Tech Baseball Opens Team Practice Tuesday

Sept. 6, 2010

ATLANTA – The 2011 Georgia Tech baseball team opens its fall campaign this week, with full-squad practice starting Tuesday, Sept.7.

The Yellow Jackets return 17 letterwinners and four starters (2 position players, two pitchers) from a 2010 squad that finished 47-15 overall, received a No. 8 national seed and hosted the NCAA Atlanta regional.

“I am excited to get back to work Tuesday,” head coach Danny Hall said. “We have a lot of new talented players that I get a chance to see what they can do to make us a competitive team.”

After losing two starters to graduation and seven underclassmen to professional contracts, the Jackets return just two everyday position starters from 2010 – Junior third baseman Matt Skole (120 career starts) and junior second baseman Jacob Esch (59 career starts).

Sophomore outfielder Brandon Thomas, who started 32 games in place of injured left fielder Jay Dantzler in 2010, will return to add experience in the outfield. Thomas was recently named the top pro prospect in the Florida Collegiate Summer league by Baseball America.

Juniors Jed Bradley (LHP) and Mark Pope (RHP) are the lone returning starters on the mound, but the bullpen returns a lot of depth in juniors Jake Davies (LHP), Zach Brewster (LHP) and Taylor Wood (LHP), and sophomores Luke Bard (RHP) and Buck Farmer (RHP). Senior closer Kevin Jacob (RHP), a 2010 MLB Draft pick, also returns after missing most of his junior season with shoulder tendonitis.

The Jackets welcome 17 newcomers to the Flats for the 2011 season, all looking to contribute immediately. Six of the 17 were selected in June’s MLB draft, including fourth-round draft pick Matt Grimes (RHP).

Starting Tuesday, Tech will begin practice each day at approximately 3:15 p.m., while taking Thursdays and Sundays off.

The annual White & Gold World Series begins Mon., Oct. 11, and continues through Wed. Oct. 13 with full games at Russ Chandler Stadium.