This is what kicking things off in style looks like.
The Nick Mingione era begins with a season-opening series in Chapel Hill against No. 12 North Carolina (NCBWA) this weekend.
The Cats and Heels are set for three games in Boshamer Stadium as Kentucky begins the season with seven games on the east coast.
THE STAKES
It's a tough way for Mingione to start off as Kentucky's coach. Although North Carolina has missed the NCAA Tournament two years in a row for the first time since the 1990's the Tar Heels are widely expected to bounce back in a big way in 2017, thanks to a characteristically talented roster that features a strong starting rotation and some talented bats.
Kentucky might as well get used to playing tough competition. Of the Cats' 56 scheduled games in 2017, 15 will come against Preseason Top 10 teams according to D1 Baseball. Kentucky will face every preseason first team All-American pitcher this year, starting with UNC's J.B. Bukauskas in the season opener.
The three-game series could be a tone-setter for UK's next four games, also on the east coast but in Virginia, against Liberty, St. Joseph's, Old Dominion and Delaware.
UNC will be hungry to start the season after another disappointing season. The Heels were 21-4 outside the ACC in 2016 but finished with a losing record in the conference.
ROSTER COMPARISON
If North Carolina has a serious question mark going into the 2017 season it might be in the bullpen. While the Heels have talented arms in the pen, they're replacing A.J. Bogucki and Spencer Trayner from last year's team. Bogucki was picked by the Washington Nationals in the eighth round last year and Trayner was a 25th round pick for the St. Louis Cardinals.
UNC will rely heavily on Hansen Butler coming out of the pen. He appeared in 14 games, posting a 2.00 ERA in 2016.
But the starting rotation appears deep and strong (see the next section) and will test a Kentucky lineup that's breaking in some relatively newer faces.
One of UNC's leaders and best players heading into the 2017 season is outfielder/1st baseman Brian Miller. The junior batted .345, scored 56 runs and stole 21 bases as one of the Heels' bright spots last year. He's a Golden Spikes Award Watch List player (.982 fielding percentage). More known for contact than power at the plate, Miller is a heady player who does almost everything well for the Heels. He's a former walk-on.
It seems that Miller will be exclusively in centerfield, or at least that's the plan.
Shortstop Logan Warmoth is another headliner for the Heels. Last year Warmoth batted .337 (second on the team to Miller).
The first base spot, often occupied by Miller in the past, should go to Zach Gahagan. The 6-foot-2, 195-pound junior has home run power but hasn't been as consistent as the aforementioned stars.
Third baseman Kyle Datres has also been inconsistent at the plate but has shown a keen eye and has demonstrated an ability to take walks.
Miller is joined in the outfield by Adam Pate (.970 fielding percentage, .403 OBP, zero home runs in 2016) and Brandon Riley (.294 BA).
Overall the Tar Heels appear to be very strong defensively in the outfield with Miller and Pate, but Mike Fox has to hope that several of his players take a step forward at the plate. There's not a lot of power following the departure of Tyler Ramirez (.333 BA, eight home runs) from last year's team.
PITCHING MATCHUPS
The Cats will get the Tar Heels' ace and one of the nation's top pitchers in J.B. Bukauskas on Friday. D1 Baseball and Baseball America have named Bukauskas a preseason All-American. Bukauskas is also on the Golden Spikes Award Watch List.
Bukauskas was 7-2 with a 3.10 ERA in 13 games and 78.1 innings during his sophomore season in 2016. He struck out 111 and walked 29 with opponents hitting just .239 against him on the year. He was a reliable workhorse for the Heels in 2016. There's a widespread belief that Bukauskas will be a very high first round draft selection after his junior season at North Carolina. He was dominant pitching for the U.S. college national team over the summer after the 2016 season. Bukauskas throws in the mid-90s and also throws a strong slider.
For Kentucky, the 6-foot-11 Hjelle gets the nod on Friday. As a freshman last year the right-hander was 4-1 with a 3.74 ERA. He appeared in 21 games and logged eight saves as the Cats closer last season.
Jason Morgan takes the mound for UNC on Saturday and he was 3-3 with a 4.10 ERA in 63.2 innings last year, with 47 strikeouts and 32 walks. While Morgan doesn't have the command of Bukauskas opposing batters hit just .229 against him last season. Last Saturday the Heels scrimmaged and Morgan went six innings allowing no hits and walking two.
His matchup is with UK's Zach Logue, who was 3-2 with a 2.68 ERA in 50.1 innings a year ago. Logue struck out 38 and walked 14 in 2016 with opponents batting .241 on the year.
UNC freshman Luca Dalatri gets the nod on Sunday. He was the Baseball Player of the Year in New Jersey according to NJ.com and was picked by the Colorado Rockies in the last round of the 2016 MLB Draft. He was the all-time career wins leader in his high school conference and did not lose a single one of his last 30 decisions in high school. The 6-foot-6, 238-pound right hander only walked four batters as a high school senior.
Dalatri's college debut comes against Kentucky's Justin Lewis, who posted a 2.08 ERA and a 2-0 record in 21 appearances last year with four saves. Working out of the pen Lewis struck out 25 and walked 10.
