Bearkat Baseball 2020 Preview: Pitchers
2/11/2020 10:35:00 AM | Baseball
Returners: Landon Ausley, Cole Wesneski, Kyle Backhus, Dominic Robinson, Steven Beard, Matt Dillard, Jack Rogers
Newcomers: Lance Lusk, Tyler Davis, Hayden Collins, Garrett Egli, Ryan Peters, Caleb Cannon, Hunter Murray, Garret Hermes, Bryson Lucas, Tanner Sembera
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HUNTSVILLE – The Sam Houston State Bearkats should be potent at the plate in 2020, but enter a fresh season knowing that it will be the pitching staff that will make or break things this year.
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The Kats had significant turnover on the mound following the 2019 season, most notably bidding farewell to right-handed starters Hayden Wesneski and Nick Mikolajchak after each was selected in June's MLB Draft. That duo combined to toss 170.1 innings a year ago, which is 19.0 more frames than the combined totals of the seven returning arms still on the roster.
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Still, that group not only returns plenty of talent, but will also be joined by a group of 10 newcomers that gives head coach Jay Sirianni plenty of depth to work with in 2020.
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SHSU sports just three seniors on its roster this year, with two coming on the mound in left-handers Dominic Robinson and Kyle Backhus. Each is entering his fourth year with the program and could have big impacts this season. Robinson will likely open up the year in the weekend rotation after finishing 2019 on a strong note, getting wins in two of his last four appearances and striking out 17 hitters with just one walk in 24.2 innings in that span.
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Backhus, meanwhile, will likely open up the year as one of several left-handed options out of the Bearkat bullpen. He has had a strong spring and looks to be poised for a bounceback 2020 after strong freshman and sophomore campaigns.
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Other possible weekend starters include right-handed newcomer Tyler Davis and left-handed sophomore Matt Dillard, while righties Caleb Cannon and Cole Wesneski could also work their way into that mix.
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Davis posted a 3.66 ERA in 51.2 innings as a freshman at Wichita State before spending 2019 at Panola College where he won six games and posted a 3.21 ERA for the Ponies. Meanwhile, Dillard saw ups and downs in his true freshman campaign, but should be in position to make a big leap as a sophomore. The 6-2, 200-pound lefty has never been short on ability with a fastball/changeup combo that had him as a 31st-round draftee out of high school in 2018.
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Cannon, a big righty out of Atascocita HS, has also been impressive in preseason workouts and could factor into the mix later on the weekends or in midweek opportunities.
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Wesneski, however, could be one of the most important pieces on the staff. He came on strong in the second half of the 2019 season and finished with a solid 3.56 ERA and .254 opponent's average, pitching exclusively out of the bullpen. This year, though, Sirianni says he could be used in multiple scenarios, either as a starter, long reliever or occasional stopper.
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Other returners include Landon Ausley and Steven Beard, each of whom should also have impacts in 2020. Ausley brings arguably the most electric arm in the Southland Conference to the fold, as evidenced by being deemed as the top SLC prospect in the 2020 draft by Baseball America, but the big righty will need to re-find his 2018 form after a 2019 that saw him struggle with control. Still, in 48.0 career innings as a Bearkat, the Lake Travis native has shown his ability with 61 strikeouts and just a .202 opponent's batting average.
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Beard, a lefty out of The Woodlands, managed to eat up 20.0 innings as a true freshman last year and could be in line for a bigger role out of the pen as a sophomore.
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In addition to Davis and Cannon, the Kats also brought in a slew of new arms for 2020, including six more from the junior college ranks. Right-handers Lance Lusk and Hayden Collins should each play roles late in games, while fellow junior college righties Garrett Egli and Garrett Hermes, along with lefty Tanner Sembera all have impressed during preseason workouts as well.
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Former Lovelady HS star Hunter Murray has also shown well and could be in the mix for innings later in games, despite being a year off an injury that forced him to miss all of 2019 at Alvin Community College.
