Batting over .400. Hunts first pitch fastball. He's not a run producer but an energizer and fast as ***** He's prime for the leadoff spot. Let him do it, be the spark that sets the tone. Hitting is contagious so get someone in that spot that's going to do it at a 35-40% clip, then steal some bases. Get something exciting going early and build on it, create some energy and pressure on the opponent out of the gate. Kaden has been great at times but put him somewhere that allows him to drive in some runs, he seems to thrive when the table is set. Do something different and let the freshman lead the way since the upper classmen aren't cutting it

Plus he's about ten times faster than Kent. Someone tell our coach.

Seems obvious given all the information to date.

And also, what could it hurt at this point?

Putting him at fourth and Jace at third today shows how deep over his head Earley is at this point.

Kiel-Kent-Hensler until someone earns it from them. I guess that keeps Jace at fourth for the time being, since nobody else had made anything resembling a push to be moved up in the order.

Regardless of what happens with the lineup, the hitting approach must change. If that's a coaching change then so be it. We aren't good at anything right now offensively, and that's inexcusable given the roster.

Kiel has been great

but he also has zero home runs

can't hit in the 4-hole

leadoff or 2-hole is the spot

They can do whatever they want to this lineup and nothing will change. A bunch of really good players don't just stop being a bunch of really good players all at the same time for no reason at all. This is coaching and instruction. It's criminal what this staff is doing to such a promising group of athletes. I'm not sure I've ever seen such an excellent team coached into mediocrity so quickly. It's gotten to the point that the announcers are celebrating long at-bats. I really feel bad for these young men.

I'm ready to give Royo a shot at 2B

No one let Kaufer walk. We lost him mentally in like April when he realized POS want going to play him unless he absolutely had to.