Spoke with one of the coaches yesterday.
They've dropped Batty down to more of a sidearm delivery. He's hitting 88-89 with movement. They are very encouraged by what they saw.
I think some of these cuts (and this is just my opinion, not what I was told by anyone) is simply a difference in what Deggs is looking for as opposed to what Robe was looking for.
About Lejeune. His biggest problem is he's slow. And, he didn't have a good defensive fall either.
Now, here's something I was told. RHP Luke Cronin was held out this fall. They think he can be special as a late innings guy.
We are going to have a very deep pitching staff. Angel, Perrin, Dixon, Wilson and Robinson can all be effective starters. A bullpen with Bradford, J. Schultz, Batty, Armstrong, Cronin and Connor Cooke can get you out from the bullpen.
And, if they're both healthy (and there's no reason to believe they won't be), Brandon Young and Jack Burk can start and relieve.
That's a dozen guys. And, who knows...maybe the other pitchers not mentioned take a step forward as well.
As far as position players are concerned, there will continue to be competition into the spring. They like Toro behind the plate, but as you saw, Hagedorn can hit from the left side. Talley and Colton Frank are still battling at first base. Assuming Windham comes back, Brandon and Dupuy will battle it out at second. Cantrelle and Windham on the left side are no brainers.
Bourgeois should be ready to do and Breaux will be in CF (although he'll work out as a pitcher in the spring).
Right field is open, but if Nick Fitzgerald can handle it defensively, that gets Hagedorn's bat in the lineup.
They really want to find a spot for Spears who has taken another step forward as a hitter. But he's a liability defensively regardless of where he plays.
I do not believe, offensively, we'll be terribly deep. That will be addressed in recruiting. Obviously the recruiting will now be to Deggs' philosophy.