Cowboy Baseball 2018 - The Infield - Oklahoma State University Athletics

Oklahoma State opens the 2018 season Friday with a three-game road series against Texas State in San Marcos, Texas.

OSU is coming off a season in which it captured the 2017 Big 12 Championship title, which crowned the Cowboys as conference champions for the 32^nd time in their storied history. The Pokes went 4-0 at the Big 12 Championship to become the first team to ever win the Big 12 tourney as a No. 8 seed.

The 2018 season will mark OSU's sixth under the direction of head coach Josh Holiday, who has led his alma mater to five NCAA Regional appearances and a top-two finish in the Big 12 standings four times.

With the season right around the corner, we're taking a look at the Cowboys' roster heading into 2018. We'll break down the roster by position throughout the next week, starting with the infield.

Infielders
Ryan Cash, Sophomore, 6-0, 152, S/R

Played in 40 games as a freshman last season and was OSU's starting second baseman in 35 of those.
Turned in the second-longest hitting streak by a Cowboy on the 2017 season with a 12-game streak.
Named to the Big 12 Championship All-Tournament Team.

Andrew Rosa, Senior, 6-2, 190, R/R

Started 34 of the 42 games he played in last season — made 19 starts at second base and 15 at first base.
Was third on the team with seven stolen bases in 2017.
Has started games at first base, second base, third base, left field and DH in his four seasons.

Cameron Dobbs, Sophomore, 6-1, 156, L/R

Played in 47 games as a freshman a year ago, starting in 37.
Made 34 starts at shortstop and three at second base.
Had six multi-hit games and four multi-RBI efforts.

Max Hewitt, Sophomore, 6-0, 173, L/R

Starred at Connors State College as a freshman in 2017.
Hit .436 with three home runs, 19 doubles and 67 RBIs in 60 games.
Helped lead team to Region II championship and was named All-Region II performer and a Gold Glove Award winner.

Matt Kroon, Junior, 6-2, 201, R/R

Originally attended Oregon out of high school.
Hit .184 with 14 hits in 35 games as a freshman for the Ducks in 2016.
As a sophomore at Central Arizona last season, hit .266 with two homers and 20 RBIs in 46 games.
Was a 30th-round MLB Draft pick of the Philadelphia Phillies in 2017 and was also drafted out of high school in 2015 when he was a 38^th-round pick of the Reds.

Michael Neustifter, Sophomore, 6-2, 209, R/R

Has seen time at first and third base in the fall.
In 2017, played in 35 games, starting 27; he made 14 starts at catcher, eight at first base and five as DH.
Cowboys' second-leading returning home run hitter from a year ago with five.

Dylan Gardner, Freshman, 5-8, 169, L/R

An all-state performer as a senior at Stillwater High School.
Hit .373 with six homers, 13 doubles and five triples.
A 2017 Rawlings/PG All-West Region Honorable Mention performer.

Daniel DeSimone, Redshirt Freshman, 6-4, 228, R/R

Hit .500 as a senior at Bishop Kelley High School with three homers and 25 RBIs.
2016 Rawlings-Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-American and All-West Region First Team.
Batted .402 with seven home runs as a junior.

Tanner Griffin, Freshman, 6-0, 208, R/R

Missed his senior season at Bixby High School with injury.
A Rawlings/PG Underclassmen High Honorable Mention All-American in 2015 and 2016.
Hit .387 as a junior after recording a .362 average during his sophomore campaign.

Christian Funk, Junior, 6-0, 215, L/R

Spent two seasons at Fresno City Community College.
Hit .293 with six triples, four doubles and 16 RBIs as a sophomore but was limited to 23 games after suffering a season-ending knee injury.
As a freshman hit .317 with six homers and 37 RBIs in 46 games.

Utility
Cody Milligan, Freshman, 5-9, 170, S/R

Has worked at catcher as well as the infield and outfield.
Led Binger-Oney to back-to-back Class A state championships as a junior and senior.
Hit .571 with 10 home runs and 49 RBIs as a senior.
Named a 2017 MaxPreps Small Schools All-American.

Catchers
Jake Taylor, Freshman, 6-0, 212, R/R

2017 MaxPreps Medium Schools All-American.
2017 Rawlings/PG Honorable Mention All-American and All-West Region First Team performer.
A four-year starter for Shawnee High School.
Helped lead SHS to a 40-0 record and No. 1 national ranking as a senior by hitting .519 with nine homers and 68 RBIs.
Hit .466 with 38 RBIs and 14 doubles as a junior.
Was a 25th-round pick of Atlanta in the 2017 Major League Baseball Draft.

Travis Wacker, Senior, 6-1, 195, R/R

Played in 17 games for the Cowboys as a junior, starting 14.
Was OSU's starting catcher in seven of the first eight games in 2017 before suffering a broken finger on March 1 and missing 16 games, not returning to the lineup until March 31.
Hit .381 (8-for-21) in those seven games to go along with 10 RBIs and a .619 slugging percentage.
Was named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week on Feb. 27.

Colin Simpson, Junior, 5-9, 224, L/R

Expected to start at catcher for the Cowboys in 2018 but has also worked in the outfield.
An honorable mention All-Big 12 performer in 2017.
Played in 53 games last season, starting 46; he made 29 starts at catcher and 17 as DH.
Recorded 12 multi-hit and eight multi-RBI games.
Led OSU with 11 homers and was second with 40 RBIs.
Had seven home runs and 23 RBIs in 22 games in Big 12 Conference play.
Helped lead OSU to conference tournament title by hitting .368 (7-for-19) with two doubles, two home runs and five RBIs in four games.
Named to the Big 12 Championship All-Tournament Team.