Head baseball coach Xavier Paul was hired to lead the program this past November 11th and worked with the team for the final 10 practices of the fall scrimmage. Fall ball was one of the toughest stretches any baseball team would have a hard time dealing with, especially with the hiring of a new coach late into the season. Paul in a short period has set Xavier University of Louisiana up for success as fall practice leads to the 2025 season.
Xavier’s fall outlook according to coach Paul…
Miles Peterson, a returning starter, is an exciting player. He is versatile and can play all three outfield positions, which is valuable to a team. He also can play catcher, which brings additional value to our team and solidifies his title as one of our team leaders. Another team leader that will step in is Alan Velez, a returning player. Defensively, he is a gem in the middle infield and very impressive. We hope he can continue to improve in the top of the offensive lineup.
Another high-energy guy that I really like is Caleb Washington. He’s a good line-drive hitter. He will compete for a job at third base.
Alex Crews was our starting shortstop last year but could move to second base because of Velez’s success.
Among our pitchers, right-handed returnee Hunter Wheaton threw the ball well. He has good command of his slider. He can throw his fastball and slider for strikes more consistently than anyone else on the staff.
Left-handed newcomer Chad McKenzie could be a major contributor on the mound with a fastball topping out in the low 90s. Newcomer Christopher Nelson, a right-hander, could step in and be one of our mid-week starters. Infielder Alan Velez also could see some time on the mound to help us eat up innings.
Kai Higginson and Brody Caton will compete for the job at first base and the cleanup spot in the batting order.
We will have a successful season and improve in the win-loss column if our pitchers limit their walks and let our strong defense make plays.
That’s how it looks from the Xavier Gold Rush as we approach the 2025 baseball season.