MINK League baseball: Bombers' roster will feature mix of old and new

When the Sedalia Bombers take the field for their home opener on June 3, fans might have a problem recognizing all the new faces.
The Bombers lost seven of their eight starters from last year — only catcher Cody Webster returns.
“Our big guy’s coming back. I think he’s the best catcher in the league,” manager Jud Kindle said of the Crowder sophomore. “His defense by far is one of the best. He’ll probably be a D-I signee by the end of the year.”
Webster batted .303 with four doubles, one triple, one home run and 16 RBIs in 99 at-bats.
Part-time players Curtiss Bunch and Dylan Mays will be back as well.
However, familiar faces abound on the pitching staff, which excites Kindle.
Four starting pitchers return from last season’s MINK League South Division champion, including ace Robert Greco.
Greco went 4-0 and had a 2.77 ERA. He struck out 54 batters and allowed only 11 walks in 52 innings pitched. Kindle said that Greco has been throwing consistently in the 89- to 91-mph range and has a major-league slider.
Greco’s return was in doubt, though.
“He was supposed to go to the best league (in summer ball), the Cape Cod League, but something fell through,” Kindle said. “He wants to come back and play with us. He loved the community. He loved his host family.”
Chris Fitzpatrick is returning. He is the University of Central Missouri’s No. 2 starter and was the Bombers’ No. 2 last year.
Fitzpatrick went 2-2 with one save and a 4.76 ERA last summer. The left-hander struck out 34 batters in 34 innings and issued only 15 walks.
Brett Thomas is coming back. He went 2-0 with a 5.40 ERA with 21 strikeouts and nine walks in 33 1-3 innings.
“I have big things planned for him,” said Kindle, who thinks that Thomas will sign with a Division I school before the end of the school year. “He’s at (Jefferson College). He’s their No. 1. His velocity’s up. He’s throwing 87-89 again on a consistent basis. He’ll be right in the mix in the rotation.”
Kurtis Schuyler’s coming back. He went 0-3 with a 5.46 ERA in six starts over 29 2-3 innings.
“He had an OK year for us last year. For UCM, he’s their No. 1,” Kindle said. “I really don’t think we saw the best of Schu last year. I think he’s a 10-win guy for us. He’ll probably be one of our starters.”
Preston Tarkington is coming back and will likely have a spot in the starting rotation. He went 4-1 with three saves and a 5.78 ERA over 23 1-3 innings. He struck out 23 and walked seven.
“Preston Tarkington has done amazing things during the offseason,” Kindle said. “He’s a starter and has multiple D-I offers. He is now in the 89-92 range. He’s got a really good slider and a changeup to go with it.”
Greco and Tarkington have a chance to be drafted, and their availability for the entire season is uncertain.
“We hope for the best for them, but if things don’t work out perfect for them, we’ll be glad to have them on our team,” Kindle said.
Kindle said that not only will his rotation be good, but the bullpen should excel.
“Our pitching staff’s going to be strong,” Kindle said. “We’ve brought in some arms like (Sam) Perez from Missouri State and some other guys for the bullpen work that are going to be great out  of  the bullpen for us.”
Kindle, who likes to build his team around its shortstop, believes he has found the right man for the job: Mylz Jones, a freshman at California State-Bakersfield.
Jones, normally a shortstop, is starting at third base at CSB but is projected to start at shortstop next season.
“He made the commitment to us, knowing that he’s going to be a shortstop,” Kindle said. “We’re looking for big things out of him. He’s an extremely projectable kid for the draft in a couple of years. He’s nondraftable right now because he’s a freshman.”
Tony Sandifer, a sophomore at Crowder College, will compete for playing time at third base with Bunch.
“He’s their best hitter. He’s probably their best all-around player,” Kindle said. “He’s going to be a D-I signee. He just hasn’t committed. Once again, he’s a draft guy.”
Another Cal State-Bakersfield player is projected to start at second base. Randy Medellin is former Bomber Oscar Sinay’s backup right now.
“We know how good Oscar was,” Kindle said. “Oscar says great things about this kid.”
Jess Cartner, of Lyon College, an NAIA school in Batesville, Ark., will compete with Mays for playing time at first base.
“He’s extremely good. He’s got a lot of pop,” Kindle said. “He played in the Coastal Plains League last year and was one of the better hitters in the league. We’re expecting big things from him.”
The Bombers have several candidates for the outfield positions, including Seton Hall freshman Zack Weigel.
“He’s an all-state kid from Illinois. He hasn’t got a lot of at-bats at Seton Hall but is very fast, very athletic, kind of what I’m looking for in the outfield.”
Matt Dezort, of Missouri State, is another outfielder on the roster.
“He’s supposed to be an extremely fast and athletic outfielder,” Kindle said.
Nick DeLorenzo, a California Lutheran University player, played for Ozark last summer.
“He’s a veteran. He’s a junior, and he put up good numbers last year at Ozark,” Kindle said.
Rounding out the outfield roster is 2011 Smith-Cotton graduate Jordan Dey.
Kindle believes the new outfielders should provide a spark on offense.
“In the past, my outfielders have been real small and quick. These kids are a little bit bigger and stronger,” Kindle said. “As a team, we’re looking to  have a little more pop. Maybe like we had a couple of years ago when we had some guys who could knock it out of the ballpark.”
Kindle pointed out that his outfielders have plenty of speed to bat at the top of  the lineup.
Tyler Harris, of Missouri State, was added to provide depth at catcher.