Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Position Breakdown: Relief pitchers mix of old, new
2/16/2016 12:08:00 PM | Baseball
Season opener vs. Indiana Friday, 3 PM
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Get a game into the late innings with a lead and Middle Tennessee's bullpen was almost automatic in delivering victory during the 2015 baseball season.
Middle Tennessee was 18-4 when leading after six innings; 17-1 when leading after seven; and 18-0 when leading after eight innings last season. Blue Raider Head Coach Jim McGuire believes the makeup of the bullpen can be just as promising in 2016 – once the staff takes shape and roles are formed.
"We have depth but not as much experience in the bullpen," McGuire said. "I believe we have some really good arms in the bullpen and it is just a matter of getting guys some game experience and running them out there when it matters."
Because some of the top go-to guys in the bullpen will also serve as mid-week starting pitchers along the way, there are hurlers who will see action in both roles. Those spots have yet to be determined but senior Garrett Ring figures to be in the mix as one of the front-line pitchers regardless of the role.
Ring made 17 appearances last season and finished with a 2-2 record. He pitched three innings or more in 11 of his 17 appearances. Ring's best effort may have been his last outing of the season when he provided four innings of two-hit, shutout baseball to earn the win in an elimination game against UTSA in the C-USA Championship.
"Ring is our most experienced relief pitcher, and he finished up last year very strong," McGuire said. "He is our main guy out of the pen right now. Garrett is coming off an injury in the fall but everything is on track and he is healthy."
Senior Sam Alton is another experienced, reliable arm who could see action as a long relief pitcher and midweek starter. Alton was 5-2 in 22 appearances last season. All but two of his appearances were in relief.
"Alton was a reliable guy for us last year," McGuire said. "His role will be increased compared to what it was last year so we will lean on him to be one of our first guys out of the pen."
Freshman A.J. Spencer should have an opportunity to burst onto the scene due to his powerful fastball. Spencer is a two-way player, but McGuire expects his greatest contributions to come on the mound in his rookie season.
"Spencer has the best fastball on the team," McGuire said. "He has shown an ability to throw all three pitches for strikes. He will be counted upon heavily out of the bullpen, and he has the potential to start."
Middle Tennessee also has three pitchers who have been through the wars but have changed their landscape. Junior left-hander Cody Puckett pitched in the Junior College World Series before transferring to Middle Tennessee. Lefty Jake Wyrick pitched one season in junior college and was drafted before transferring to Middle Tennessee, and righty Will Jackson is a transfer who has pitched in a NCAA Regional and gained Division I experience.
Puckett starred at DeKalb County High School where he was a dominant starting pitcher. The power lefty provides the Blue Raiders with a strong dynamic out of the pen.
"Puckett has been a junior college starter but now he is making the transition to the bullpen," McGuire said. "He is one of our top left-handed relief pitchers. He can throw multiple innings and is not just a match-up guy. He can mix his fastball and breaking ball and has a good arm. Cody just has to locate his fastball and execute his off-speed pitches."
Wyrick also had success as a junior college starter but will now see his role change to that of a midweek starter and reliever. Jackson has been working on a new arm slot and converting to a sidearm guy. In the interim he will be used as a short reliever as he continues to improve with the new arm slot.
Freshman Carson Lester and Andy Wright also showed tremendous potential in the fall and will get opportunities out of the pen early in the season. The Blue Raiders also have options with Will Small, Caleb Smith, Tanner McDivitt and Frank Reeves as they continue to develop.
NEXT: Weekend rotation
Middle Tennessee was 18-4 when leading after six innings; 17-1 when leading after seven; and 18-0 when leading after eight innings last season. Blue Raider Head Coach Jim McGuire believes the makeup of the bullpen can be just as promising in 2016 – once the staff takes shape and roles are formed.
"We have depth but not as much experience in the bullpen," McGuire said. "I believe we have some really good arms in the bullpen and it is just a matter of getting guys some game experience and running them out there when it matters."
Because some of the top go-to guys in the bullpen will also serve as mid-week starting pitchers along the way, there are hurlers who will see action in both roles. Those spots have yet to be determined but senior Garrett Ring figures to be in the mix as one of the front-line pitchers regardless of the role.
Ring made 17 appearances last season and finished with a 2-2 record. He pitched three innings or more in 11 of his 17 appearances. Ring's best effort may have been his last outing of the season when he provided four innings of two-hit, shutout baseball to earn the win in an elimination game against UTSA in the C-USA Championship.
"Ring is our most experienced relief pitcher, and he finished up last year very strong," McGuire said. "He is our main guy out of the pen right now. Garrett is coming off an injury in the fall but everything is on track and he is healthy."
Senior Sam Alton is another experienced, reliable arm who could see action as a long relief pitcher and midweek starter. Alton was 5-2 in 22 appearances last season. All but two of his appearances were in relief.
"Alton was a reliable guy for us last year," McGuire said. "His role will be increased compared to what it was last year so we will lean on him to be one of our first guys out of the pen."
Freshman A.J. Spencer should have an opportunity to burst onto the scene due to his powerful fastball. Spencer is a two-way player, but McGuire expects his greatest contributions to come on the mound in his rookie season.
"Spencer has the best fastball on the team," McGuire said. "He has shown an ability to throw all three pitches for strikes. He will be counted upon heavily out of the bullpen, and he has the potential to start."
Middle Tennessee also has three pitchers who have been through the wars but have changed their landscape. Junior left-hander Cody Puckett pitched in the Junior College World Series before transferring to Middle Tennessee. Lefty Jake Wyrick pitched one season in junior college and was drafted before transferring to Middle Tennessee, and righty Will Jackson is a transfer who has pitched in a NCAA Regional and gained Division I experience.
Puckett starred at DeKalb County High School where he was a dominant starting pitcher. The power lefty provides the Blue Raiders with a strong dynamic out of the pen.
"Puckett has been a junior college starter but now he is making the transition to the bullpen," McGuire said. "He is one of our top left-handed relief pitchers. He can throw multiple innings and is not just a match-up guy. He can mix his fastball and breaking ball and has a good arm. Cody just has to locate his fastball and execute his off-speed pitches."
Wyrick also had success as a junior college starter but will now see his role change to that of a midweek starter and reliever. Jackson has been working on a new arm slot and converting to a sidearm guy. In the interim he will be used as a short reliever as he continues to improve with the new arm slot.
Freshman Carson Lester and Andy Wright also showed tremendous potential in the fall and will get opportunities out of the pen early in the season. The Blue Raiders also have options with Will Small, Caleb Smith, Tanner McDivitt and Frank Reeves as they continue to develop.
NEXT: Weekend rotation
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