Villanova, Pa.-With just over a month before their first series of the season, Villanova's baseball team is preparing to build off their 21-14 season from 2021.With five members of the starting lineup returning, the Wildcats will have experience on their side entering spring competition.  Villanova is headlined by Preseason All-BIG EAST team selection Chris Rotondo, who led the Wildcats in doubles, triples, home runs, walks, runs scored and runs batted in last season.

PITCHERS
The Wildcats will have plenty of options on the mound with 15 hurlers on the rosters this year. Villanova's senior statesman, Tyler Arella will return for his sixth year on the mound for the Wildcats. Arella started 10 games last season and held opponents to a .242 batting average. Sophomore Devin Rivera is coming off an impressive freshman season where he started four games and averaged 8.5 strikeouts per nine innings.

A newcomer for the Wildcats' pitching staff is junior Cole Patten. No stranger to the BIG EAST conference, Patten previously played three seasons at Seton Hall. The junior has a lively fastball and can pull the string with his changeup.

In the bullpen, sophomore Danny Wilkinson returns after leading the Wildcats in appearances last season and finishing second in the conference with seven saves. Last summer, Wilkinson played for the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod League and fanned 29 batters in 16 and 2/3 innings.

Senior Cameron Mathes looks to build off a junior season where he struck out 26 batters in 17 and 2/3 innings pitched. Sophomore southpaw Patrick Montfort will continue to add depth to the bullpen after appearing in four games in 2021, striking out six batters in 2 and 2/3 innings.

Freshman Cade Udell joins the Wildcats in 2022 after transferring from Duke. Udell will be a welcomed addition to the Villanova bullpen with a fastball that can reach 97 miles per hour.

Coming off rehab from Tommy John Surgery, senior Jonathan Cole looks to contribute to the pitching staff with a lively fastball mixed with a solid slider.
 
INFIELDERS
Three members of the 2021 starting infield return to the diamond for the Wildcats.

Senior Pat O'Neill started in 22 games last season at second base and hit .278  with five doubles, a triple and eight runs driven in.

 Jack O'Reilly returns for his sophomore season at Villanova. O'Reilly drove in 20 runners in 34 games played last season. In his first 11 games, O'Reilly hit .318.

Cameron Hassert looks to build off his impressive freshman season at shortstop. The sophomore flashed the leather by recording a .971 fielding percentage at short for the Wildcats. A menace on the basepaths, Hassert swiped eight bases in 2021.

Senior Joey Castellanos is a new addition for the Wildcats after playing four seasons at UMass-Lowell. Castellanos drove in 23 runs in 2021 and recorded a .997 fielding percentage at first base for the River Hawks.

Sophomore AJ Hansen can provide the middle infield depth for the Wildcats. Hansen appeared in 15 games last season, recorded a .365 on-base percentage and swiped four bases.
 
OUTFIELD
One of the top outfielders in the BIG EAST, Chris Rotondo returns for his senior year at Villanova. The center fielder was named to the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team after a standout junior season.

Jack O'Reilly and AJ Hansen both have the defensive versatility to patrol the outfield if their numbers are called. Freshmen Shane Solari and Connor Hale are also available options in the outfield.
 
CATCHER
The Wildcats should have plenty of depth behind the plate this season. Junior Will Reiner started in 30 games at catcher and drove in seven runs.

Sophomore John Whooley appeared in seven games for the Wildcats in 2021 and started the last three to close out the season.

Freshman Josue Valdez had a strong fall with impressive bat-to-ball skills, according to Villanova baseball Head Coach Kevin Mulvey.