Troy University Athletics
Jimmy Hodgskin
Photo by: Sun Belt Conference
Baseball Season Preview - Pitchers
2/15/2012 10:29:00 AM | Baseball
TROY, Ala. - The defending Sun Belt Conference champion Troy baseball team begins its title defense on Friday when it opens a four-game series against Central Michigan at Riddle-Pace Field. First pitch on Friday is set for 6 p.m. The series continues with a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. and concludes with a single game on Sunday at 12 p.m.
TroyTrojans.com will preview the upcoming season over the next five days with a breakdown of each position group and finally a preview of the weekend series on Thursday.
Sunday - Infield
Monday - Outfield
Tuesday - Catchers / DH
Wednesday - Pitchers
Thursday - Game Preview
The Breakdown:
The biggest question for most college baseball teams around the country as they head into a new season is generally pitching.
The answer for the Trojans is pretty straight forward as they return a talented pitching staff that features three All-Sun Belt arms from a season ago – starter Tyler Ray and closers Nate Hill and Tyson Workman.
Ray, a senior right-hander, enters the year as the NCAA's active leader in wins with 27 and has the nation's longest win streak at 12 games. He was named the Sun Belt Pitcher of the Year last season and the league's preseason pick for the award this year after posting a 12-0 record and 2.39 ERA in 2011.
Sophomore southpaw Jimmy Hodgskin will hold down the Saturday starting position for the Trojans. A top pro prospect, Hodgskin started 16 games as a true freshman last season and posted a 3-7 record with 4.68 ERA.
Junior right-handers Adam Purdy and Chris Fisher won the final two starting positions for the opening weekend after a pair of solid performances in Troy's two spring scrimmages. Purdy, who was selected in the 34th round of the MLB Draft out of high school, transferred to Troy from Gulf Coast Community College after originally signing with Auburn. Fisher, a high school All-American, saw limited action for the Trojans last season out of the bullpen as he worked to recover from Tommy John surgery in 2010.
Hill and Workman combined to go 10-5 with seven saves and 52 appearances last season. The duo had a combined ERA of 2.66 and held opposing batters to a .224 batting average. Workman, who was all-conference as a utility player, limited opposing hitters to a .208 batting average, while Hill averaged 10.6 strikeouts per nine innings.
Before the ball gets to Hill or Workman, Troy head coach Bobby Pierce has plenty of options in the middle of his bullpen. Garrett McHenry led the Sun Belt last season holding batters to a .175 batting average and averaged 10.8 strikeouts per nine innings. Thomas Austin posted a 1.83 ERA over his final 10 appearances and was named to the all-tournament team at the NCAA Regional after tossing five scoreless innings against Belmont.
Joe Hernandez is also expected to be a key piece to the Trojan bullpen after two solid seasons at Faulkner State Community College. The Trojans will also look to Cass Abercrombie, William Teal, Ryan Brady, Ivan Carter, Jeremy McGowan, Peyton Fuller and A.J. Howard to contribute solid innings out of the bullpen.
The Trojans will be without the services of left-handers Ryan Sorce (Tommy John) and Shane McCain (labrum) this season.
Pierce Says:
“I'm feeling really good about our starters after our two weekends of scrimmages. Adam Purdy, who had a little bit of a tender elbow in the fall, had a great outing to start the spring and Chris Fisher has thrown the ball really well this spring.
“A couple of other guys are in the mix for a No. 3 or No. 4 starting role. We thought Cass Abercrombie came on really strong with his first outing of the spring. Thomas Austin, who is one of our main middle relievers, was also solid against live hitters.
“We feel great about Friday and Saturday with Tyler Ray and Jimmy Hodgskin. Certainly feel good about the middle and the late part of our bullpen with two returning all-conference guys in Nate Hill and Tyson Workman. They are a good left-right combo and provide us with some depth that every year you are not going to have.
“It makes you feel great when you look at the guys we have in our bullpen. Garrett McHenry carried our bullpen on his back through the first third of the season last year.
