Fresno State Athletics
Glance at the 2016 Diamond 'Dogs: Outfielders
2/15/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
By: Travis Blanshan
tblanshan@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
FRESNO, Calif. - We wrap up our glance at the 2016 Diamond 'Dogs today by taking a glance at the outfielders.
With the loss of first-team All-Mountain West selection Taylor Tempel to graduation, the Bulldogs must replace their top hitter from a year ago as the Clovis native led the `Dogs with a .362 average to rank second in the Mountain West.
Despite the loss of the team-leader in hits (67) and slugging percentage (.519) as well, the outfield group brings back four experienced players while welcoming two talented newcomers to the position group.
The lone senior returning in the outfield will be Brody Russell. A native of Bakersfield, Russell enters his final season as a `Dog with 158 games played and has amassed 110 hits, 61 runs scored and 53 RBIs during his time in the red and blue. He appeared in 55 games a season ago making all 48 starts in center field and ranked fourth on the club with nine doubles.
Juniors Austin Guibor and Jake Stone return for the Bulldogs after putting together solid sophomore campaigns. Guibor earned second-team All-MW honors ranking second on the club with a .339 average (11th in MW) and tallied 62 hits, 39 runs scored and 16 extra-base hits. He joined Cory Voss of New Mexico as the only two MW players to record at least five doubles, triples and home runs on the season. The Campbell, Calif. native made 25 starts in left field and 24 more in right field while leading the MW with five triples and added six doubles and five home runs.
Guibor continued his strong play this summer joining teammate Torin Goldstein on the Victoria Harborcats in the West Coast League. He hit .297 from the plate, collected 41 hits, including 14 for extra-bases, scored 33 runs and drove in 26 RBIs. Guibor was named to the MW preseason All-Conference team by Perfect Game, tabbed a second-team College Sports Madness Preseason All-MW selection and named the ninth-best MLB prospect in the MW for the 2016 MLB Draft by Baseball America.
Stone appeared in 37 games a year ago making 20 starts at three different positions. The Carlsbad, Calif. native hit .220 with 18 hits and scored nine runs in 2015. Stone looks to expand his role this season seeing time in both center and right field.
Sophomore Aaron Arruda also returns to the group after appearing in 45 games as a freshman. The Fresno native made 24 starts, including 20 in right field and hit .248 from the dish with 26 hits, four doubles and 14 runs scored. He ventured to Illinois to play summer ball for the Crystal Lake Cardinals out of the Metro Collegiate League of Illinois helping the Cardinals capture the North Division title. He hit .369 from the plate and led the team with 24 hits. He was named a Metro League All-Star and the Outstanding Hitter of the World Series along with being a member of the All-World Series Team.
"Stone and Guibor are slated to play every day. Russell must get healthy, after undergoing his fourth knee surgery and Arruda will likely DH as he works his way into top physical shape," said Bulldogs head coach Mike Batesole.
Fresno State adds a pair of talented freshman this year to the outfield group bringing in Zach Ashford from Buchanan High School in Clovis and Austin White from Studio City, Calif. and Cleveland High School.
Ashford earned many top accolades after his senior year being named the Fresno Bee Player of the Year, Tri-River Athletic Conference Player of the Year and earned his way on the Region 8 ABCA/Rawlings High School All-Region team.
White was a four-year letter winner as a Cavalier earning first-team West Valley League accolades as a senior hitting .330 from the dish and was named a city section All-Star.
"Those are two very athletic kids with lots of tools. As soon as they mature as hitters, they will play consistently," said Batesole on his two young outfielders.
With a nice mix of experience and youth, the 'Dogs outfield looks to be a strength this season.
Fresno State officially opens the 2016 season on Friday evening against Creighton with first pitch set for 6:05 p.m. at Pete Beiden Field. The `Dogs three-game series against the Bluejays is part of a nine-game home stand that jumpstarts 2016.
"Be Bold" - Season tickets for the 2016 Fresno State baseball season can be purchased by calling the Bulldog Ticket Office at 559-278-DOGS. Single game tickets and mini plans (6, 8, and 10-game flex plans) are also on-sale by going to gobulldogs.com or calling 559-278-DOGS.
