BSB | 2018 Season Preview: Pitchers
2/5/2018 3:26:00 PM | Baseball
Part 1:Infielders
Part 2: Outfielders
Part 3: Pitchers
Part 4: Catchers, Wednesday, Feb. 7
SAN FRANCISCO - Baseball season is right around the corner with the first series of the year slated for 4 p.m., Feb. 16 at the University of Texas San Antonio. With that in mind, it's time to start previewing the 2018 Diamond Dons. Next up, the pitching staff.
The pitching staff is an integral part of any team, and head coach Nino Giarratano heads into the 2018 season with lots of depth and experience in that area.
The rotation to open the year will begin with junior Thomas Ponticelli, who is slated to be the Friday starter this year. In 2017, Ponticelli went 4-2 with a 2.45 ERA, starting nine games and pitching in 69.2 innings.
"Ponticelli is a quality starter in this conference," said Giarratano. "More than that, he is a very good player that brings invaluable experience."
Following Ponticelli on Saturday's will be junior college transfer, Landen Bourassa. Bourassa joins the Dons from Lane Community college where we went 9-4 with a 2.63 ERA and 82 Ks in 2017.
USF enters the season with the Sunday starter role still up for grabs, but freshman Haydn King (Aptos, CA / Archbishop Mitty) looks to be the top option.
"King has great stuff, " said Giarratano. "We need to get him the right amount of opportunities early so that he can settle in."
Battling alongside King for the starter role will be junior Daniel Slominski, who was the Saturday starter last year. In 2017, his first year with the Dons, he went 3-5 with a 4.96 ERA and 57 strikeouts.
"When he gets healthy he will be battling in there for one of those three starter spots," said Giarratano. "He will possibly be pushing to throw in the backend of our bullpen with Grant Goodman, Scott Parker and Brendan Jenkins."
Benji Post will feature as the Tuesday starter, having been in the rotation as both a starter and reliever in his two years on the Hilltop. Post ranked in the top-10 in both wins and ERA in the WCC. He went 7-2 overall with a 3.29 ERA and 40 Ks.
"We're going to go with Goodman as a closer," said Giarratano. "Goody has had a great fall, he's healthy and he's ready to have a great season."
Goodman moves from his role as a starting pitcher in 2017 to the backend of the bullpen as the closer. Goodman went 4-4 in 2017 with a 4.63 ERA and 51 strikeouts.
Parker, a redshirt-junior, will be one of the top three relievers coming out of the bullpen, along with Goodman and Jenkins. Last year, Parker made 32 appearances, the second-most in a single season in program history, going 5-1 with a 2.95 ERA.
"Parker is one of our mainstays and could be a weekend starter, but I'd really like to use him in the backend of the bullpen," said Giarratano.
Working through the bullpen depth chart, Giarratano pointed out that the staff is looking for junior Joey Steele to have a breakout year. Steele will feature as a middle reliever and a possible starter on Tuesday's. Rounding out the depth chart from an experience standpoint are John Murray, Grant Young, Thomas Caulfield and Riley Ornido.
A couple of freshmen will also see significant time on the mound will be Alex Pham (Union City, CA / Moreau Catholic HS) and Bo Jelinek (Thousand Oaks, CA / Westlake HS).
"We'll probably be able to pitch with 9-12 guys, with the brunt of that being made up by seven pitchers," said Giarratano. "Those top seven are as good as anybody in the conference and will help win here on the Hilltop."
Part 2: Outfielders
Part 3: Pitchers
Part 4: Catchers, Wednesday, Feb. 7
SAN FRANCISCO - Baseball season is right around the corner with the first series of the year slated for 4 p.m., Feb. 16 at the University of Texas San Antonio. With that in mind, it's time to start previewing the 2018 Diamond Dons. Next up, the pitching staff.
The pitching staff is an integral part of any team, and head coach Nino Giarratano heads into the 2018 season with lots of depth and experience in that area.
The rotation to open the year will begin with junior Thomas Ponticelli, who is slated to be the Friday starter this year. In 2017, Ponticelli went 4-2 with a 2.45 ERA, starting nine games and pitching in 69.2 innings.
"Ponticelli is a quality starter in this conference," said Giarratano. "More than that, he is a very good player that brings invaluable experience."
Following Ponticelli on Saturday's will be junior college transfer, Landen Bourassa. Bourassa joins the Dons from Lane Community college where we went 9-4 with a 2.63 ERA and 82 Ks in 2017.
USF enters the season with the Sunday starter role still up for grabs, but freshman Haydn King (Aptos, CA / Archbishop Mitty) looks to be the top option.
"King has great stuff, " said Giarratano. "We need to get him the right amount of opportunities early so that he can settle in."
Battling alongside King for the starter role will be junior Daniel Slominski, who was the Saturday starter last year. In 2017, his first year with the Dons, he went 3-5 with a 4.96 ERA and 57 strikeouts.
"When he gets healthy he will be battling in there for one of those three starter spots," said Giarratano. "He will possibly be pushing to throw in the backend of our bullpen with Grant Goodman, Scott Parker and Brendan Jenkins."
Benji Post will feature as the Tuesday starter, having been in the rotation as both a starter and reliever in his two years on the Hilltop. Post ranked in the top-10 in both wins and ERA in the WCC. He went 7-2 overall with a 3.29 ERA and 40 Ks.
"We're going to go with Goodman as a closer," said Giarratano. "Goody has had a great fall, he's healthy and he's ready to have a great season."
Goodman moves from his role as a starting pitcher in 2017 to the backend of the bullpen as the closer. Goodman went 4-4 in 2017 with a 4.63 ERA and 51 strikeouts.
Parker, a redshirt-junior, will be one of the top three relievers coming out of the bullpen, along with Goodman and Jenkins. Last year, Parker made 32 appearances, the second-most in a single season in program history, going 5-1 with a 2.95 ERA.
"Parker is one of our mainstays and could be a weekend starter, but I'd really like to use him in the backend of the bullpen," said Giarratano.
Working through the bullpen depth chart, Giarratano pointed out that the staff is looking for junior Joey Steele to have a breakout year. Steele will feature as a middle reliever and a possible starter on Tuesday's. Rounding out the depth chart from an experience standpoint are John Murray, Grant Young, Thomas Caulfield and Riley Ornido.
A couple of freshmen will also see significant time on the mound will be Alex Pham (Union City, CA / Moreau Catholic HS) and Bo Jelinek (Thousand Oaks, CA / Westlake HS).
"We'll probably be able to pitch with 9-12 guys, with the brunt of that being made up by seven pitchers," said Giarratano. "Those top seven are as good as anybody in the conference and will help win here on the Hilltop."
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