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The Kats also have two more high school arms in lefty Bryson Lucas and right-hander Ryan Peters, both of whom could be used as well.
Newcomers: Lance Lusk, Tyler Davis, Hayden Collins, Garrett Egli, Ryan Peters, Caleb Cannon, Hunter Murray, Garret Hermes, Bryson Lucas, Tanner Sembera
Â
HUNTSVILLE – The Sam Houston State Bearkats should be potent at the plate in 2020, but enter a fresh season knowing that it will be the pitching staff that will make or break things this year.
Â
The Kats had significant turnover on the mound following the 2019 season, most notably bidding farewell to right-handed starters Hayden Wesneski and Nick Mikolajchak after each was selected in June's MLB Draft. That duo combined to toss 170.1 innings a year ago, which is 19.0 more frames than the combined totals of the seven returning arms still on the roster.
Â
Still, that group not only returns plenty of talent, but will also be joined by a group of 10 newcomers that gives head coach Jay Sirianni plenty of depth to work with in 2020.
Â
SHSU sports just three seniors on its roster this year, with two coming on the mound in left-handers Dominic Robinson and Kyle Backhus. Each is entering his fourth year with the program and could have big impacts this season. Robinson will likely open up the year in the weekend rotation after finishing 2019 on a strong note, getting wins in two of his last four appearances and striking out 17 hitters with just one walk in 24.2 innings in that span.
Â
Backhus, meanwhile, will likely open up the year as one of several left-handed options out of the Bearkat bullpen. He has had a strong spring and looks to be poised for a bounceback 2020 after strong freshman and sophomore campaigns.
Â
Other possible weekend starters include right-handed newcomer Tyler Davis and left-handed sophomore Matt Dillard, while righties Caleb Cannon and Cole Wesneski could also work their way into that mix.
Â
Davis posted a 3.66 ERA in 51.2 innings as a freshman at Wichita State before spending 2019 at Panola College where he won six games and posted a 3.21 ERA for the Ponies. Meanwhile, Dillard saw ups and downs in his true freshman campaign, but should be in position to make a big leap as a sophomore. The 6-2, 200-pound lefty has never been short on ability with a fastball/changeup combo that had him as a 31st-round draftee out of high school in 2018.
Â
Cannon, a big righty out of Atascocita HS, has also been impressive in preseason workouts and could factor into the mix later on the weekends or in midweek opportunities.
Â
Wesneski, however, could be one of the most important pieces on the staff. He came on strong in the second half of the 2019 season and finished with a solid 3.56 ERA and .254 opponent's average, pitching exclusively out of the bullpen. This year, though, Sirianni says he could be used in multiple scenarios, either as a starter, long reliever or occasional stopper.
Â
Other returners include Landon Ausley and Steven Beard, each of whom should also have impacts in 2020. Ausley brings arguably the most electric arm in the Southland Conference to the fold, as evidenced by being deemed as the top SLC prospect in the 2020 draft by Baseball America, but the big righty will need to re-find his 2018 form after a 2019 that saw him struggle with control. Still, in 48.0 career innings as a Bearkat, the Lake Travis native has shown his ability with 61 strikeouts and just a .202 opponent's batting average.
Â
Beard, a lefty out of The Woodlands, managed to eat up 20.0 innings as a true freshman last year and could be in line for a bigger role out of the pen as a sophomore.
Â
In addition to Davis and Cannon, the Kats also brought in a slew of new arms for 2020, including six more from the junior college ranks. Right-handers Lance Lusk and Hayden Collins should each play roles late in games, while fellow junior college righties Garrett Egli and Garrett Hermes, along with lefty Tanner Sembera all have impressed during preseason workouts as well.
Â
Former Lovelady HS star Hunter Murray has also shown well and could be in the mix for innings later in games, despite being a year off an injury that forced him to miss all of 2019 at Alvin Community College.
Â
The Kats also have two more high school arms in lefty Bryson Lucas and right-hander Ryan Peters, both of whom could be used as well.
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