KANSAS

Kansas Jayhawks Baseball: Meet the Junior Class

Get to know the Kansas Baseball roster before the season gets started.

Lucas Murphy

Kansas Jayhawks Baseball: Meet the Junior Class
Kansas Jayhawks Baseball: Meet the Junior Class /

The Kansas Baseball season is fast approaching, and there are still plenty of players that we still need to get to know. We've already we looked at the freshmen and also the sophomores. Up next are the juniors.

Name

Position

B/T

Class

Height

Weight

Hometown

High School

Previous School

Jason Reeder

OF

L/R

Jr.

6-0

210

Edmond, Oklahoma

Edmond North

Cowley CC

Thaniel Trumper

RHP

R/R

Jr.

6-3

190

Fort Collins, Colo.

Fossil  Ridge

Doane University

JJ Tylicki

RHP

L/R

Jr.

6-2

250

Shawnee, Kansas

St. James Academy

Cowley CC

Hunter Cashero

RHP

R/R

Jr.

5-11

195

Shawnee, Kansas

St. James Academy

Kansas City Kansas CC

Kolby Dougan

RHP

R/R

Jr.

5-10

180

Topeka, Kansas

Seaman

Cloud Country CC

Ethan Bradford

LHP

L/L

Jr.

6-4

200

Lawrence, Kansas

Free State

Nebraska

Stone Hewlett

LHP

L/L

Jr.

6-1

190

Leawood, Kansas

Rockhurst

Andrew Dennis

RHP

R/R

Jr.

6-2

185

Leawood, Kansas

Blue Valley

Pima CC/JCCC

Sam Ireland

RHP

R/R

Jr.

6-4

230

Highland Ranch, Colo.

Mountain Vista

Minnesota

Sam Brady

LHP

L/L

Jr.

6-0

185

Lake Quivira, Kansas

Rockhurst

Collier Cranford

INF

R/R

R-Jr.

6-0

175

Zachary, La.

Zachary

LSU

Zac Cox

INF

R/R

R-Jr.

6-0

190

Manhattan, Kansas

Manhattan

Jake Baker

OF

L/L

R-Jr.

6-4

235

Lawrence, Kansas

Free State

Hunter Cranton

RHP

R/R

R-Jr.

6-3

215

Newport Beach, Cali.

JSerra Catholic

San Diego State

Janson Reeder-Reeder comes to Kansas from Cowley Community College, which makes him a junior. He brings the Jayhawks a tremendous skillset from the left side of the plate. In 2021-22 at Cowley, Reeder played in 64 games logging 233 at-bats, recording 91 hits, 23 doubles, one triple, and eight home runs. He also had 69 RBIs and 43 walks with a slash line of .391/.495/.601. His primary position is listed as an outfielder, but head coach Dan Fitzgerald said, "Janson is a plus-plus middle-of-the-order bat who has hit at every level. He's physical and can play all three outfield positions, and will also work at first base. Janson gives us a real power look in our lineup." I anticipate Reeder getting a real shot at playing first base when he is not in the outfield, especially with his middle-of-the-lineup power.

Thaniel Trumper-Trumper comes to the Jayhawks after spending some time with Doane University. In 2022, Trumper appeared in 19 games for the Tigers, posting a 9-0 record while also getting four saves. He pitched 39 innings, allowed 21 hits, five earned runs, 16 walks, and 49 strikeouts. He had an impressive 11.31 K/9 and an ERA of 1.15. Coach Fitzgerald had this to say about Trumper, "Thaniel is an elite strike thrower with plus stuff. He was arguably the top performer in the Northwoods League last summer and has been a winner throughout his career."

JJ Tylicki-Tylicki comes to Kansas after playing two seasons with the Cowley Tigers. In his career with the Tigers, the RHP appeared in 18 games, logging 24.1 innings pitched surrendering, 19 hits, and 11 earned runs. He posted an impressive 10.73 K/9 ratio and an ERA of 4.07. Coach Fitzgerald had this to say about Tylicki, " JJ is a great competitor with a plus fastball and high-end pitch ability. He will factor in as a huge piece for the back end of our bullpen."

Hunter Cashero-Cashero comes to the Jayhawks after spending the 2022 season with the Kansas City Kansas Community College Blue Devils. He appeared in 21 games, recording three wins and six saves. He logged 34.2 innings, 35 strikeouts, and an ERA of 2.86.

