The Arizona baseball team leaned heavily into data and analytics this past season, and the results were spectacular: The Wildcats’ pitching improved dramatically, and they far exceeded preseason expectations.
But players and coaches said another factor was just as important: superior chemistry in the clubhouse.
To that end, UA coach Chip Hale is bringing back three members of the 2024 team as assistant coaches or managers.
Dawson Netz and Blake McDonald will serve as graduate managers for the 2025 Wildcats, while Bradon Zastrow will serve as an undergraduate assistant.
Dawson Netz made 94 appearances on the mound over five seasons at Arizona. He's staying with the Wildcats as a graduate manager for the 2025 season.
Netz has been with the program since 2020. The right-hander appeared in 94 games, tied for second-most among pitchers in UA history.
Netz — whose sister, Devyn, plays for the Arizona softball team — finished his college career with a 6-2 record and a 3.98 ERA. He struck out 130 batters in 131 innings.
Arizona catcher Blake McDonald makes the throw to first after pouncing on a sac bunt by Grand Canyon’s Alton Gyselman in the fifth inning of their game in the NCAA Regionals on May 31 at Hi Corbett Field.
Netz was one of three captains on last year’s team, along with infielder Garen Caulfield and outfielder Emilio Corona. Caulfield will be back for a sixth year of college baseball next season. Corona is out of eligibility.
Regarding his role in the clubhouse, Netz said during the season: “I just think being very understanding, not being super emotional. Like if I have a bad outing, I can’t get super emotional because I know guys are looking towards me for leadership. I know Garen and Emo can attest to that also. Just keeping a level head and always focusing on the next game.”
McDonald, a catcher, spent one season with the Wildcats after transferring from Saint Mary’s (which is also the alma mater of UA hitting and catching coach Toby DeMello). McDonald batted .297 with a .404 on-base percentage in 91 at-bats. He threw out 22.7% of would-be base-stealers and committed only one error.
Arizona pitcher Bradon Zastrow sports the banana rally cap as the Wildcats chip away at USC’s lead in the eighth inning of the Pac-12 Baseball Tournament championship game on May 25 in Scottsdale.
Zastrow spent two seasons at Arizona after a three-year, pandemic-interrupted stint at Pima Community College. The left-hander posted a 7-7 record with a 5.18 ERA.
In spring, Hale credited Netz and other veterans for “keeping the guys going.”
“That was not a real good thing my first two years,” Hale said. “We had a hard time keeping the bench going. If you listen to our bench this year, they’re always into it. They have little deals they do, and Dawson’s a big part of that.”
Arizona is expected to announce additional changes to the support staff during the offseason. Will Gaines, Hale’s director of operations the past three seasons, left the program for a job at UNLV.
Opening slate
Arizona faced the toughest nonconference schedule in the nation last season, a gauntlet that made the Wildcats a better team and helped them earn a top-16 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
They’ll jump into the deep end again next year.
Arizona infielder Garen Caulfield, left, tags out Ole Miss’ Kevin Graham at second base in the second inning during the NCAA Tournament’s Coral Gables Regional at Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field on June 4, 2022.
The pairings have been revealed for the season-opening Shriners Children’s College Showdown at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.
Arizona will open against Ole Miss on Friday, Feb. 14, at 2 p.m. Tucson time. The UA will face Clemson the next day at 10 a.m. and will finish against Louisville on Sunday, Feb. 16, at 9:30 a.m.
Ole Miss finished under .500 the past two seasons after winning the College World Series in 2022. The Rebels opened that year’s NCAA Tournament with two wins over the Wildcats in the Coral Gables Regional. Arizona eliminated Ole Miss from the 2021 NCAA Tournament in the Super Regional round at Hi Corbett Field.
Clemson ranked ninth in D1Baseball’s final Top 25 for the 2024 season. (Arizona was 25th.) The Tigers hosted and won an NCAA regional before being eliminated by Florida. Clemson is ranked fourth in Baseball America’s “Way Too Early” Top 25 for 2025. (Arizona is No. 20.)
Louisville last made the NCAA Tournament in 2022. The Cardinals have made five CWS appearances in 17 seasons under head coach Dan McDonnell.
The other participants in the Shriners event are Oklahoma State and Texas.
Fall ball
Arizona announced the dates and times for its fall scrimmages at Hi Corbett.
The UA will host Pima College at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 12, before facing Central Arizona College at 1 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 18. Ticket information for the exhibition contests will be revealed at a later date.
Arizona will open it fall slate against Naranjeros de Hermosillo in the Mexican Baseball Fiesta on Thursday, Oct. 3, at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium. That game is the second half of a doubleheader that begins at 5:05 p.m.
Inside pitch
Arizona’s Brendan Summerhill watches his RBI single shoot into the outfield and get the Wildcats to 3-2 the eighth inning against USC in the Pac-12 Baseball Tournament championship game on May 25, 2024, in Scottsdale.
