re: Adam4848 Baseball Preview Feb. 9th (RP)

Third Base
Derek Helenihi (Sr.) *
Austin Nola (Fr.)
Wet Delatte (Fr.)
While it may be tough to replace the arm strength and leadership abilities Michael Hollander possessed, Helenihi has a chance to do things that surpass last year’s stats. After searching for a starting position in the beginning of the 08 season, Helenihi was given a chance the first Sunday series and never looked back. Getting off to a hot start, Derek switched in and out of positions before landing a spot in RF where he had one of the strongest arms at a position not familiar to an average infielder. What a season can change as Helenihi is back to his natural side of the infield where he showed incredible glove work and touch fielding ground balls. No body’s for sure what the slump toward the end of the season had on his mental aspect, but Helenihi says he’s more ready about the start of this season than he ever has been in his entire career. Backing him up looks to be done by a mixture of youth including names such as Austin Nola and Wet Delatte. Nola a High School All-American has a major league body with plenty of room to fill out coaches say.

Grade: B-