I'm surprised Deric isn't coming back to try to win the SS job. But his lack of hitting hurt his chances last year and this. He played more as a freshman, primarily at 3rd base, then started this season at 2nd. But once Cade Kurland got his chance at 2nd, he just took the job away. Fabian's natural position is SS and with Rivera leaving, there's an opening. But when Sully signed Colby Shelton from Alabama in the portal, that pretty much solved the SS problem. Shelton was Bama's best hitter as a freshman. He played 3rd there this year and had a lot of errors. He's a natural SS and may get some competition from a couple of incoming freshmen, but Shelton will be in the lineup. And with Halter at 3rd and Cags at 1st, that leaves Fabian the odd man out. Deric was a team guy all the way, always on the dugout steps and often first out on the field to congratulate a big hit or big play. Class act.
Personally, I didn't think Prevesk nor Nesbitt got enough opportunity to prove themselves and when they did play they were usually good. Both are talented guys who will help a team next year. That's 8 guys we've lost to the portal, with a few more coming I would imagine. And 3 pick-ups from the portal, with hopefully a couple more to come, along with a high quality signing class. Although it will be tough to replace Riopelle, Langford, Rivera, Sproat and Waldrep, this team will be very good again next year.