Completed Event: Baseball versus No. 11 seed Kansas State on May 19, 2026 , Loss , 5, to, 9
Final Score
Baseball
5
vs No. 11 seed Kansas State
9
The University of Utah Athletics
Photo by: Steve Wilson
Position Breakdown: Infield
2/5/2020 11:14 AM | Baseball
Depth and Versatility in the Infield to Start the Season
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah baseball team is getting closer and closer to its 2020 season beginning on Friday, February 14 at UC Davis.
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Last week, there was a preview on the outfield and today, UtahUtes.com will preview the infield.
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Utah has tons of versatility this season when it comes to their infield. Between Matt Richardson, Chase Fernlund and Shea Kramer, all three of them can play multiple positions.
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Richardson has been a two-year starter at short stop and will look to hold down that position once again. He hit .250 with 17 RBI after starting 40 games and seeing action in 42 of them. Freshman Kayler Yates, from St. George, Utah, is pushing the junior right now for a starting spot. Richardson can slide over and play second as well.
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Fernlund is competing for a starting spot at second base. He's very versatile as he played every position in the infield last season. Fernlund also had some success at the plate hitting .286 after appearing in 25 games. The rising senior slugged .391 and finished with nine RBI.
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"Chase has a chance to play second or third this year," Kinneberg said. "We're going to try and hold him at second and have a consistent infield and consistent up the middle, but we'll see how that goes. We do have some versatility this year that we haven't in the past."
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Rykker Tom started at third in 46 games last season and was one of the better players at the plate for the Utes in 2019 after he hit .279 with 17 RBI.
There's a battle at first between Shea Kramer, Braden DeBenedictis and Trey Clarkson. Kramer played mostly at first base this last season, but has the ability to play at third or in the outfield. He had a good year at the plate hitting .279 with 22 RBI in the 44 games he played in. DeBenedictis saw limited action last season, but hit .299 in 2018 in 29 games and could be the best defensive first baseman out of the three. Clarkson is going to see some action on the mound, but could be a regular in the lineup with his bat.
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This group will look to replace former second baseman Oliver Dunn, who was drafted in the 11th round by the New York Yankees. He hit .366 in 2019 starting in all 49 games and was named a Collegiate Baseball Third Team All-American as well as to the All-Pac-12 Team.
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Dunn led the team in 11 offensive categories with 71 hits, scoring 45 runs and also in doubles, triples, total bases and walks. He also had 28 RBI.
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With all of the versatility, it brings depth and options at every position heading into the season and through the difficult Pac-12 schedule that Utah faces.
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Last week, there was a preview on the outfield and today, UtahUtes.com will preview the infield.
Â
Utah has tons of versatility this season when it comes to their infield. Between Matt Richardson, Chase Fernlund and Shea Kramer, all three of them can play multiple positions.
Â
Richardson has been a two-year starter at short stop and will look to hold down that position once again. He hit .250 with 17 RBI after starting 40 games and seeing action in 42 of them. Freshman Kayler Yates, from St. George, Utah, is pushing the junior right now for a starting spot. Richardson can slide over and play second as well.
Â
Fernlund is competing for a starting spot at second base. He's very versatile as he played every position in the infield last season. Fernlund also had some success at the plate hitting .286 after appearing in 25 games. The rising senior slugged .391 and finished with nine RBI.
Â
"Chase has a chance to play second or third this year," Kinneberg said. "We're going to try and hold him at second and have a consistent infield and consistent up the middle, but we'll see how that goes. We do have some versatility this year that we haven't in the past."
Â
Rykker Tom started at third in 46 games last season and was one of the better players at the plate for the Utes in 2019 after he hit .279 with 17 RBI.
There's a battle at first between Shea Kramer, Braden DeBenedictis and Trey Clarkson. Kramer played mostly at first base this last season, but has the ability to play at third or in the outfield. He had a good year at the plate hitting .279 with 22 RBI in the 44 games he played in. DeBenedictis saw limited action last season, but hit .299 in 2018 in 29 games and could be the best defensive first baseman out of the three. Clarkson is going to see some action on the mound, but could be a regular in the lineup with his bat.
Â
This group will look to replace former second baseman Oliver Dunn, who was drafted in the 11th round by the New York Yankees. He hit .366 in 2019 starting in all 49 games and was named a Collegiate Baseball Third Team All-American as well as to the All-Pac-12 Team.
Â
Dunn led the team in 11 offensive categories with 71 hits, scoring 45 runs and also in doubles, triples, total bases and walks. He also had 28 RBI.
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With all of the versatility, it brings depth and options at every position heading into the season and through the difficult Pac-12 schedule that Utah faces.
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Players Mentioned
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