As N.C. State Baseball makes its final preparations before play kicks off with its series against Elon on Friday, we look at the teams’ bullpen for this upcoming season.
According to coach Elliot Avent, the bullpen will be essential to the success of the team as the starters are getting back into shape at the beginning of the season. Avent plans on monitoring the fatigue of his pitchers by paying close attention to the pitch count and innings pitched.
“I think early in the season you have to use pitch count,” coach Avent said. “We’ll use a pitch count or an inning count. It’s going to be a lot of factors used, but counting pitches will be used early on with the cold weather.”
Also, according to Avent, the coaching staff isn’t set on a rotation or how they will utilize their bench, but redshirt junior Grant Sasser will be an essential part of their rotation.
“It’s hard to make a decision right now,” Avent said. “We had a few scrimmages, enough to get an idea right now, but we don’t have a certainty as of yet. Things change, things are ever evolving. Anthony Samsus, who was one of our key relievers last year, just had Tommy John surgery on Friday. Grant Sasser was our big stopper last year.”
Grant Sasser will be heavily relied on in the rotation this season. Last year, he emerged as the best relief pitcher, if not the best pitcher, for the Pack. He held his opponents to a .205 batting average and had the second best ERA on the team at 3.56.
“This year I think I’ll honestly just be trying to do whatever he says,” Sasser said. “The biggest thing coach says is don’t go into the season anticipating or expecting something that you’re going to do.”
Also, according to Sasser, roles have not yet been established in coach Avent’s rotation, but the key to success for both himself and the rest of the pitching staff will be to stay ready and focused at all times.
“He’ll call you at different times,” Sasser said. “Baseball is a game where everything isn’t written out before the game. It’s something where they want to work us into it. We have a lot of great pitchers. As the season goes on roles will be established.”
Senior Rey Cotilla, sophomore Chris Overman and redshirt Junior Vance Williams are three guys who are also coming off the bench looking to play significant roles in the pitching staff this season. In six appearances last season, Cotilla had the second lowest ERA in the bullpen at 3.38, and tied Sasser for lowest opponent batting average. Overman will most likely assume a greater role this season. In only eight appearances last season he grabbed one winning decision and had a 5.40 ERA. Williams had the second most strikeouts on the team at 31 coming off the bench.
“You got those guys that appear to be the guys as of late,” Avent said. “Our job is to figure out how to use those guys effectively and hope they all stay healthy and hope someone else steps up to help us out.”
