With the departure of five Wolverines to the pros, the Michigan baseball team looked to break in some new players in Wednesday’s scrimmage against the Ontario Blue Jays.

Many fans remember the ESPN highlights of the Wolverines overcoming a 14-1 deficit to topple Northwestern last spring, but this is an entirely new squad. Led by speedy centerfielder Patrick Biondi and power-hitting catcher Coley Crank, Michigan looks to build on an impressive 2010 campaign that saw the Wolverines finish second in the Big Ten regular season. A 24-1 victory over the Blue Jays on Wednesday in Ann Arbor was a sign of good things to come.

The core of last season’s team was drafted within the first 20 rounds of the Major League Baseball draft this past June, beginning with star outfielder Ryan Lamarre going 61st overall to the Cincinnati Reds. Lamarre hit .282 with the low class-A Dayton Dragons before getting a late-season call up to high-A Lynchburg. The Reds also selected former Wolverine catcher Chris Berset in the 20th round. He was sent to the Billings Mustangs of the rookie Pioneer League.

The Seattle Mariners and Florida Marlins picked pitchers Alan Oaks and Tyler Burgoon in the eighth and 10th rounds, respectively. Oaks was a former Friday starter and Burgoon was the closer last season.

The biggest surprise of the 2010 draft class was pitcher Matt Miller. A fifth round pick of the Milwaukee Brewers, Miller went 7-2 with a 4.06 ERA en route to helping the Helena Brewers (also of the Pioneer League) to a league championship this season.

“I keep tabs with all of them over time,” Michigan Coach Rich Maloney said, “They’re great guys.”

The main goal of the day for Michigan was to work in the new players. Michigan started four players who have yet to see extensive action at the collegiate level, including one true freshman.

“We were playing a lot of kids at different positions, kind of getting a feel for our team,” Maloney said.

Sophomore outfielder Kevin Krantz, who has only four hits in 22 career at bats at Michigan, made his presence felt in the second inning with a home run over the left center field fence, along with another blast that almost landed on the softball field later in the game.

True freshman Alex Lakatos also made a worthwhile contribution. A right-handed pitcher by trade, Lakatos started in the nine-hole, at designated hitter. He ended a solid afternoon with a solo home run.

Last season’s returning starters played well against the Blue Jays, too. Biondi, a sophomore, was back to his normal self, sliding head-first into bases, while walking twice and stealing two bases. Crank added a solo shot over the left centerfield fence.

The brightest spot for the Wolverines, however, was sophomore Bobby Brosnahan. Brosnahan, who came on late last season and developed into the Sunday starter for Michigan, pitched three scoreless innings while allowing only two hits. Michigan will likely lean on him this season to be an anchor of the rotation.

A great baseball team needs to be solid up the middle of the field, and Michigan returns Crank at catcher, senior Anthony Toth at second base, sophomore Derek Dennis at shortstop and Biondi roaming centerfield.

Maloney is looking this fall to see what his team can improve upon. And so far, he likes what he sees.

“I thought we did a pretty nice job,” said Maloney, “I saw pretty much what I was hoping for.”