Kolby Dougan-Dougan returns to Kansas for his junior year. As a sophomore, Dougan appeared in 27 games for the Jayhawks, recording a 1-3 record with an ERA of 7.75. He logged 38.1 innings, 26 walks, and 44 strikeouts. Dougan led the team in appearances and was also second on the team in strikeouts. He will look to improve off of his 2022 season.

Ethan Bradford-The local product, Ethan Bradford, attended Free State high school in Kansas and then attended Nebraska for his first two seasons of college baseball. In 2022, Bradford appeared in four games for the Cornhuskers before sustaining a season-ending injury. He transferred to Kansas for his junior season. Coach Fitzgerald had this to say, "Ethan has a chance to be a special weekend arm as he continues to make big jumps. He commanded multiple pitches this fall and showed the ability to get swings and misses inside the zone. He's a projectable left-hander who will compete for our Friday night job."

Stone Hewlett-Hewlett will suit up again for the Jayhawks for his junior season after spending his first two seasons with Kansas. As a sophomore, Hewlett appeared out of the bullpen 23 times, recording a 2-1 record. He posted an ERA of 7.98 in 38.1 innings pitched. He was tied for sixth in the Big 12 in appearances in 2022.

Andrew Dennis- Dennis arrives in Lawrence after spending a season with the Johnson County CC Cavaliers. The RHP made six appearances for the Cavs logging nine innings pitched and an ERA of 3.00. Coach Fitzgerald had this to say, "Andrew has great stuff and can pitch in a number of roles for us. He's a great student, hard worker, and teammate. He will be a great weapon for s wherever we use him."

Sam Ireland-Ireland comes to Kansas after spending a season up north in Minnesota with the Gophers. He started in 13 games and was the Gophers' Friday night starter in 2022. He posted a record of 4-5 and an ERA of 5.27. Through 71.2 innings, he recorded 80 strikeouts, 38 walks, allowed 42 earned runs, and 74 hits. He was named to the Big Ten Players to Watch in 2022 before transferring to Kansas. Coach Fitzgerald said, "Sam will pitch in our rotation and will be called upon to log big innings. He's a proven Division I weekend starter with a true three-pitch mix. Sam is physical, aggressive, and competitive-exactly what you look for in a weekend 1 or 2."

Sam Brady-Brady returns to the Jayhawks for his junior season after appearing in 13 games as a sophomore. The LHP started eight games and appeared out of the bullpen five times, posting a record of 0-3 with a 9.78 ERA. He logged 23 innings pitched, allowing 15 walks and striking out 20.

Collier Cranford-Cranford will be a redshirt junior transfer to Kansas after spending three seasons with the LSU Tigers. Cranford started as a true freshman during the 2020 season. In 2022 he played in 31 games, starting 13 of those in which he batted .133, going 6-for-45. He showed versatility in the field when he started at third base in 12 out of the last 16 games for the Tigers. Coach Fitzgerald had this to say, "Collier is a special shortstop, high-end runner, has shown plus glimpses of power, and is a huge leader for us. He's made a big impact on our program in a very short window. We wouldn't be who we are without him."

Zac Cox-Cox will kick off his redshirt junior season after appearing in 23 games for the Jayhawks in 2022. He played multiple positions in the field, starting three at second base and two at third base. His slash line was .231/.286/.256 with a double, an RBI, and three walks.

Jake Baker-Baker is another local product and chose to attend Kansas after playing his high school career at Lawrence Free State. Baker is ready for his redshirt junior year after appearing in 20 games for the Jayhawks in 2022. Baker was an Academic All-Big 12 First Team recipient.

Hunter Cranton-Cranton will start his redshirt junior season with the Jayhawks after transferring from San Diego State. In 2022 Cranton appeared in six games for the Aztecs, throwing 9.1 innings, allowing eight hits, four earned runs, three walks while striking out 13. He allowed an opponents batting average of .216 and an ERA of 3.86. Coach Fitzgerald had this to say, "Hunter was really good for us this fall and clearly seperated himself as one of our top four starters if we opened today. He has great feel and is a great teammate."

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Lucas Murphy
LUCAS MURPHY

In addition to writing at Blue Wings Rising, Lucas Murphy is a contributor at Inside the Royals, and Blue Wings Rising. Lucas also started a YouTube/podcast channel called “The Beat of Kansas City" and is a co-host on a podcast called "Royals Rundown". He attended the University of Saint Mary, earning his degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Coaching. He played four years of college baseball. Follow him on Twitter @TheBeatofKC

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