Part 1: Infielders
Part 2: Outfielders
Part 3: Pitchers
Part 4: Catchers

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 finish previewing the 2017 Diamond Dons. Last but certainly not least, it's time for the catchers.

Among the biggest stories to keep track of during the 2017 season is the return of Dominic Miroglio, the teams starting catcher and clean-up hitter. The slugging backstop only saw action in eight games last season before going down with a hand injury that would cost him the rest of 2016. In 2015 as a sophomore, Miroglio hit .340 in 53 starts with 11 doubles and three home runs while driving in a team-high 38 runs.

"It was tough last year, losing Dominic in the eighth game" head coach Nino Giarratano said. "Especially with him being one of the top catchers in the country at this time last year. But he's back and he's healthy and he passed up the draft."

Miroglio was selected in the 16th round of the 2016 MLB Draft but elected to return to USF for his junior season. 

"Anytime you get a junior that doesn't go in the top-10 rounds and decides to come back to school; that bodes very well for your team," Giarratano explained. "That's because you've got a guy that's going to be a good professional that can now settle in and become a really good college player. We're really happy to have Dom back."

The burden of leading a team will weigh heavy on the shoulders of Miroglio both behind and at the plate as he will hit in the heart of the order with a lot of speed and athleticism in front of him in the form of Matt Sinatro, Nico Giarratano and Allen Smoot. 

"He can hit in the middle of our line-up," Giarratano expanded. "He had 38 RBI as a sophomore and hit well over .300 and was a leader in almost every offensive category. Losing him last year was tough, but to have him back is great. It means the world to the team because he can do a lot of things. He can catch, he can really throw, he's pretty athletic, he can do a lot of good things with the bat."

Giarratano suspects that Miroglio can really see himself shoot up the charts this season. "If we can get him 200 at-bats this season he can really go out and prove that he is a top-5 round pick," he said. 

Behind Miroglio will be Riley Helland, who spent much of last year as a key utility player seeing time in the infield, outfield, as a designated hitter and even on the mound. Helland was fifth on the team batting .262 in 2016. 

"He's a guy that got a lot of big hits for us last year," Giarratano said. "Riley has a chance to step-in and give Dom a day off whether it's a Saturday or a Tuesday. If he can stay healthy, he's looking like the future for us at the catching spot."

Freshman Matt Campos (Waipahu, HI / Iolani School) who is primarily a back-up middle infielder will also serve as the third-string catcher for the Dons. 

Behind Campos is junior college transfer, Paul O'Sullivan who joins USF from the College of Marin. "Paul can really help us, he's got a great work ethic and a great attitude," Giarratano said. 

Rob Emery will sit out this season after transferring from Dartmouth University, but according to Giarratano, the power hitter will be Helland's top competition for the catching spot in 2018. 

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

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.