a weekend starter down the road but will likely see significant innings out of the bullpen. The same can be said for newcomer Travis Lane.
Outlook for 2019
Boston College hopes to improve their situational hitting with runners in scoring position this year. While they will continue to use speed as their weapon, they also hope to have more power in the lineup.
Clemson (2018 Record: 47-16, 22-8)
It was another outstanding regular season for Clemson, but unfortunately for the second straight year their season was cut short at home by Vanderbilt in the regionals.
Returning Players
Shortstop Logan Davidson returns to the lineup as one of the best players in the country after hitting .292 with 64 runs scored, 18 doubles, 15 home runs, and 46 RBI a year ago. Catcher Kyle Wilkie led the team with a .324 average last year. Grayson Byrd should be back at third base after hitting .243 a year ago with 9 home runs.
Spencer Strider will have a chance to lead the weekend rotation after a solid freshman season in which he struck out 70 batters in 51 innings pitched with a 4.76 ERA. Brooks Crawford should be part of that weekend rotation as well after posting a 3.24 ERA last year in 80.2 innings pitched with 58 strikeouts. Carson Spiers was excellent out of the bullpen for Clemson last year with a 2.08 ERA in 43.1 innings pitched with 39 strikeouts and 4 saves.
Newcomers
Bryar Hawkins and Chad Fairey are both freshman infielders who could see some playing time this year for Clemson.
Freshman Justn Wrobleski was ranked as the 82nd best prospect out of high school last year and could see significant innings right away. Davis Sharpe is another freshman pitcher that could play right away. Michael Green is another newcomer that should see some time on the mound this season.
Outlook for 2019
The one thing Clemson would like to focus on this season is stealing bases. They had a lot of power on last year’s team, but they may have to find a way to manufacture some runs in 2019.
Florida State (2018 Record: 43-19, 16-13)
The Seminoles dominated competition outside of the ACC last year but were subpar in conference play until they blasted the competition and won the ACC Tournament. They ended up hosting a regional but lost a couple of hearth-breakers to Samford and Mississippi State.
Returning Players
Drew Mendoza will be back at third base and will also be the leader in the lineup after hitting .313 last year with 44 runs scored, 17 doubles, 7 home runs, and 44 RBI. Mike Salvatore will move from shortstop to second base during his senior season after hitting .244 a year ago. Reese Albert (.269, 7 home runs) and J.C. Flowers (back from jaw injury) will be solid contributors in the outfield.
Drew Parrish and C.J. Van Eyk will lead a solid weekend rotation for Florida State. Parrish led Florida State with a 2.52 ERA last year in 107 innings pitched with 128 strikeouts. Van Eyk had a 2.86 ERA in 56.2 innings pitched with 71 strikeouts. Chase Haney missed 2018 with an arm injury but is expected to be the team’s closer this year. Jonah Scolaro will have a big role out of the bullpen after posting a 3.43 ERA last year in 44.2 innings pitched with 60 strikeouts and 6 saves.
Newcomers
“Nico Baldor is a Miami transfer that should see the bulk of time at first base. Our impact freshmen will be shortstop Nander de Sedas, catcher Matheu Nelson and outfielder Elijah Cabell, as well as designated hitter Robby Martin. All four freshmen, plus Baldor, are slotted to start the season.” – Head Coach Mike Martin
Outlook for 2019
Coach Martin said that he hopes his team improves defensively, as well as running the bases in 2019.
Louisville (2018 Record: 45-19, 18-12)
It was an up-and-down 2018 for Louisville as they won their first 14 games but then struggled at the start of conference play before finishing strong and losing in the ACC Tournament final. They went 2-2 in the regionals.
Returning Players
First baseman Logan Wyatt returns to the lineup after leading the team with a .339 average last year to go along with 51 runs scored, 22 doubles, 6 home runs, and 69 RBI. Tyler Fitzgerald will be back at shortstop after hitting .264 last year with 57 runs scored. The outfield should be set with Danny Oriente (.331), Drew Campbell (.313), and Jake Snider (.300) all back. Zach Britton will also be an important part of the Louisville lineup in 2018.
They return four of their top five pitchers who threw the most innings last year. Nick Bennett headlines that group after posting a 2.84 ERA in 73 innings pitched with 72 strikeouts last year. Bryan Hoeing had a 2.88 ERA in 68.2 innings with 51 strikeouts, and Bobby Miller posted a 2.97 ERA in 66.2 innings pitched with 55 strikeouts. Reid Detmers will have a big role as well after posting a 4.85 ERA last year in 55.2 innings pitched with 69 strikeouts.
Newcomers
Freshman Jared Poland is a two-way player who could see some playing time right away. He was ranked the 124th best prospect by Perfect Game coming out of high school. Kerry Wright, Carter Lohman, and Jack Perkins were highly touted pitching prospects coming out of high school who could see some innings on the mounds as freshman this year.
Outlook for 2019
Last season was supposed to be somewhat of a retooling year for Louisville, but they exceeded expectations. Now with most of that talent coming back, and a top five recruiting class added to the mix, this year’s team will have high expectations with depth on offense and in the pitching staff.
NC State (2018 Record: 42-18, 19-11)
It was a highly successful regular season for NC State as they finished second in the Atlantic division. But they went 0-2 in the ACC Tournament and then 2-2 in the regionals.
Returning Players
Catcher Patrick Bailey returns as one of the best backstops in the country after hitting .321 last season with 45 runs scored, 13 home runs, and 40 RBI. Shortstop Will Wilson returns as the leader of this lineup and team after hitting .307 in 2018 with 50 runs scored, 16 doubles, 15 home runs, and 53 RBI. First baseman Evan Edwards hits .297 a season ago with 15 home runs and 48 RBI. NC State is hoping Brad Debo returns to his All-American form after a down sophomore season in 2018.
