Arizona Wildcats’ future looks promising thanks to stellar freshman class

Headed in 'a really good direction'

For the second year in a row, the Arizona Wildcats didn’t qualify for the NCAA Tournament. For the second year in a row, their season ended in disappointment.

So why was Jay Johnson excited in the immediate aftermath of a selection show that didn’t include his team? Why should UA fans be pumped for the future?

Because the foundation has been laid for a postseason run in 2020 and ’21. Eleven freshmen played for the 2019 Wildcats. Several had prominent roles. Many excelled.

“I think the program is going in a really good direction,” said redshirt junior left-hander Randy Labaut, who might or might not be part of it depending on how next week’s MLB draft unfolds.

“This season maybe we have (not performed as) expected, but I feel like the development of the freshmen has been a big step. In the future, it’s really gonna pay off. Even next year.”

It began paying off this year. Arizona wouldn’t have been in the NCAA Tournament conversation without significant contributions from the freshman class, which helped the Wildcats win their last 10 games and 13 of their final 14.

“We felt like it was our best recruiting class since we’ve been here, and it’s not hard to see that,” Johnson said.

“As long as they continue to develop and improve the way some of the older players in the program have, then we have something to feel really good about there.”

Below are profiles of the six biggest producers. The group includes redshirt freshman right-hander Quinn Flanagan, who made his UA debut this season.

C-1B Austin Wells

Notable numbers: Wells batted .353 — third-best on the team and ninth-best in the Pac-12 (through the end of the regular season). He led the league with 73 runs, the most by a UA freshman since at least 1976. He also became the first Arizona freshman to post 60-plus runs and RBIs (60) during that time frame. Wells ranked second in triples (seven), fourth in walks (46) and eighth in on-base percentage (.462). His batting average never dipped below .333.

Scouting report: An extremely mature hitter, Wells had more walks than strikeouts (43) — a true rarity for a freshman. He’s an excellent athlete who played corner outfield at times and went 6 for 6 in stolen bases. The left-handed batter had more triples than home runs (five) but should develop more power as he gets older. His main focus during summer ball and the offseason will be improving all aspects of his defensive play behind the plate.

Johnson says: “The best part about Austin is his disposition, his mental game if you will. He usually doesn’t let a bad at-bat, or two bad at-bats, turn into three or four. That’s what I like about him the most. You put that type of mentality with really good physical talent, and you have a really good player. What he’s looking for is to become that elite defensive catcher. … Offensively, I can’t tell you how many coaches were like, ‘Whoa.’ Preceding the series, watching him on tape, that’s what a player looks like.”

INF Dayton Dooney

Notable numbers: Dooney batted .323 with 10 home runs and 53 RBIs. The 10 homers led all UA freshmen and doubled his career total from high school. Dooney ranked in the top 12 in the conference in homers, RBIs and slugging percentage (.596). He raised his batting average 65 points over the final two months of the season.

Scouting report: Dooney is a switch-hitter who showed surprising pop, especially from the left side of the plate. He could bat anywhere from 1-6 in the lineup. Like Wells, Dooney has work to do defensively. He played second base, first base and shortstop and made nine errors. Second base is probably his best long-term position.

Johnson says: “If Austin Wells is not the Freshman of the Year in the Pac-12, Dayton Dooney probably is. (The awards and all-league teams are expected to be announced Wednesday.) We’ve gotta get him solidified as a really good defensive player for next year’s team to be the best it can be, and he’s motivated to do that. But he had 10 home runs, a million RBIs. If they wanted to walk one of the older players, he made the team pay every time.”

OF-1B Branden Boissiere

Notable numbers: Boissiere batted .336 with a .430 on-base percentage. He was hitting just .130 as a part-time player through March 31 before finding his footing and becoming a regular. Boissiere hit .403 in Pac-12 play — the third-best mark in the league — going 27 for 67 with five doubles and one home run.

Scouting report: A left-handed batter, Boissiere looks like a natural hitter in the mold of former Wildcat Alfonso Rivas. Although he has yet to display much power, Boissiere already has shown the ability to hit to all fields. Whether he plays corner outfield or first base next season likely will depend on whether draft-eligible catcher-first baseman Matthew Dyer returns. Boissiere throws left-handed and could contribute as a pitcher down the road.

Johnson says: “We saw a lot of what we felt like he could be in the fall. He had a little bit of a rough go when we came back. He got off to a slow start, but to his credit has made some improvements. He has really smoothed some things out and is really taking professional at-bats. I think he got caught up to the speed of the game.”

OF Ryan Holgate

Notable numbers: Holgate batted .240 with seven home runs and 33 RBIs. He walked 35 times, boosting his on-base percentage to .378. Holgate hit three home runs during the opening series of the season, then went through a rough stretch that saw his average drop into the low .200s. Holgate batted .327 (16 for 49) over his final 15 appearances.

Scouting report: The left-handed-hitting Holgate possesses prodigious power; the ball explodes off his bat when he makes contact. The issue is making contact; Holgate led the team with 55 strikeouts in only 167 at-bats. Holgate also has work to do as a right fielder, as he often was lifted late for fellow freshman Tyler Casagrande. In terms of raw tools, Holgate’s are as impressive as anyone’s.

Johnson says: “He had a nice fall with us. He made some really good adjustments when he got here to college-level pitching. Our pitchers and the two teams we played in the fall would tell you what kind of threat he is. Obviously, everybody can see the balls hit over the scoreboard.”

INF Tony Bullard

Notable numbers: Bullard batted .301 with two homers, seven doubles, 23 runs and 17 RBIs in 83 at-bats. He had nearly as many walks (11) as strikeouts (14). Like many of his classmates, Bullard came on late. He was batting .150 through April 12. From that point forward, Bullard batted .349 (22-63).

Scouting report: Bullard showed an ability to grind out at-bats when he became a regular; he struck out only eight times in those final 63 ABs. At 6-4, 194 pounds, Bullard should develop more power. He projects as Arizona’s starting third baseman next season with Nick Quintana headed to the pros. Bullard played shortstop in high school and filled in at second base this season.

Johnson says: “He’s a ballplayer. He’s really improved offensively. We made a little bit of a tweak, and I think he’s tapping into the strength that he has, the size that he has. That’s exciting. It’s a good start to where I think a lot of good things are going for him.”

RHP Quinn Flanagan

Notable numbers: Flanagan went 8-3 with a 4.92 ERA that was the best among UA starters. The eight wins tied for fourth most in the Pac-12. He walked 3.46 batters per nine innings, ranking third on a team that struggled to throw strikes. Flanagan threw a shutout against Utah on March 16. He went 4-0 with a 2.49 ERA over his final five appearances.

Scouting report: Flanagan missed nearly three full seasons after undergoing Tommy Johnson surgery in high school. He doesn’t overpower hitters (42 strikeouts in 67 2/3 innings) but locates and changes speeds well. He has drawn comparisons to Nathan Bannister, the ace of the 2016 UA squad that came within a hit of winning the College World Series.

Johnson says: “I’m really proud of him. Having the Tommy John surgery, it took him a long time to get back. That’s just how the nature of the injury is. He was really solid for us. You might not look at it and go, ‘This guy’s a first-round pick,’ but he has poise, he has competitiveness, he has pitchability.”