The other position on the infield with a serious battle for the starting job, both senior Josh Powers and sophomore Vance Vizcaino will be fixtures in the batting order. The question is: who will play third base and who will be the designated hitter?

“Offense won't be the thing that separates them because they both have to be in the lineup,” Dunn said. “The thing that will separate them is consistency on defense.”

Vizcaino, a native of Raleigh, NC, and a transfer from the University of Tennessee via Glendale Community College in Arizona where he sat out the 2014 season with an injury, is a third baseman by trade. He played in 27 games for the Vols in 2013, hitting .213.

Powers, on the other hand, is really just learning the position. The senior captain from New Smyrna Beach was a fixture in the Hatters' pitching rotation for his first two seasons. Injuries limited his opportunities to pitch last year, so he picked up a bat, hitting .272 in 44 starts, primarily as the DH or at first base.

“JP is just starting there, but he has really played well,” Dunn said. “He will continue to get better with game competition, but he is still learning the position a little.

“Both of them bring offense to the table – JP from the right side and Vizcaino from the left. The thing is, it appears that Josh will not be contributing as a pitcher this year but will have his entire contribution from the offensive and defensive side of it.”