Kent Klyman was the team’s best pitcher in 2018 with a 2.34 ERA in 61.2 innings pitched with 67 strikeouts and 4 saves. They could use him in the starting rotation this year. Reid Johnston will likely get a shot in the weekend rotation after make 10 starts last year with a 3.06 ERA in 64.2 innings pitched with 49 strikeouts and 4 saves. Dalton Feeney could be a key in the pitching staff as he returns from Tommy John surgery.
Newcomers
Jonny Butler has a chance to start in the outfield this season after a good freshman season at Heartland CC and a good fall with NC State. Vojtech Mensik is a freshman who has a chance to start at third base.
Alec Barger is a JUCO transfer and a former 16th round MLB Draft pick that has a chance to throw some big innings for NC State this spring.
Outlook for 2019
“We feel like we have the most pitching depth we have had since 2013 with a very good defensive ball club. Offensively we have three elite returners in the middle of lineup with several newcomers and younger guys who are ready to step into the lineup. As of now our biggest question mark would be who will win our outfield positions. Jonny Butler has a strong hold on one of them and the other two are still open for about five guys to win.” — NC State coaching staff
Notre Dame (2018 Record: 24-30, 12-18)
Notre Dame started off the season with an exciting series against LSU in which they won. But that was pretty much the highlight of the season as they finished sixth in the Atlantic and went 0-2 in the ACC Tournament.
Returning Players
Third baseman Niko Kavadas hit .299 last year with 5 home runs and will need to step up in the lineup with Notre Dame’s top two hitters from 2018 missing. Outfielder Eric Gilgenbach will try to help out after hitting .270 in 2018 with 10 home runs and 45 RBI.
Zack Martin could move into the weekend rotation after posting a 4.60 ERA last year in 43 innings with 34 strikeouts. Jack Sheehan made 14 starts last year and was second on the team with 62.2 innings pitched. Cole Kmet is back after closing 8 games for Notre Dame last season.
Outlook for 2019
Notre Dame doesn’t have a lot coming back to the lineup or in the pitching staff for a team that won just 24 games last year. Unless they get some JUCO players to help boost this lineup it could be another long season for the Irish.
Wake Forest (2018 Record: 25-32, 13-17)
The Deacs lost a lot of talent from a very good 2017 team who lost to Florida in the super regionals. It showed as they failed to meet those expectations again in 2018.
Returning Players
Second baseman Jake Mueller is back for his senior season after hitting .303 last year with 38 runs scored and 18 stolen bases. Shortstop Patrick Frick will join him up the middle after hitting .290 in 2018 with 33 runs scored, 3 home runs, and 31 RBI. First baseman Bobby Seymour had an excellent freshman season last year hitting .286 with 31 runs scored, 12 doubles, 7 home runs, and 32 RBI. Chris Lanzilli is back as well after hitting .268 last year with 9 home runs and 33 RBI.
Colin Peluse will lead the weekend rotation this season after posting a 3.87 ERA in 2018 over 83.2 innings pitched with 63 strikeouts. Morgan McSweeney made 10 starts last year with a 4.44 ERA in 73 innings with 66 strikeouts. Tyler Witt made 33 appearances last year with a 5.26 ERA in 51.1 innings pitched with 45 strikeouts and a pair of saves.
Outlook for 2019
Wake Forest returns almost all of its lineup from a year ago, and two starting pitchers. If those hitters take a step forward and they find some depth in the bullpen, we could see Wake Forest get back to the postseason.
2019 All-ACC Preseason Team
C: Patrick Bailey (NC State)
1B: Michael Busch (UNC)
2B: Jake Mueller (Wake Forest)
SS: Logan Davidson (Clemson)
3B: Drew Mendoza (Florida State)
OF: Eric Gilgenbach (Notre Dame)
OF: Kennie Taylor (Duke)
OF: Chase Murray (Georgia Tech)
DH: Logan Wyatt (Louisville)
SP: Drew Parrish (Florida State)
SP: Graeme Stinson (Duke)
SP: Evan McKendry (Miami)
SP: Gianluca Dalatri (UNC)
SP: Connor Thomas (Georgia Tech)
RP: Carson Spiers (Clemson)
RP: Andrew Abbott (Virginia)
RP: Kent Klyman (NC State)
Second Team:
C – Kyle Wilkie (Clemson)
1B – Evan Edwards (NC State)
2B – Mike Salvatore (Florida State)
SS – Will Wilson (NC State)
OF – Jake Snider (Louisville)
OF – Reese Albert (Florida State)
OF – Ron Washington, Jr. (Pittsburgh)
DH – Tristan English (Georgia Tech)
SP – Reid Johnston (NC State)
SP – Colin Peluse (Wake Forest)
SP – Xzavion Curry (Georgia Tech)
SP – C.J. Van Eyk (Florida State)
SP – Nick Bennett (Louisville)
RP – Bryce Jarvis (Duke)
RP – Jonah Scolaro (Florida State)
Honorable Mention:
C – Luke Horanski (Virginia Tech)
1B – Joey Loperfido (Duke)
1B – Bobby Seymour (Wake Forest)
SS – Tyler Fitzgerald (Louisville)
SS – Freddy Zamora (Miami)
SP – Ian Seymour (Virginia Tech)
SP – Brooks Crawford (Clemson)
Predicted Order to Finish (Atlantic):
1. Louisville
2. Florida State
3. Clemson
4. NC State
5. Wake Forest
6. Notre Dame
7. Boston College
