Alabama Baseball 2023 Season Preview: Starting Lineup, Predictions & More

After making their return to a Regional in 2021, Alabama baseball fell just shy of a return trip to the NCAA Tournament a year ago, finishing last season with a 31-27 overall record, as well as a 12-17 mark in the SEC.

However, there is reason to believe that the Crimson Tide and head coach Brad Bohannon could return to the NCAA Tournament in 2023, led by one of the more experienced rosters in the SEC, which also makes Alabama one of the more intriguing preseason teams in the conference.

So, with that thought in mind, here is everything that you need to know about the 2023 Alabama Crimson Tide entering the year, ranging from who’s back, new faces, predictions, and more.

Alabama Baseball 2023 Season Preview: Starting Lineup, Predictions & More

Key Losses

Alabama baseball will be tasked with replacing a few key names from last season, which includes multiple from the late innings in the bullpen. Who are those names, and just how big of an impact did each have on the Crimson Tide’s success a year ago?

Lineup:

• 3B Zane Denton
• OF/DH Owen Diodati
• 1B/DH Eric Foggo

The Crimson Tide lost a few names in their lineup, arguably the biggest of which is starting third baseman Zane Denton, who transferred to Tennessee during the offseason. Denton, who was a multi-year starter for the Crimson Tide, started in all 58 games a year ago at the hot corner, and was one of Alabama’s top hitters, slashing .263/.337/.483 with 13 HR and 48 RBI.

Diodati, who transferred to Oregon during the offseason, split time between the outfield and DH last season, slashing .242/.360/.439 with eight HR and 26 RBI. Foggo, who primarily played a reserve role, slashed .268/.354/.610 in limited action.

Bullpen:

• RHP Dylan Ray
• LHP Brock Guffey
• RHP Landon Green

Alabama will have to replace a few key names in the late innings, arguably the biggest of which is Dylan Ray, a right-hander who was selected in the fourth round of the 2022 MLB Draft. Taken by the Arizona Diamondbacks, Ray was Alabama’s primary closer a year ago, and was a 2022 SEC All-Freshman Team selection, owning a 1-4 record with a 4.60 ERA, a 49:15 K:BB ratio, and eight saves across 31.1 IP.

Guffey has been one of Alabama’s top left-handed relievers in recent years, and is coming off a year in which he held a 3.82 ERA across 33 IP. Green was also a prominent right-hander, but was limited to only 10.1 IP a year ago.