+
PAGE 8
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
+
THE DAILY DEBATE
Who will be the MVP for Kansas baseball this year?
Kylan Whitmer
@KRWhitmer
"DREW MOROVICK"
After last year's pitching rotation losses, right-hander Drew Morovick will step up and be the Jayhawks' MVP this season.
Morovick will return for his senior season and fill the void left by last season's starters who left after signing professional contracts. Frank Duncan, Robert Kahana and Jordan Piche' all received All-Big 12 honors last year while on the mound, and together they pitched over half of the Jayhawks' innings last season.
Saying there are some big shoes to fill for this season is an understatement, but Morowick is up for the challenge, as he will return after playing his best season yet.
In 2014, Morovick started a career-high nine games for the Jayhawks and appeared in 25 games total. In those 25 games he posted a 10-4 record, not only leading the team in wins, but leading the Big 12 conference as well in a three-way tie.
After leading the conference in wins for last season, Morovick enters the 2015 season as the Big 12's active leader for career wins.
Morovick earned his 10th win late last season against Kentucky, the two seed in the regional. This was arguably his best performance as he relieved starter Jordan Piche',
who gave up five earned runs in just four innings which allowed Kentucky to tie the game at six. Morovick pitched a stellar three and one-third innings of scoreless relief, allowing just one hit as the Jayhawks pulled away for a postseason win.
The senior will be expected to do more of the same this season as a starter while newcomers join him in the starting rotation.
In 77.1 innings pitched last season, the right-hander surrendered 86 hits while sending 44 batters back to the dugout with strikeouts. The pitcher also gave up only one long-ball last season out of the 21 total home runs hit against the team last season.
Fans will be able to find out more Wednesday during the Jayhawks' Media Day, but
Look for the senior to add to his innings-pitched tally this season as he could pitch over 100 innings in 2015 if he follows the lead of Frank Duncan, who pitched 118 innings last season. Morovick will also look to cut down his earned runs
"SAYING THERE ARE SOME BIG SHOES TO FILL FOR THIS SEASON IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT, BUT MOROVICK IS UP FOR THE CHALLENGE, AS HE WILL RETURN AFTER PLAYING HIS BEST SEASON YET."
Dibaseball.com projects Morovick will be responsible for leading the weekend rotation along with transfer junior Ben Krauth and freshman Blake Weiman. This makes Morovick's experience on the mound very valuable early on in the season as the newcomers adjust to Division I baseball.
from last season, as he posted a 5.00 ERA.
With more responsibility this season, Morovick looks to improve on his already-impressive statistics from the mound.
Plenty of jayhawks will step up and have big performances on the diamond this season. However, because of Morovick's experience among fresh newcomers in the pitching rotation, he will be the most valuable player for the Jayhawks in 2015.
Edited by Emma LeGault
Shane Jackson
@jacksonshane3
"CONNOR MCKAY"
G one is left fielder Michael Suiter, who batted .322
with 11 doubles, three home runs and 42 RBIs in 2014. Former center fielder Tucker Tharp hit .310 with 39 RBIs and 15 doubles will also not be pencilled in for this year's
home run in the 14th inning against Stony Brook on March 9.
It is no secret that McKay
McKay made 41 starts as a freshman, moving between center and right field. As a sophomore he started in 34 games. Over the season, he drove in 18 runs and hit for the cycle against in-state rival Kansas State on May 10, 2013.
"ALL EYES POINT TO SENIOR OUT-FIELDER CONNOR MCKAY TO SPEAR-HEAD THE 2015 KANSAS LINEUP."
Kansas baseball lineup.
kansas baseball lineup.
In order for the Jayhawks to repeat last year's success, they will have to fill some of these glaring holes on the offensive end.
All eyes point to senior outfielder Connor McKay to spearhead the 2015 Kansas lineup.
McKay was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 24th round of the 2011 MLB Draft. He was named the No.1 prospect in the state of Colorado and No.76 nationally as a junior in high school. He was an offensive machine from the moment he stepped on campus. He became the first freshman to hit a grand slam in three years early in the 2012 season. This came a day after he hit the game-winning
has an insane amount of talent on the diamond and has been an offensive force his entire collegiate career. But coach Ritch Price said McKay still lacked maturity at times last year, which prevented him from being able to take that next step.
McKay appeared to mature his junior year and took that next step. In 2014, McKay finished with a batting average of .259 while posting career bests in runs (28), doubles (10), home runs (nine), and walks (19). He also had a career- and teamhigh 45 RBIs.
The 6-foot-3 outfielder out of Parker, Colo., also strung together two eight-game hitting streaks over the course of 59 games. He knocked in
five RBIs against Milwaukee on Feb. 22.
McKay's ability to drive in runs and be a consistent weapon on offense in the heart of the order was enough to name him All-Big 12 Second Team. He aided the Jayhawks in a 35-26 record and a postseason berth.
Perfectgame.org, a baseball blog, tabbed him as the preseason Big 12 All-Conference designated hitter and picked Kansas to finish sixth in the Big 12. He was the lone Jayhawk to earn any Perfect Game preseason honors.
Because of all that, McKay is getting national recognition heading into his final season at Kansas.
Kansas was picked to finish last in the 2014 preseason coaches' poll. The Jayhawks wound up surpassing those projections, finishing fifth. This year, the Big 12 coaches' poll has Kansas tied for seventh.
But the lajhawks will not have the benefit of a superb starting rotation to carry them this spring as they say goodbye to all three of their weekend starters.
In order for Kansas to surpass projections once again, it will have to rely heavily on a high-octane offense to keep up with the prominent Big 12 pitching staffs. Connor "All Day" McKay will have to be the anchor of that offense.
— Edited by Emma LeGault
FOLLOW @KANSANSPORTS FOR UPDATES FROM THE MEN'S BASKETBALL GAME