Tufts Season Preview

Tufts (22-13, 7-5 in 2013)

What they lost:

The Jumbos have a huge level of talent on their roster, but they were not immune to offseason losses. Shortstop Scott Staniewicz was probably the most important offensive force for Tufts last year, hitting .344 with 22 RBI and a fantastic .452 OBP. He also stole 11 bases. Outfielder Nate Izzo batted .322 with 16 RBI and also stole 11 bases. The departure of these two table setters leaves Tufts with significant worries about who can get on base in front of sluggers Wade Hauser ’15 and Matt Freccia ’14.  They will probably bank on Nick Barker ’15 continuing his 2013 success, and on improvement from junior speedster Connor McDavitt ’15, who already gets on base at a .437 clip. Staniewicz and Izzo would be difficult to replace for any team, but if there’s a team with the talent to do it, it’s Tufts.

2014 MVP: Wade Hauser ’15

Tufts has several dangerous hitters in their lineup, with three returning players who hit over .300 last year. But one slugger stands a cut above the rest in their lineup, and that is junior infielder Wade Hauser.  Last year, as a sophomore, Hauser hit .358, with three homers and 24 RBI.  He also posted an impressive .925 OPS.  This was enough to earn him a 2nd team all-NESCAC nod. For these next two years, we can expect only more of the same from Hauser, which is a scary thought for the pitchers of NESCAC. In addition to Hauser, first baseman Freccia (.379 with 16 RBI) and catcher Barker (.344) will make up the middle of the order, replacing Staniewicz and Izzo.

2014 Pitcher of the Year: Andrew David ’16

One would be hard pressed to find a more dangerous pitching staff in NESCAC than the one Tufts is trotting out this season. An astounding six pitchers from last year’s staff had an ERA under 3.00, with four of them returning this season. Indeed, it is difficult to choose a pitcher who truly stands out in Tufts’ staff, as there is so much talent across the board. But Andrew David ’16 gets the nod because of his youth and versatility. David made six starts in his 13 appearances, tossing two shutouts. In his 54 innings pitched, he only walked 9, while striking out 47. Allow me to reiterate: that was his freshman year. In addition to David, ace closer Matt Moser ’16 (1.96 ERA) returns, and appropriately named lefty Kyle Slinger ’15 (2.71 with 4 wins) is back as well.  To the dismay of the rest of NESCAC, Tufts’ staff vaguely resembles the Orioles of the ’70’s, and should remain dominant for the foreseeable future.

Season Outlook:

To be blunt, this team is loaded. The offense will step back slightly without Staniewicz and Izzo, but Hauser, Freccia and Barker will keep it highly dangerous.  And honestly, any offense would be adequate with the pitching staff Tufts has lined up. The ceiling for this team is getting higher every day, and only injuries will keep them from being in heavy contention for the NESCAC title.