“Historically our program has generally seen the strength on the offensive side, although we have had some really good pitchers in the past. This particular staff seems to be deeper than any we have had and with more versatility than any we've had. As we look at it on paper heading into the season with all that returning experience due back, I would think we can finally lean on this pitching staff in a big way towards reaching our goals for our season.”
TroyTrojans.com will preview the upcoming season over the next five days with a breakdown of each position group and finally a preview of the weekend series on Thursday.
Sunday - Infield
Monday - Outfield
Tuesday - Catchers / DH
Wednesday - Pitchers
Thursday - Game Preview
The Breakdown:
The biggest question for most college baseball teams around the country as they head into a new season is generally pitching.
The answer for the Trojans is pretty straight forward as they return a talented pitching staff that features three All-Sun Belt arms from a season ago – starter Tyler Ray and closers Nate Hill and Tyson Workman.
Ray, a senior right-hander, enters the year as the NCAA's active leader in wins with 27 and has the nation's longest win streak at 12 games. He was named the Sun Belt Pitcher of the Year last season and the league's preseason pick for the award this year after posting a 12-0 record and 2.39 ERA in 2011.
Sophomore southpaw Jimmy Hodgskin will hold down the Saturday starting position for the Trojans. A top pro prospect, Hodgskin started 16 games as a true freshman last season and posted a 3-7 record with 4.68 ERA.
Junior right-handers Adam Purdy and Chris Fisher won the final two starting positions for the opening weekend after a pair of solid performances in Troy's two spring scrimmages. Purdy, who was selected in the 34th round of the MLB Draft out of high school, transferred to Troy from Gulf Coast Community College after originally signing with Auburn. Fisher, a high school All-American, saw limited action for the Trojans last season out of the bullpen as he worked to recover from Tommy John surgery in 2010.
Hill and Workman combined to go 10-5 with seven saves and 52 appearances last season. The duo had a combined ERA of 2.66 and held opposing batters to a .224 batting average. Workman, who was all-conference as a utility player, limited opposing hitters to a .208 batting average, while Hill averaged 10.6 strikeouts per nine innings.
Before the ball gets to Hill or Workman, Troy head coach Bobby Pierce has plenty of options in the middle of his bullpen. Garrett McHenry led the Sun Belt last season holding batters to a .175 batting average and averaged 10.8 strikeouts per nine innings. Thomas Austin posted a 1.83 ERA over his final 10 appearances and was named to the all-tournament team at the NCAA Regional after tossing five scoreless innings against Belmont.
Joe Hernandez is also expected to be a key piece to the Trojan bullpen after two solid seasons at Faulkner State Community College. The Trojans will also look to Cass Abercrombie, William Teal, Ryan Brady, Ivan Carter, Jeremy McGowan, Peyton Fuller and A.J. Howard to contribute solid innings out of the bullpen.
The Trojans will be without the services of left-handers Ryan Sorce (Tommy John) and Shane McCain (labrum) this season.
Pierce Says:
“I'm feeling really good about our starters after our two weekends of scrimmages. Adam Purdy, who had a little bit of a tender elbow in the fall, had a great outing to start the spring and Chris Fisher has thrown the ball really well this spring.
“A couple of other guys are in the mix for a No. 3 or No. 4 starting role. We thought Cass Abercrombie came on really strong with his first outing of the spring. Thomas Austin, who is one of our main middle relievers, was also solid against live hitters.
“We feel great about Friday and Saturday with Tyler Ray and Jimmy Hodgskin. Certainly feel good about the middle and the late part of our bullpen with two returning all-conference guys in Nate Hill and Tyson Workman. They are a good left-right combo and provide us with some depth that every year you are not going to have.
“It makes you feel great when you look at the guys we have in our bullpen. Garrett McHenry carried our bullpen on his back through the first third of the season last year.
“Historically our program has generally seen the strength on the offensive side, although we have had some really good pitchers in the past. This particular staff seems to be deeper than any we have had and with more versatility than any we've had. As we look at it on paper heading into the season with all that returning experience due back, I would think we can finally lean on this pitching staff in a big way towards reaching our goals for our season.”
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