2016 College Conference Preview: Pac-12

BA breaks down the Pac-12 Conference, including our projections for player of the year, pitcher of the year and top prospects. Teams in the Preseason Top 25 are linked to their preview capsules.

Baseball Members (First Year): Arizona (1979), Arizona State (1979), California (1916), UCLA (1928), Oregon (1916-1981, 2009) Oregon State (1916), Southern California (1923), Stanford (1918), Utah (2012), Washington (1916), Washington State (1919).

Checking out: None.

Team to Beat: Oregon State. The Beavers made a regional last year despite a roster full of freshmen. They’re older and deeper in 2016.

Player of the Year: Bobby Dalbec, 3b/rhp, Arizona. The junior led the Pac-12 with 15 home runs and went 3-7, 3.21 in 62 innings. He provides power at the plate and in the weekend rotation.

Pitcher of the Year: Daulton Jefferies, rhp, California. An athletic junior righty with a four-pitch mix, Jefferies comes off a strong summer with USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team and should give teams fits on Friday nights.

Freshman of the Year: Joe DeMers, rhp, Washington. A great competitor who’s won three gold medals with USA Baseball, DeMers has the stuff and command to make an immediate impact in the rotation.

PAC-12 BEST TOOLS Best Pure Hitter: K.J. Harrison, Oregon State. Best Raw Power: Bobby Dalbec, Arizona. Best Strike-Zone Discipline: Jeremy Martinez, Southern California. Best Athlete: Trever Morrison, Oregon State. Fastest Baserunner: Trever Morrison, Oregon State. Best Baserunner: Timmy Robinson, Southern California. Best Defensive Catcher: Brian Serven, Arizona State. Best Defensive 1B: Matt Winaker, Stanford. Best Defensive 2B: Tommy Edman, Stanford. Best Defensive 3B: Bobby Dalbec, Arizona. Best Defensive SS: Colby Woodmansee, Arizona State. Infield/Best Arm: Bobby Dalbec, Arizona. Best Defensive Outfielder: Timmy Robinson, Southern California. Best Outfield Arm: Austin Grebeck, Oregon. Best Fastball: Ian Hamilton, Washington State. Best Breaking Ball: Matt Krook, Oregon. Best Changeup: Daulton Jefferies, California. Best Control: Griffin Canning, UCLA.

Top 25 Teams: (5) Oregon State, (8) California, (10) UCLA, (14) Oregon, (16) Southern California

Other Projected Regional Teams Arizona State: In their first season under head coach Tracy Smith, the Sun Devils finished sixth in the conference and earned a regional bid. This season will be more of a challenge, as the Sun Devils lost weekend starters Brett Lilek and Ryan Kellogg as well as closer Ryan Burr to the draft. While the pitching is unproven, Arizona State retains much of its starting lineup, including Jr. SS Colby Woodmansee, corner infielder David Greer and catcher Brian Serven. The Sun Devils also bring in the nation’s No. 17 recruiting class. Washington: Though the losses of catcher Austin Rei and center fielder Braden Bishop are both significant, the Huskies have the pieces in place to improve on last year’s 29-25 season. They bring in the nation’s 15th best recruiting class, led by DeMers and shortstop A.J. Graffanino—the son of former big leaguer Tony Graffanino. Both will play right away, with DeMers slotting in the rotation behind last year’s Friday night starter, Fr. RHP Noah Bremer.

Notable Storylines: After 14 years with the Wildcats, Arizona head coach Andy Lopez, 61, retired at the end of the season. The Wildcats will hand the reins to 38-year-old Jay Johnson, who went 72-42 in two seasons as Nevada’s head coach . . . Marty Lees returns to the Pac-12 as Washington State’s new head coach after spending the last three seasons as an Oklahoma State assistant. Lees was on the Oregon State coaching staff for 11 years before moving on to the Cowboys. Lees replaces Donnie Marbut, who was fired after a 29-27 season . . . Watch out for Stanford, who could receive a major midseason boost whenever ace righthander Cal Quantrill returns from Tommy John surgery.

Tournament: None

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TOP 20 PROSPECTS FOR 2016 DRAFT

1. Matt Krook, lhp, Oregon

2. Cal Quantrill, rhp, Stanford

3. Bobby Dalbec , 3b/rhp, Arizona

4. Daulton Jefferies, rhp, California

5. Ian Hamilton , rhp, Washington State

6. Colby Woodmansee, ss, Arizona State

7. Stephen Nogosek , rhp, Oregon

8. Tommy Edman , 2b, Stanford

9. Tucker Forbes , rhp, UCLA

10. Trever Morrison , ss, Oregon State

11. Grant Dyer , rhp, UCLA

12. Cole Irvin , lhp, Oregon

13. Eric Filia , of, UCLA

14. Kyle Davis , rhp, Southern California

15. Alex Schick , rhp, California

16. Jeremy Martinez, c, Southern California

17. Luke Persico , 3b, UCLA

18. Hever Bueno, rhp, Arizona State

19. Timmy Robinson, of, Southern California

20. Brian Serven , c, Arizona State

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TOP 10 PROSPECTS FOR 2017 DRAFT

1. David Peterson , lhp, Oregon

2. K.J. Harrison , 1b, Oregon State

3. Elliott Cary , of, Oregon State

4. Griffin Canning, rhp, UCLA

5. Drew Rasmussen , rhp, Oregon State

6. Brett Cumberland, c, California

7. J.J. Matijevic , 1b, Arizona

8. Keith Weisenberg , rhp, Stanford

9. Mitch Hart, rhp, Southern California

10. Sean Bouchard, 1b, UCLA