Oklahoma State University Athletics
Ryan Sluder
Cowboy Baseball 2016: The Outfield
February 11, 2016 | Cowboy Baseball
Oklahoma State opens the 2016 season next week, and expectations are high for the Cowboys under fourth-year head coach Josh Holliday.
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OSU is ranked in the top 10 in four national preseason polls, including peaking at No. 7 in one, and most prognosticators have also dubbed the Cowboys the favorite in the Big 12 Conference. Big 12 coaches selected OSU second in the league's preseason poll behind defending champion TCU.
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Holliday's ballclub is coming off a 2015 season in which it finished 38-20, which included a second-place finish in the league standings with a 14-8 mark. OSU made its third consecutive NCAA Regional appearance and also hosted a Regional for the second-straight year.
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With the season almost upon us, we conclude our look at the 2016 team with a breakdown of the Cowboy outfielders.
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Alex Shaver, 5-11, 189, L/L
• Speedy freshman from Texas
• Hit .323 and was district's offensive player of the year as a high school senior
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Garrett McCain, 6-0, 186, R/L
• Sophomore and primarily left fielder
• Played in 30 games as a freshman, starting 18
• Hit .319 with 13 RBIs and a .467 on-base percentage
• Was 7-for-7 on stolen base attempts
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Ryan Sluder, 6-2, 197, R/R
• Junior veteran has experience in center field and left field
• In 85 career games, including 58 starts, has hit .301 with six home runs and 29 RBIs
• An All-Big 12 Second Team performer in 2015
• Hit .309 with a team-high six homers and 14 doubles
• Led Big 12 with a .403 batting average and .710 slugging percentage in conference-only games
• A 2016 Perfect Game Preseason All-American
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Jon Littell, 6-3, 205, R/R
• Sophomore who spent time in left field and right field as a freshman
• Played in 30 games in 2015, starting 23, and hit .226 with 15 RBIs
• 39th-round pick of Washington in 2014 Major League Baseball Draft
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Conor Costello, 6-3, 211, R/R
• Senior and veteran outfielder expected to see more time on the mound this season
• Played in 108 games with 100 starts in two seasons at OSU
• Career .240 hitter with 15 homers and 62 RBIs
• Hit .240 and tied for team high with six homers in 2015
• Two-time MLB Draft pick
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Corey Hassel, 5-10, 175, R/R
• Senior veteran who has experience in right field and center field
• Has played in 140 career games with 53 starts and owns a .291 batting average, 16 stolen bases and 41 RBIs
• Earned All-Big 12 Second Team honors in 2015
• Led Cowboys with a .312 batting average to go along with three homers, 33 RBIs and 13 stolen bases
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OSU is ranked in the top 10 in four national preseason polls, including peaking at No. 7 in one, and most prognosticators have also dubbed the Cowboys the favorite in the Big 12 Conference. Big 12 coaches selected OSU second in the league's preseason poll behind defending champion TCU.
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Holliday's ballclub is coming off a 2015 season in which it finished 38-20, which included a second-place finish in the league standings with a 14-8 mark. OSU made its third consecutive NCAA Regional appearance and also hosted a Regional for the second-straight year.
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With the season almost upon us, we conclude our look at the 2016 team with a breakdown of the Cowboy outfielders.
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Alex Shaver, 5-11, 189, L/L
• Speedy freshman from Texas
• Hit .323 and was district's offensive player of the year as a high school senior
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Garrett McCain, 6-0, 186, R/L
• Sophomore and primarily left fielder
• Played in 30 games as a freshman, starting 18
• Hit .319 with 13 RBIs and a .467 on-base percentage
• Was 7-for-7 on stolen base attempts
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Ryan Sluder, 6-2, 197, R/R
• Junior veteran has experience in center field and left field
• In 85 career games, including 58 starts, has hit .301 with six home runs and 29 RBIs
• An All-Big 12 Second Team performer in 2015
• Hit .309 with a team-high six homers and 14 doubles
• Led Big 12 with a .403 batting average and .710 slugging percentage in conference-only games
• A 2016 Perfect Game Preseason All-American
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Jon Littell, 6-3, 205, R/R
• Sophomore who spent time in left field and right field as a freshman
• Played in 30 games in 2015, starting 23, and hit .226 with 15 RBIs
• 39th-round pick of Washington in 2014 Major League Baseball Draft
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Conor Costello, 6-3, 211, R/R
• Senior and veteran outfielder expected to see more time on the mound this season
• Played in 108 games with 100 starts in two seasons at OSU
• Career .240 hitter with 15 homers and 62 RBIs
• Hit .240 and tied for team high with six homers in 2015
• Two-time MLB Draft pick
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Corey Hassel, 5-10, 175, R/R
• Senior veteran who has experience in right field and center field
• Has played in 140 career games with 53 starts and owns a .291 batting average, 16 stolen bases and 41 RBIs
• Earned All-Big 12 Second Team honors in 2015
• Led Cowboys with a .312 batting average to go along with three homers, 33 RBIs and 13 stolen bases
Players Mentioned
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