With the MLB Draft being completed, transfer portal activity starting to slow down and summer league action over halfway done, I thought it would be a good time to make an attempt at projecting what our depth chart might look like going into next year. Assumptions • Assumed Returners: I am assuming that IF Pete Daniel, RHP Aiden Robertson, LHP Danny Lazaro, RHP Jake Wise and RHP Ryan Walsh are returning despite no formal announcements yet. • Assumed Moving On: I am assuming that both LHP Chris Torres and LHP Aiden VanDeHatert will sign with the teams that drafted them and move on to pro ball. Notes • Lineup: Based on last season, I expect we’ll see Ethan Gibson, Ethan Ball and Hudson Lutterman at/near the top of the lineup with Sam Grube being a key bat in the middle of the order if he can enhance his performance in conference play. Beyond them, the latter part of our lineup will likely fluctuate based on competition this fall as well as performance over the course of next year. We could also see some situational R/L platoons. Either way, I fully expect we’ll see a good bit of shuffling and mixing/matching of the lineup similar to the last two years. • Defense: The good news is with the potential return of Pete Daniel, we will have a wealth of defensive versatility and options. Assuming Daniel does return, I think that will allow Willie Hurt to shift to being primarily an outfielder and allow for Evan Hankins to ease into a rotational role as he returns from injury. For now, I assume Ethan Gibson and Ethan Ball will man 1B and 2B with Clay Grady slotting in at SS and allowing Daniel to move to 3B and Lutterman start at DH. In the outfield, Nick Locurto and Sam Grube should pick back up as our corner outfielders to start the year. At CF, I think Connor Guy will get the first shot at the starting role but not sure I expect him to keep that all year as I think Willie Hurt’s potential at the plate will make him a factor at all outfield spots and Aiden Arnett has shown some good potential as a hitter in summer league action. I don’t view Hurt or Arnett as natural center fielders but if they prove they can hit well enough, we could see a similar situation we had this past year with Sam Gates in CF. • Starting Pitching: The weekend starters should be anchored by Ethan Grim and Logan Eisenreich. Given his performance in the Cape this summer, I would give the inside track for the Friday role to Grim with Eisenreich slotting in as the Saturday starter. The competition for the Sunday starter role will be interesting to watch. For now, I am going to project a freshman (Alex Hoffman) winning that role to continue the trend of impact weekend starter freshmen like Hackenberg, Renfrow, Marciano, Eisenreich and Grim. I am also going to project a freshman (Ethan Lee) getting the nod as the Weekday starter similar to what we saw recently with Madden Clement and Chase Swift. If Hoffman or Lee aren’t up to the challenge, look for Nic Abraham, Drake Purvis and Kaiden Lopez to be the top considerations. • Bullpen: Specific roles could fluctuate over the course of the season, but for now, I am expecting Daniel Powell and AJ Camp will be two of our highest leverage relief arms along with pitchers like Nic Abraham, Drake Purvis and Kaiden Lopez if they don’t secure a starting role. Beyond those pitchers, I expect Aiden Robertson, Danny Lazaro and the rest of our transfers (Kaden Hilburger, Nate Bennett, George Adams, Talan McConnell, Mike Staiano) to be medium leverage relievers that will get some situational weekend work as well as eating up midweek innings.