The Husky Haul
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Washington Baseball: 2019 Season Preview

By Herbert Nightingale

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JUNE 27: Starting pitcher Tim Lincecum #55 of the San Francisco Giants pitches against the visiting Colorado Rockies in the first inning at AT&T Park on June 27, 2015 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Don Feria/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JUNE 27: Starting pitcher Tim Lincecum #55 of the San Francisco Giants pitches against the visiting Colorado Rockies in the first inning at AT&T Park on June 27, 2015 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Don Feria/Getty Images) /
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Washington baseball team’s eye is to make it back to Omaha for the College World Series. 2018 was the first time the Huskies went to the College World Series. They finished with a record of 35-26 in 2018.

The Washington baseball season begins on February 15, in a three-game series against UC Irvine on the road.

The Washington Huskies will be without pitcher Joe DeMers who pitched the most innings last year throwing 130.1 innings with an ERA of 2.49. Also, he was named a Gold Glove winner as the best defensive pitcher in the NCAA. A junior, DeMers was eligible for the MLB draft, where he went in the 11th round by the Oakland A’s.

Junior Jordan Jones, who started 18 games last season with an ERA of 3.98 is expected to be the ace of the staff. He was named as an All Pac-12 Honorable Mention in 2018. Behind him, sophomore Josh Burgmann is expected to crack the starting rotation.

Incoming freshmen David Rhodes out of White Rock, British Columbia is expected to be in the Husky rotation as well. He was drafted in the 40th round by the Seattle Mariners in 2018, but he decided to go to college instead.

Sophomore right-hander Steve Emanuels is expected to be the go to guy out of the bullpen. Last year Emanuels appeared in 34 games, a freshman record.

Sophomore left-hander Jack Decooman pitched in nine games last year, and started three so he’s a prime candidate for more innings. Dylan Lamb, another sophomore, pitched in 18 games in relief as well so he is another one with some experience where he likely pitches more this season.

The Huskies have two seniors on the roster along with 13 juniors, 12 sophomores, and six freshmen.

The two seniors on the team are Joe Wainhouse and Mason Cerillo. Wainhouse led the Huskies in home runs with 19. He also hit .306 with 61 RBIs. He is listed as a pitcher as well. He only pitched in two games last year but could see more action out of the bullpen. However, being a veteran hitter he will likely see limited action as a pitcher. Last year he was the designated hitter in 57 games.

Coach Lindsay Meggs plans to have Wainhouse play several games at first base this year. He hopes to have junior catcher Nick Kahle who started every game last year at the position hopes to give him action at designated hitter as well to keep his bat in the lineup; this will give sophomore Michael Petrie who played in only seven games last year more experience along with highly touted freshmen Albert Hsiao and Colton Cassinelli.

Mason Cerrillo had the second highest batting average last year at .341 along with the most hits of 76 on the team. He started 42 games in left field while being at first base for 13. Expect to see him in left field most of the time.

Jon Schiffer is expected to start the season at first. Last year, he started 40 games as a freshman hitting .242 with one home run and 20 RBIs.

Up the middle will be Noah Hsue at second base, who batted .200 starting in 26 games and Ramon Bramasco at shortstop. Bramasco is a transfer from Cerritos College in southern California. He hit .322 with three home runs and 32 RBIs last year at Cerritos.

The hot corner will be occupied by junior Ben Baird, who started 26 games at third base last year. He batted .204 with only 4 runs driven in however the Huskies coach staff are hoping as a junior his experience will pay off in greater measure.

Rollie Nichols, a teammate and fellow transfer with Bramasco from Cerritos could see some action at second base well as the outfield. Last year he hit .305 with four home runs and 28 RBIs. He also stole a team-high 10 bases.

Christian Jones is expected to start in right field, however, he will likely miss the first month because of a toe injury so he is expected to be back in time for conference play. Last year as a sophomore he started 49 games in right field. Jones hit  .264 with two home runs and 13 RBIs.

Kaiser Weiss, the Huskies fourth outfielder will be shouldering the load while Jones out. As a freshman last year, Weiss hit .222 with 10 RBIs. He played in 54 total games. Rollie Nichols may see some action in right field as well.

The mixture of experience and youth the Washington Huskies are looking to return to Omaha in June, and the Husky Haul will be here to tell you about every step.

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