BEAUMONT, Texas - The countdown to the 2019 baseball season continues with another breakdown of the Lamar University baseball roster - the infield. Today's article, coming out just 17 days before the season begins, examines a combo of eight incoming and returning infielders that will feature a lot of change and a lot of potential in 2019.
 
"Looking at our infield, we have a chance to be very offensive as a unit but we also have some very quality infielders who have worked hard in the fall and spring to raise their games defensively," said head coach Will Davis.

RETURNING INFIELDERS

Three infielders return from the 2018 squad with an additional returnee moving from the outfield to the infield and a redshirt making his baseball debut after starring on the football field in 2017 and 2018. Robin Adames, who appeared at first base in all but four games last season, returns to the infield but is expected to make a move over to third this season, as he did during the McNeese series at the end of last season. Cole Coker, who was All-Southland Conference Second Team as a utility player, saw action at second, third, left field, and as the DH. Chase Kemp spent four games at first and another 25 in right and as the DH, and Logan LeJeune is projected to move from his role as mostly a DH into the infield, competing for the starting role at first. In addition, Kirkland Banks will get a chance at being a two-sport Division I athlete this year after redshirting last season.

ROBIN ADAMES – SR. – INF – BRONX, N.Y. – JAMES MONROE HS
A two-time All-SLC bat, Robin Adames returns for his fourth season with the Cardinals looking to capture career records. The Bronx, N.Y., native is just over 60 hits away from the LU career hits record and with a career average of 65 hits a season he'll have plenty of chances to achieve that mark. He hit .298 for the year in 2018, second on the team, and led the team in hits (62), RBIs (33), runs scored (27), doubles (12), home runs (5), total bases (89), hits-by-pitch (12), plate appearances (241), at-bats (208), games started (55), fielding chances (425), and putouts (389). He also led the team in multi-hit games with 19 on the year including a 5-of-6 performance at Nicholls with a double and two RBIs. He was also a 2018 Summer League All-Star in the Texas Collegiate League where he tied for fourth in homers hit, sixth in doubles, ninth in RBIs, and eighth in stolen bases.
 
"We are very fortunate to have Robin Adames back for his senior year and we all know how good he is offensively, but Robin has really put the work in to improve defensively as a third baseman and has become an above average defender over there," said Davis.

COLE COKER – JR. – INF – HUFFMAN, TEXAS – HUFFMAN-HARGRAVE HS
Coker started all 55 games for Lamar in 2018 but where he would appear on any given day wasn't a guarantee with appearances at four different positions and six different spots in the lineup. His utility as a Swiss Army Knife for the LU coaching staff led to him being named to the All-SLC Second Team as a utility player. The junior from Huffman, Texas, hit .277 on the year with 56 hits and 24 RBIs and he totaled 18 multi-hit games in 2018 including a 3-of-4 performance against Southeastern Louisiana on March 17. Coker led the team in triples, game appearances, and starts while ranking second in total bases, at-bats, and total plate appearances. His eight-game hit streak from March 20 through March 31 was the second-longest on the team, and he was also a Texas Collegiate League All-Star, tying for sixth in doubles and sixth in RBIs and fifth in stolen bases.

"Cole Coker will most likely be our starting left fielder but he's pretty natural at 2nd base and can slide back into the infield if we need him to," said Davis.

CHASE KEMP – SO. – INF – NEDERLAND, TEXAS – NEDERLAND HS
Kemp appeared in 29 games as a freshman at first, right field, designated hitter, and pitcher, hitting .184 with 18 hits, including four doubles. He drove in eight RBIs and scored seven runs and he had a 3-of-4 performance at Stephen F. Austin on May 12. In high school he was a District 22-5A Hitter of the Year as a junior, a First Team All-District slot as a sophomore, and was the District MVP as a freshman. He ranked in the Top 150 high school prospects coming into his freshman year according to Perfect Game.
 
"We really feel that Chase Kemp is ready to turn the corner offensively and has a good chance to be our starting DH," said Davis. "Chase will without a doubt be a great power and on base combo when he develops, and we fill that he is very close to fulfilling this."
 
LOGAN LEJEUNE – SO. – INF – PORT NECHES, TEXAS – PORT NECHES-GROVES HS
An honorable mention All-SLC designated hitter as a freshman, LeJeune ranked fifth on the team in batting average with 33 hits, including three doubles. He drew 22 walks, the second most on the team, and drove in 18 RBIs, and he tied for the team lead in fielding percentage with no errors in 25 chances. LeJeune ranked fifth on the team in slugging percentage and second in OBP and he was perfect in three stolen base attempts. Out of high school LeJeune was a two-time All-District infielder and a two-time district champion and he lettered four times for football as an All-State safety.
 
