In a bullpen filled to the brim with upperclassmen, a small group of freshmen is quickly gaining the confidence of LSU coach Paul Mainieri.
Of the 14 pitchers in the Tigers’ bullpen, four are seniors and five are juniors, stocking the program with a plethora of arms that will be leaving Alex Box Stadium after the 2013 campaign. To combat this issue, Mainieri has turned to four freshmen over the squad’s first 16 games to help the young guns gain experience on the mound.
“It’s going to be very important [to let the freshmen gain experience], because all you have to do is look at our pitching staff and realize that we’re going to lose about seven or eight pitchers for next year, so we need these freshmen to come along,” Mainieri said. “We don’t have a lot of guys returning are pitching in vital roles right now.”
The combination of southpaw Hunter Devall and right-handers Hunter Newman, Taylor Butler and Russell Reynolds has since held its own in front of the ecstatic crowds of Alex Box.
“[Pitching in Alex Box has] been great,” Newman said. “It’s energetic when you come in here, and you know these fans will always be behind your back.”
Mainieri used his freshman relievers lightly during the 2012 campaign. Only three first-year bullpen members — Carson Baranik, Cody Glenn and Aaron Johnson — got to toe the rubber in relief for the Tigers, and they combined to make 17 game appearances all season.
So far in 2013, the four freshmen have already seen the mound 15 times.
“[The amount of appearances the freshmen have gotten has] been very exciting so far,” Devall said. “It was kind of unexpected coming into the season, so I’m very thankful that I’ve been given the opportunity to go out there and do what I can do. Hopefully I get more playing time as the year goes [on].”
Of the group, Devall leads the pack with seven appearances, and he has yet to allow an earned run in six and two-thirds innings pitched, recording eight strikeouts in the process. Newman has also seen his fair share of time, making four appearances and striking out six.
Mainieri has made it clear the squad is looking for a reliever to step into the sixth- or seventh-inning role as the season progresses. With senior lefty Chris Cotton, the established closer, and the likes of senior right-hander Joey Bourgeois and junior Nick Rumbelow fitting into the setup slots, the Tigers need a reliever or two to man the middle innings.
Devall and Newman are making cases for themselves in Mainieri’s eyes.
“I think they’re two of the leading candidates,” Mainieri said. “I’ve been impressed by what they’ve done. They’re not perfect, but they’re right in there competing for a bullpen spot.”
Regardless, the youth in the bullpen is a positive for the Tigers moving into the future.
“I think [having youth in the bullpen] is very important,” Devall said. “We’ve got a bunch of older guys who are leaders on the team in the bullpen such as Cotton, Bourgeois and [senior Kevin] Berry, but I also think it’s important to have some younger guys to develop so that we can be solid for years to come.”
“I think they’re two of the leading candidates. I’ve been impressed by what they’ve done. They’re not perfect, but they’re right in there competing for a bullpen spot.”
