Navy baseball graduated nine seniors, almost all of which were starters or key contributors.
However, second-year coach Chuck Ristano hesitates to call this a rebuilding season even though Navy will field a vastly revamped lineup. “Rebuilding” suggests the Midshipmen are not contenders in the Patriot League and Ristano most certainly believes they will be.
“We’re going to chase a championship every season and I think we have the pieces to do that this season. That said, there is no way to gloss over the fact this team is very young and will need to evolve,” Ristano said. “Last season, there were a lot of proven commodities. This season, there is a little more uncertainty when we write out the lineup for the first time. We have inexperience all over the field.”
Navy baseball begins the “building” process this weekend with a three-game series at Richmond. Ristano and staff have one month to evaluate the personnel under game conditions and develop players before Navy begins Patriot League play against archrival Army.
Outstanding defense was the backbone behind a successful 2024 season in which Navy went 28-23 and 15-10 in the conference. The Midshipmen finished with a stellar .981 fielding percentage after committing just 32 errors in 51 games.
Needless to say, defense is top of mind as the Mids have just two players — first baseman Victor Izquierdo and catcher Mac McCommons — manning the same position as last season.
Junior Brock Murtha, who made just three errors in 205 chances at second base last season, will shift to shortstop to replace Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year Eduardo Diaz. The Notre Dame transfer has not played the position since high school.
Junior Henry Mitchell, who missed all of last season while recovering from surgery, will get first shot at third base. The New Mexico native started 32 games at second base as a sophomore in 2023.
Senior Ivan Aguirre and sophomore Evan Brown will share time at second base. Aguirre made 35 starts at second base as a plebe in 2021, while Brown made 19 starts at that position last season.
“I expect us to play high-level, fundamental defense every single season. However, I can’t run from the fact a historically good infield defense is 75% gone or playing a different position. It’s going to be hard to maintain that standard,” Ristano said.
There will be an entirely new outfield as all three primary starters graduated. Navy will rely on sophomore Tyler Bouchard along with freshmen Owen Peterson, Chris Klug and Mason Ceccarelli to fill the gaps. Andrew Manning will be the primary designated hitter for the second straight season, but will see time in the outfield as necessary.
“I like the talent potential of the four young guys. I feel pretty good about how those guys have performed in preseason. I think they are solid and reliable defensively,” Ristano said.
Murtha has been named preseason All-Patriot League after earning second team honors in 2024. He led the Mids with a .345 batting average, ranked second with 90 total bases and third with 35 RBIs.
Ristano likes that Murtha is versatile enough to play any position around the infield and is a dangerous runner in terms of stealing bases or taking extra bases.
“In terms of the physical tool set, Brock is our most complete player and also a real competitor. Offensively, he can drive the ball over the fence and into the gap. He’s an outstanding baserunner and very good with the glove,” Ristano said. “It’s really important that Brock takes on a leadership role because he’s played the most college baseball of anyone.”
Izquierdo made just one error in 349 chances at first base last season, while hitting .275 with 15 doubles and a team-high 42 RBIs from the cleanup spot. Izquierdo, who missed his entire freshman season after getting injured in the opener, only had one home run in 2024 and Ristano believes that was an aberration.
“I just want Vic to hit — if the ball leaves the yard or winds up in the gap, that is great. This is really only his second season of college baseball, so I expect the average to improve and the power numbers to increase,” Ristano said. “Vic is a big, imposing, dangerous presence in the middle of the lineup. I think he’s going to have a great season.”
Navy has two other proven offensive contributors in Manning and backup catcher Jack Killelea. Manning hit .285 with 15 extra base hits and 33 RBIs, while Killelea had a .292 average in limited at-bats. McCommons is an outstanding defensive catcher with a strong arm, but batted just .207 a year ago.
Meanwhile, Mitchell is a switch-hitter known for putting together grinding at-bats who posted an impressive .388 on-base percentage as a plebe. Ristano described Mitchell as an above-average defender and believes he could be a real revelation.
“Henry certainly made a strong statement in preseason,” he said.
Klug was rated by Perfect Game as the No. 1 shortstop and No. 10 overall prospect in the Indiana Class of 2024. The Bishop Chatard product was on pace to start in center field and hit leadoff before suffering an injury setback.
Ristano has described Klug as Navy’s most dynamic overall player behind Murtha. “Klug is a big-time recruit who can hit for power, make things happen as a baserunner and cover a lot of ground in center field,” he said.
While Klug is out, Ristano will likely use Peterson or Ceccarelli at the top of the lineup.
Navy lost two important members of the pitching staff in starter Matthew Shirah and workhorse reliever Nolan Jorgenson. However, the Midshipmen return their top two pitchers in starter Tyler Grenn and reliever Landon Kruer, both of whom are preseason All-Patriot League picks.
Grenn was a pleasant surprise, emerging as the staff ace and earning first team all-conference honors. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound righthander went 6-5 with a 4.48 earned run average, while limiting opponents to a .263 batting average.
“Tyler just goes out there and fills it up. He is a contact-oriented pitcher who keeps the ball in the bottom of the strike zone,” Ristano said.
Kruer was named second team All-Patriot League after recording nine saves as Navy’s closer. The right-hander notched 33 strikeouts in 36 innings and was second on the squad with a 3.73 ERA.
“Landon just wants the baseball regardless of the situation. Whether it’s with the bases loaded or to close it down in the ninth, he’s a real gamer,” Ristano said. “It’s nice to have the security blanket of a proven commodity on the back end. Keeping Landon strong and healthy is really important because he is critical to our success.”
Righthander Brandy Bendik is a leading candidate to be a weekend starter after going 6-3 with a 4.21 ERA and limiting opposing batters to a .250 overage. The imposing 6-foot-4, 230-pound sophomore registered 53 strikeouts in 68 innings.
Navy welcomes back three pitchers — seniors Liam Golden and Owen Beisty along with sophomore Matt Archibald — that missed all of last season with injuries.
“All three of those guys are big and physical with good stuff,” Ristano said. “Beisty might have the best stuff of anyone on our staff. We’re hoping he can be a real weapon.”
Ristano likes what he has seen out of freshman Spencer Stephens, saying the 6-foot-3, 230-pound lefty has made “the loudest statement.” He thinks two other plebes, righty Kody Clancy and lefty Mikey Plummer, could find their way into the conversation.
Navy has been picked second behind archrival Army in the Patriot League preseason poll. The Black Knights captured its sixth straight conference championship by sweeping the Midshipmen last eason.
Navy will welcome Army to Max Bishop Stadium for the Star series with a doubleheader on March 15 and a single game on March 16. That marks the Patriot League opener for both programs.
Have a news tip? Contact Bill Wagner at bwagner@capgaznews.com, 443-534-0102 and x.com/@BWagner_CapGaz.
SEASON OPENER
Navy at Richmond
Friday, 1:30 p.m.
Stream: ESPN+