"Logan LeJeune had a great freshman year as mostly a DH," said Davis. "He has really taken to first base defensively and could be a real asset over there for us."
 
KIRKLAND BANKS – R-FR. – INF – LAKE CHARLES, LA. – BARBE HS
Redshirting in baseball in 2018, Banks was one of the best freshmen in the SLC in football in his first year at Lamar. The Lake Charles, La., native saw time at receiver, running back, quarterback, and returner, recording 571 all-purpose yards. He played for the legendary Glen Cecchini at Barbe High School, winning three state championships. As a senior he hit .335 with 18 stolen bases, following up an impressive junior campaign that saw a .400 batting average and 22 stolen bases and 25 stolen bases as a sophomore. He was a 5-A All-State honoree as a kick returner for football and ranked as the No. 97 prospect for football in Louisiana.
 
"Kirkland Banks comes over from the football team and it really is remarkable how he takes the football helmet off and comes out here and looks like one of the most talented guys on the team the first day," said Davis. "He comes from a great high school program at Barbe in Lake Charles. The future is bright for Kirkland and we hope to get him in there when he's not at football."
 
NEWCOMERS
 
Three additions were made to the 2019 roster in the infield including a brother of an MLB All-Star, a Canadian with tremendous power at the plate, and a junior college transfer in the Swiss Army Knife mold of Coker. JC Correa, Anthony Quirion, and Logan Berlof are all expected to make big contributions in 2019.
 
JC CORREA – JR. – INF – SANTA ISABEL, P.R. – ALVIN CC (PR BASEBALL ACADEMY)
The younger brother of Houston Astros phenom Carlos Correa, JC comes to Lamar from Alvin Community College where he hit .364 in 80 career games with a .432 OBP and a .491 slugging percentage. He totaled 103 career hits with three home runs and 50 RBIs and earned a nod as a Perfect Game Impact Junior College transfer. He drew 37 walks while striking out just 33 times and was five-of-six in career stolen base attempts. He was drafted in the 33rd Round by the Houston Astros in the 2018 MLB Draft.
 
"JC Correa has an advanced approach at the plate and has a chance to be a doubles and on base machine," said Davis. "He's a very steady defender but should be an offensive force as a shortstop."
 
ANTHONY QUIRION – JR. – INF – DIXVILLE, CANADA – CLARENDON JC (ACADEMIE LES ESTACADES)
A JuCo transfer from Canada, Quirion hit .398 in his two-year sting at Clarendon with 35 doubles, nine triples, 21 home runs, 100 RBIs, 127 runs scored, and 21 stolen bases. He earned 2017 WJCAC All-Conference Honorable Mention honors and played in the Texas vs. New Mexico All-Star Game. Quirion played for third base for Team Quebec at the 21 Canadian Championships where his team won the title, he was rated an Instant Impact JuCo transfer by D1Baseball.com, and he was an NECBL All-Star in the summer leagues this past year.
 
"Anthony Quirion is a big physical athlete that can hit for power and has big play ability at 2B," said Davis. "He is one of the most talented players we have."
 
LOGAN BERLOF – JR. – INF – McKINNEY, TEXAS – PANOLA JC (McKINNEY BOYD HS)
Berlof played two seasons at Panola Junior College and had a pretty stellar career with a .307 batting average across 2017 and 2018 and 61 career hits that include 13 doubles, a triple, and six home runs. He scored 58 runs while driving in another 53 and he holds a career .429 OBP and a .472 slugging percentage. He drew 40 walks in two seasons while striking out just 34 times, and his feet proved just as useful with a stolen base in each of his 17 career attempts. His high school ball took place at McKinney Boyd where he was First Team All-District and a Perfect Game Pre-season All-American in 2016.
 
"Logan Berlof is a versatile infielder who can play 3B, SS, and 2B and has a great Fall with the bat," said Davis. "He hit a home run and double in our fall game with UTSA and we are excited to see what he can do."
 
 
PROJECTED STARTING INFIELDERS
Heading into the final weeks of the pre-season the current depth chart has LeJeune starting at first, Quirion at second, Correa as the shortstop, and Adames on third. Kemp will backup LeJeune at first, Berlof will play a utility role, and Banks and Coker will both be in the running for spot starts at second.


UP NEXT – OUTFIELD
The next position preview will come on Friday when LamarCardinals.com examines the outfield.