(NOTE: This is the fourth of a six part preview of the 2018 Stetson Baseball team. Tomorrow: Koos Returns to Lead a Talented Group of Outfielders)

During the opening weeks of the 2017 season, then freshman Jorge Arenas filled a void at third base for the Hatters while senior Colton Lightner handled the duties at shortstop.
 
During a weekend series at Tulane, Lightner took a helmet to the head on a play at second base in the first game of the series and wound up missing the Saturday game. Arenas slid over to his natural position, shortstop, and the Hatters took off from there.
 
The Hatters were 8-16 when they made the change, with Lightner going to third and Arenas to short, but finished the regular season on a 19-9 run that included a 15-6 mark in ASUN play. Arenas was a unanimous ASUN All-Freshman team selection and was the preseason pick as the All-Conference shortstop this spring.
 
"Jorge is really solid defensively and had a great year as a freshman," Hatters coach Steve Trimper said. "One of the things we have talked about with him is giving him a rest once in a while."
 
Arenas and junior center fielder Jacob Koos were the only Hatters to start and play in all 56 games last spring and that wear may have contributed to his one area of weakness – strikeouts. Arenas went down on strikes in almost 25 percent of his at bats last spring (50 in 209). Cutting that number by even a third could mean big offensive contributions from a player who had 14 extra-base hits and has the potential to steal 20 bases.
 
Fortunately, the Hatters have options this year, not just at shortstop, but at every infield position.
 
"Bruce Martin is a very sure-handed defensive player and he is competing at second base to get playing time there," Trimper said. "Kyle Ball is a guy who can play second, third or short and Jonathan Meola has been a shortstop all his life until this year when we converted him into a third baseman, so that gives us plenty of backup options at shortstop if Jorge were to get banged up or need a break."
 
Meola is the favorite to replace Lightner at third, making this the seventh consecutive season for the Hatters to have a new player at that position – joining Cory Reid (2016), Josh Powers (2015), Kyle Pitts (2014), K'shawn Smith (2013) and Ben Carhart (2011-12).
 
The son of World Soccer Hall of Famer Tony Meola, Jonathan started his collegiate career at the University of Virginia before transferring to Seminole State. Meola is also from the same hometown as former Reds, White Sox and Yankees third baseman Todd Frazier, Toms River, NJ.
 
"At third base, we have talked a lot about Meola because he is one of the most athletic guys we have and is a little older," Trimper said. "We are not looking for Jonathan to come in here and be the three hitter. If he can settle in to the No. 7 or No. 8 spot and hit .260 or .270 for us we will be fine. If he does more than that, great, if he doesn't, then we might have to look at doing something different.
 
"Defensively, Kyle Ball is really good over there, even though he is a little behind with the bat. We want to get him some experience for the future and to work on his offense."
 
Freshman Eric Foggo may be in the mix at third base as well as seeing time at first base and as the designated hitter. Junior Baylen Sparks, who is slated to be the regular first baseman, is also an option at third.
 
First base could be another position where multiple players get playing time. Junior Mike Spooner held down the position last year in a pinch, but will be back in the outfield this spring, leaving Sparks, Brooks Wilson, Foggo and Jack Gonzalez to man the bag at first.
 
"Primarily, we have looked at Baylen at first because he is the most steady defensively," Trimper said. "He is going to be a middle of the lineup hitter for us. The thing that is nice about Baylen is we can also kick him over to third base, even though we might lose a little defensively. He can catch and throw and make plays, but that might really improve our offense.
 
"Brooks has improved much around the bag and much with the bat. He has power and may get hot and we'll have to find a way to play him. Besides those two, the future there is going to be Eric Foggo and we have to find a way to get him some at bats. He has one of those tools that you can't teach, tremendous power, and he is also very good around the bag. He throws very well and is a very athletic guy."
 
Second base is the lone position in the infield that is wide open going into the season. Senior Nico Torino returns after sharing time last year with Ben Rowdon. He is joined in the race for the job by junior college transfer Bruce Martin as well as freshmen Dee Shelton and Jake Liberatore.
 
"They all bring something to the table," Trimper said. "It is going to be about who gets hot and proves themselves to us in a short amount of time. I see all four of them, and any of the four could have a chance to start. The three weeks of practice before opening day, and then the first couple of weeks of the season, there are going to be guys out there trying to win it.
 
"Dee probably gives us the most offensively. Jake is probably the most steady offensive guy and will be an incredible option as a pinch hitter because he doesn't strike out a lot. Nico has made big strides since his junior campaign and has welcomed the competition. Bruce Martin is probably the best defensively out there and he had a really good fall swinging the bat. It is going to be interesting to see who wins that job."

About Stetson University Athletics: Stetson University's Athletics Program has a vision of developing a culture of champions athletically, academically and within the community. This vision is accomplished through a mission of recruiting and developing student-athletes, coaches and staff, creating a culture of champions, within and outside of competition. The department operates with five core values: Championship Culture, Integrity, Excellence, Pride/Tradition and Leadership. To learn more about the Vision, Mission and Core Values for Stetson Athletics, visit GoHatters.com and click on Mission Statement under the Inside Athletics tab.