Fresno State outfielder Aaron Judge showed up to the first official day of spring practice Friday a bit more muscular and about 15 pounds heavier than a year ago.

Now a 6-foot-7, 245-pound sophomore, Judge likely will need the added bulk to carry the Bulldogs' offensive load this season.

Many of the mainstays who anchored the batting order the past few years are gone. No more Danny Muno, Jordan Ribera, Dusty Robinson, Brennan Gowens or Garrett Weber.

Left are question marks all around the diamond as coach Mike Batesole tries to assemble a lineup with more position-player unknowns going into a season than his Bulldogs have had since becoming a Top 25-caliber program in 2006.

Fresno State has 22 players returning, but just four position starters from a 2011 team that finished 40-16 and was eliminated in the regional round of the NCAA Tournament.

"I have no idea what this team is going to do," said Batesole, who coached the 2008 College World Series championship team and is preparing for his 10th season at Fresno State. "There's a lot of question marks. This year, playing four or five freshmen at a time, who knows what you're going to get?"

The Bulldogs open Feb. 17 when they host Butler.

Judge, who batted .358 and earned Louisville Slugger Freshman All-America and Western Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year honors, figures to be the focal point for offensive success. He is one of the few big bats and the lone player back who had at least 30 RBIs last year.

Judge will start the year batting third and manning center field.

"As long as we stick to the plan Batesole has for us, we'll probably consistently win 40 games a year," Judge said. "After seeing the freshmen in the fall, I think we still have a really good chance to win the , and hopefully host a regional and do well in the postseason."

It's unclear how the rest of the lineup will look. Batesole said he expects to shuffle it early in the season to help him assess the 10 newcomers as well as the reserves who've rarely had a chance to play until now.

But expect junior Austin Wynns, who surprised many by hitting .326 last season, to do the bulk of the catching for the second straight year. Senior Kenny Wise, a career .289 hitter, will slide up the order. He has more home runs (19) in a Bulldogs uniform than the rest of the Fresno State roster combined (12).

Senior Pat Hutcheson, last year's starting second baseman, is back after hitting .314. He might move around the field this season to help plug holes.

Senior Trent Garrison could provide a much-needed power boost should he return to form after a season-ending knee injury in last year's opener. The left-handed hitting Garrison hit .339 with five home runs and 46 RBIs in 2010.

Batesole estimated that Garrison is about 80% recovered and said he will spend the bulk of this season at first base while trying to build back the strength and flexibility needed to play catcher.

"Knee is good," Garrison said. "I've been working really hard over the break, getting that quad and hamstring strong. Just recently started catching games without my brace.

"I definitely think I can pick up where I left off."

Among the top freshmen is former Clovis North High shortstop Chris Mariscal. He is the lone Bulldogs recruit selected in the June amateur draft (41st round by Baltimore) that Fresno State was able to keep away from major league baseball.

On the mound, the Bulldogs lost their top two pitchers and closer.

But they return senior Taylor Garrison (2-2, 1.32 ERA, 42 strikeouts in 34 innings), who was drafted in the 27th round by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Also back are lefty starters Tom Harlan (5-3, 3.84) and Tyler Linehan (5-2, 4.27), and right-hander Justin Haley (1-0, 2.51).

Cody Kendall (6-0, 2.85), the top long reliever who often was used in critical situations, is back for his senior year. Sophomore right-hander Will Anderson, drafted in the 38th round by Tampa Bay in 2010, also could get more use.

The Bulldogs expect to get "even better" on the mound, according to Garrison, while working for the second year under pitching coach Steve Rousey. Under the former Cal State Northridge head coach's guidance, Fresno State lowered its team ERA from 6.05 to 2.91 last season.

"Obviously, we have a younger team and it's going to take some time to build some confidence," Garrison said. "But saying it's a rebuilding year is an excuse. We expect to win all the time with what we have."

Added Batesole: "We're fighting for our seventh ring in a row.

"That's a pretty tough act to follow. I don't know if they're going to be good enough to do it or not. We don't know how guys are going to handle that out there. But that's what I'm excited about -- and to see what kind of finishers they're going to be."

Correction: The original version of this story incorrectly identified pitcher Tyler Linehan as Scott Linehan.