The Panthers open up the season on Friday - they seem to have a ton of a question marks going into the year based on the amount of talent they lost last year. Anyone got a really good feel for this squad? I know the schedule is going to be a bear as it always is in this conference…
Catcher
Seems like Jayden Melendez is a really interesting name, he was very highly recruited out of HS - will he get a chance to start or do they go with returning guys Johnny Long or Luke Lambert? Interesting that Long got some Cape Cod League action last Summer.
INF
Tavarez, Duff and Anderson are starters - Noah Martinez a really intriguing new face, good player for central conn state the last 3 years, hit 15 home runs last year. Justin Acal hit really well at the CC ranks last year. Drew Ripepi was their top recruit this year, western PA kid, could get some at-bats
OF
Hess/Funk both return and start — two very interesting freshman in Caleb Sturtevant and Carlos Martinez, both of whom can apparently run very well. Dom Popa could play everyday, but he‘s gonna need to show some pop that hasn’t come yet.
Pitching
This is where it gets really interesting as you could make the case that almost anyone on Pitt’s roster could get innings, and meaningful ones.
J Bautista has talent to step into the weekend rotation, but did a lot of his pitching out of the bullpen last year. Showed starter stuff against GT in the ACC tourney. Pitched really well this summer.
L Evans - no nice way to recap his ‘22 season, his ERA was above 7 and he gave up 90 hits in 66 innings but i noticed he got the start in the fall opener, i would assume he will get every chance
E Candelario should get a chance as A grad transfer from Marist, made a lot of starts, struck out 120 in 123 innings. Same could be said for Nash Bryan coming over from Seton Hill, he was pretty dominant albeit at a much, much different level of competition.
B Devereux could get a shot to start after 3 years of coming out of the bullpen - hes got some good stuff, showed improvement last year.
Kyle Mosley is an interesting arm, apparently can get it up over 90 pitching for a CC in Texas
Have no idea what to make of Dylan Simmons, he was the #1 1B recruit in the COUNTRY before he went to FSU, then he was a freshman all American As a hitter. Didn’t hit nearly as well in 2021 and then last year seemed to focus on pitching, which went very poorly. Now he comes to Pitt and is listed only as a pitcher so…
Ethan Firoved is a lefty that struck out 96 guys in 76 innings in CC in FLA last year.
Holden Phelps was a top 250 recruit out of HS before ending up at MIzzou for a little
Jack Sokol was a big time recruit that ended up at Auburn
Really looking forward to seeing what Mike Bell can keep going here - he’s done a great job so far, hopefully they can keep competing this year.
Catcher
Seems like Jayden Melendez is a really interesting name, he was very highly recruited out of HS - will he get a chance to start or do they go with returning guys Johnny Long or Luke Lambert? Interesting that Long got some Cape Cod League action last Summer.
INF
Tavarez, Duff and Anderson are starters - Noah Martinez a really intriguing new face, good player for central conn state the last 3 years, hit 15 home runs last year. Justin Acal hit really well at the CC ranks last year. Drew Ripepi was their top recruit this year, western PA kid, could get some at-bats
OF
Hess/Funk both return and start — two very interesting freshman in Caleb Sturtevant and Carlos Martinez, both of whom can apparently run very well. Dom Popa could play everyday, but he‘s gonna need to show some pop that hasn’t come yet.
Pitching
This is where it gets really interesting as you could make the case that almost anyone on Pitt’s roster could get innings, and meaningful ones.
J Bautista has talent to step into the weekend rotation, but did a lot of his pitching out of the bullpen last year. Showed starter stuff against GT in the ACC tourney. Pitched really well this summer.
L Evans - no nice way to recap his ‘22 season, his ERA was above 7 and he gave up 90 hits in 66 innings but i noticed he got the start in the fall opener, i would assume he will get every chance
E Candelario should get a chance as A grad transfer from Marist, made a lot of starts, struck out 120 in 123 innings. Same could be said for Nash Bryan coming over from Seton Hill, he was pretty dominant albeit at a much, much different level of competition.
B Devereux could get a shot to start after 3 years of coming out of the bullpen - hes got some good stuff, showed improvement last year.
Kyle Mosley is an interesting arm, apparently can get it up over 90 pitching for a CC in Texas
Have no idea what to make of Dylan Simmons, he was the #1 1B recruit in the COUNTRY before he went to FSU, then he was a freshman all American As a hitter. Didn’t hit nearly as well in 2021 and then last year seemed to focus on pitching, which went very poorly. Now he comes to Pitt and is listed only as a pitcher so…
Ethan Firoved is a lefty that struck out 96 guys in 76 innings in CC in FLA last year.
Holden Phelps was a top 250 recruit out of HS before ending up at MIzzou for a little
Jack Sokol was a big time recruit that ended up at Auburn
Really looking forward to seeing what Mike Bell can keep going here - he’s done a great job so far, hopefully they can keep competing this year.
