Arizona baseball: 'Fiesta' prep; veteran 2B Caulfield returning; top recruit Russell with Cats ‘right now’ (2024)

One of Arizona baseball’s lingering personnel issues has been settled, and another is approaching the finish line.

Veteran second baseman Garen Caulfield will return to the UA for his final year of eligibility, Wildcats coach Chip Hale said Thursday after a news conference to preview the 2024 Vamos a Tucson Mexican Baseball Fiesta.

Hale also said it’s more likely than not that Arizona’s top recruit, Queen Creek left-hander Mason Russell, will be part of the program when the fall semester begins in August.

A top-100 prospect, Russell wasn’t selected until the 20th and final round of this month’s MLB Draft. The Cincinnati Reds took a shot with Russell to see if they could come up with enough money to persuade him to go pro. That gambit is considered a long shot.

Asked whether he expects Russell to become a Wildcat, Hale said:

“I do because he’s on campus going to classes and working out in the weight room and doing all the things he’s allowed to do at this point. We’ll hold our breath for another week, and we’ll see what happens with the Cincinnati Reds. But right now he is a Wildcat.”

The deadline for draft prospects who still have college eligibility to sign contracts is Aug. 1 at 2 p.m. Arizona time.

The Reds were the only team to even entertain the possibility of matching Russell’s asking price. The Wildcats’ No. 2-rated signee, Peoria right-hander Smith Bailey, also made it through the draft.

Despite those developments — plus four UA pitchers being picked — Hale said the draft merely went “OK” for Arizona baseball.

“We were disappointed that we didn’t get more guys, whether they were drafted or signed as free agents,” Hale said. “It’s so hard now with the 20-round draft.”

Jackson Kent (Nationals) and Clark Candiotti (Padres) were fourth-round selections. Anthony “Tonko” Susac (Rangers) went in the eighth round. Cam Walty (Guardians) went in the 20th, ensuring that the Wildcats’ entire starting rotation got picked.

“To have had all three of your weekend starters go in the draft is pretty special,” Hale said. “And then to get Tonko Susac drafted was really cool for us because that’s a guy who’s battled so hard. At one point this year he wasn’t even traveling. So for him to be able to improve that much under Kevin Vance and John DeRouin was really special.”

Only one UA player, reliever Trevor Long, had signed with an MLB team (Mariners) as an undrafted free agent as of Thursday afternoon. Hale remains hopeful that outfielder Emilio Corona and pitchers Dawson Netz and Bradon Zastrow also will get opportunities.

Unlike that group, Caulfield has another year of eligibility. Before coming to the UA, Caulfield spent two years at San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton, California. But Caulfield never played there because of the pandemic, so those years don’t count against his eligibility clock. Next season will be Caulfield’s fourth as a Wildcat.

“It gives us another veteran hitter who obviously had a fantastic year last year,” Hale said of Caulfield, who batted .310 with 19 doubles and 42 RBIs. “And as we’ve learned in college baseball, old wins — veterans who know what to expect.”

Fiesta updates

Hale knows what to expect in the Mexican Baseball Fiesta as Arizona has become an annual participant in the October event at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium.

That wasn’t always the case for his players.

“I played winter ball for two years,” Hale said. “So I knew how the whole winter-ball atmosphere was.

“When we first went to it, I think our guys were shocked. The music playing all the time, the passion of the fans. (When) we actually played the first one, there was a concert happening and it was a sellout crowd. So it’s a special night for them.

“It helped us a lot last year. I thought our guys played extremely well, and we hope we can do it again. We want to represent the U of A well.”

Arizona will face a familiar foe in Naranjeros de Hermosillo in the second game of a doubleheader on Oct. 3. But other elements of this year’s Mexican Baseball Fiesta are new.

The event is now officially part of the Mexican Pacific Winter League’s “spring training” tour. It will feature six Mexican clubs. Four are returnees: Hermosillo, Yaquis de Obregon, Aguilas de Mexicali and Mayos de Navojoa. Two teams will be making their debuts in the Mexican Baseball Fiesta: Algodoneros de Guasave and Charros de Jalisco.

Additionally, a new video board is being built at Kino Stadium. It’s about 50% complete, said Sarah Horvath, direct of the Kino Sports Complex and Stadium District, who expects the video board to be fully operational for the first pitch of the Mexican Baseball Fiesta.

Inside pitch

Tickets for the event will go on sale in early September through the Mexican Baseball Fiesta website. Box seats are $25, adult general admission is $20, students (ages 6-16) and seniors are $10 and kids under age 6 are free.

The UA has added another outfielder in Dominic Rodriguez, who attended the same junior college as Caulfield. Rodriguez hit 24 home runs in two seasons with the Mustangs and batted .448 this past season.

Incoming JC transfer Mathis Meurant, who played at Cochise College, suffered a hip injury during summer ball that could limit him in the fall.

The UA’s summer standouts include rising juniors Brendan Summerhill and Maddox Mihalakis. As of Thursday afternoon, Summerhill was batting .300 with an .830 OPS and 12 stolen bases for the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod League. Playing for the Rockford Rivets, Mihalakis leads the Northwoods League with a .431 batting average and ranks second with 54 RBIs.

Arizona will play two home series in addition to tournaments in Arlington, Texas, and Houston next season. The opponents will be San Diego and Pepperdine. The Wildcats will face Pima Community College and Central Arizona College in fall scrimmages.