Part 1: Infielders, Monday, Jan. 30
Part 2: Outfielders, Wednesday, Feb. 1
Part 3: Pitchers, Monday, Feb. 6
Part 4: Catchers, Wednesday, Feb. 8

Baseball season is right around the corner with the home opener slated for February 17th at 2 p.m. against Northern Colorado. With that in mind, it's time to start previewing the 2017 Diamond Dons. First up, the infielders. 

"When you look at the infield itself, we got a lot of guys coming back," head coach Nino Giarratano, who is entering his 19th season at the helm for the Dons, said. "We've got the defensive player of the year at shortstop, a good third baseman, a guy at second base who we think is going to be very offensive and an All-WCC performer at first base. We're pretty excited about this group of players." 

The projected starting infield is loaded with veteran talent and is going to carry a large bulk of the offensive load while also being expected to be elite defensively. Senior shortstop Nico Giarratano will lead the group as the defensive whiz and is also slated to hit in the second spot in the batting order. Last year, Giarratano hit .251 while knocking in 28 runs, which was good for third on the team, and tallying 56 hits (a team-high). He did all this while playing a sparkling brand of shortstop which saw him make a mere four errors in 56 games last season.

"Anytime you look at it, with over 150 games as a college player under his belt, that's going to help us a lot and he understands that," coach Giarratano said. "We're going to look to him for leadership and hopefully he can just relax and play and enjoy himself because the rest of the guys around him are going to create some good continuity."

At the corners, junior Ross Puskarich and senior Allen Smoot will take on the traditional role of the positions by being asked to be big time run producers in this years line-up. First baseman Puskarich will bat fifth in the order after leading the Dons in batting last year with an average of .331 in 41 starts. He added five homers and 29 RBI to go with a team-high .481 slugging percentage and was second on the team with 51 hits. Smoot will man third base and hit in the three-hole. Last year he was right behind Puskarich with a batting average of .321 while being the team's leading RBI man with 33 and also lead the team in doubles with 14 while his 50 hits were good for third. 

"Smoot does a great job of producing runs, has the ability to get on base, drive runners in and has a good understanding of the strike zone," Giarratano said. "Ross had a breakout year last year, hitting over .300, so that will be great. Add (catcher) Dominic Miroglio in the middle of them and I think there's some protection for all those guys."

Second base will see a newcomer to the Dons, but not to the WCC, in Michael Perri. Perri joins USF from Pepperdine this year after sitting out 2016. At Pepperdine he spent time both in the infield and on the mound. He is expected to assume duties at second base where coach Giarratano is looking for him to blossom into a dynamic player.

"Perri's an electric player," Giarratano was quick to point out. "He was a shortstop out of high school and a shortstop at Pepperdine, and probably could be a shortstop on any other team except for this one. He's got speed, he's got some strength, he's got some arm strength. We have the benefit of having two short-stops in the middle of the infield."

Senior Manny Ramirez Jr. will see a prominent role on the team as both the back-up first baseman and one of two primary designated-hitters Giarratano will call upon (along with Dan James). Junior Aaron Ping will see a lot of work in a utility role as well by being the main back-up at both second base and right field. Last year Ping hit .257 in 43 starts. 

"Manny gives us a good right-handed option at DH to compliment James and he'll also see time at first base," Giarratano said. "Aaron is going to be important to provide cover for us. He's athletic enough to provide depth in both the outfield and the infield and he can hit, too."

Rounding out the depth chart is a pair of freshmen who Giarratano has big hopes for in the future and will play utility roles in the time being. Riki Urata (San Mateo, CA/Hillsdale High School) will provide cover in the middle infield while Matt Campos (Waipahu, HI/Iolani School) will be a back-up infielder as well as an option at catcher.

"I'm excited about this group," Giarratano said referring to his great infield depth. "I think it's going to be a great year for them and I'm happy for them."

2017 PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP

1. CF Matt Sinatro    .305 BA / 40 R / 26 steals
2. SS Nico Giarratano    .251 BA / 28 RBI / 34 R
3. 3B Allen Smoot    .321 BA / 14 2B / 33 RBI
4. C Dominic Miroglio*    .340 BA / 11 2B / 38 RBI
5. 1B Ross Puskarich    .331 BA / 5 HR / 29 RBI
6. DH Dan James     .257 BA / 3 HR / 23 RBI
    Manny Ramirez Jr.    .145 BA / 2 2B / 2 RBI
7. LF Harrison Bruce    .260 BA / 8 2B / 12 steals
8. 2B Michael Perri^    .219 BA / 4 R / 1 3B
9. RF Brady Bate    .230 BA / 6 HR / 18 RBI
*2015 stats
^2014 stats at Pepperdine

Tickets are available for USF's Hall of Fame dinner to be held on Feb. 3 at the McLaren Conference Center on campus. Former pitching standout Patrick McGuigan '06 joins Eduardo Rangel '66 (men's soccer), Tami Adkins '93 (women's basketball), James Hardy '78 (men's basketball), and Dr. Sandee Hill (special category) as the 2017 class of inductees into the Father Hubert "Hub" Flynn Hall of Fame. Click here to purchase your tickets today. 

And don't forget, before the season starts, there will be the 15th Annual Monsignor Moran Lead-off Dinner on February 11th. The evening will feature a cocktail hour beginning at 5 p.m. with dinner at 6 p.m. and an auction while introducing the 2017 Diamond Dons. You can purchase a ticket to the event by clicking here.