Photo by: Harrison Baker
Baseball Looking for Extended Success in 2020
Feb 7, 2020 | Baseball
By Jake Eig
Tulane Strategic Communications
With only a week until the season officially gets underway, Tulane baseball coach Travis Jewett and the Tulane Green Wave baseball team have high expectations and aspirations to play beyond the regular season in 2020. Coming off a 32-26 season and a third-place finish in the American Athletic Conference, the Green Wave team emanates confidence and an eagerness to play meaningful games.
Tulane saw seven players exit the program through the MLB draft and free agent signings in 2019, including 25th overall pick Kody Hoese. Despite the talent the program, Coach Jewett and his players expect to take a step forward in 2020.
"Let me stand here in front of you and tell you that the cupboard is certainly not bare," Jewett said. "We returned 363 hits, that's a lot. 76 doubles, 15 triples, 42 homers, 238 RBI and a .309 batting average."
On top of the returning talent, Tulane has welcomed 16 new faces into the team, comprised of 10 junior college transfers and six high school recruits. With two catchers, one infielder, five right-handed pitchers and two left-handed pitchers entering the fray, the level of competition for each position is intense.
"Like coach always says, internal competition is what brings you to those big games and we have a lot of that this year," said senior right-hander Keagan Gillies.
Much of the attention heading into the 2020 season has been on the revamped pitching staff. Gillies has been excited since the end of last year.
"In the fall we had our Fall World Series at the end and there were not many games where the pitching staff gave up more than three or four runs," Gillies said. "Which is a testament to us because our hitters are pretty incredible."
At the back end of the pitching staff, junior closer Connor Pellerin echoed similar sentiments.
"It's no secret that we were kind of struggling on the mound and I think that bringing in these new junior college transfers and some freshmen is really going to help us out on the mound," said Pellerin.
While there is a newfound confidence amongst the pitchers, the offense believes it can make life even easier for the staff.
Sophomore outfielder Hudson Haskin enjoyed a 2019 season full of accolades, but he doesn't put too much pressure on himself to replace the talent lost to the major leagues.
"This year the offense is deep, we are multifaceted, and we can beat you in a lot of different ways," Haskin said. "The guys that we had last year are a year improved."
Senior infielder Grant Mathews, who drove in more runs last season than any returning player, is thrilled with what he sees.
"Inside the team we feel more well-rounded overall," said Mathews. "The energy is about as high as it has been. I've been here for four years; I think it's as high as it has ever been."
The energy that Mathews praised is tangible. Everyone inside the program expects to win games. Welcoming 16 new players into a team with high expectations can present growing pains, but the assimilation has been tremendous.
"Coming into this year there were a lot of new faces," said Pellerin, "but after the fall and now the spring we have really grown together as one collective unit."
The team has quickly become a tight-knit group in the clubhouse, and the bonding doesn't stop there.
"We pretty much hang out with each other 24-7," said Haskin. "Whether it's at the field or at home, we are always together. We have been able to build some pretty close relationships."
The key for Tulane is to turn those close relationships off the field into success between the lines. Redshirt senior infielder Jonathon Artigues highlighted the responsibility of the older players in helping the younger guys improve each and every day.
"The most important thing is just staying focused day to day, understanding the importance of each day, understanding the importance of practice," said Artigues. "I think we have a lot of guys with a lot of experience working with the new guys. It's a good mesh."
With new and experienced players coming together harmoniously, everyone inside the program shares the same goal: To play past the regular season and make noise in regionals.
"We want to play in the postseason," said Haskin. "That's why you get up early for lifts, why you stay after practice. I'm excited to win and be successful as a team, I'm excited about this group of guys and I think that we have everything we need to win games."
Mathews spoke with confidence much akin to Jewett's. He and his team believe that with hard work and a little luck, this could be a year to remember.
"No doubt, we can do it," said Mathews. "We definitely have the talent, it's just a matter of putting it out there. But I believe that we will, for sure."
Tulane Strategic Communications
With only a week until the season officially gets underway, Tulane baseball coach Travis Jewett and the Tulane Green Wave baseball team have high expectations and aspirations to play beyond the regular season in 2020. Coming off a 32-26 season and a third-place finish in the American Athletic Conference, the Green Wave team emanates confidence and an eagerness to play meaningful games.
Tulane saw seven players exit the program through the MLB draft and free agent signings in 2019, including 25th overall pick Kody Hoese. Despite the talent the program, Coach Jewett and his players expect to take a step forward in 2020.
"Let me stand here in front of you and tell you that the cupboard is certainly not bare," Jewett said. "We returned 363 hits, that's a lot. 76 doubles, 15 triples, 42 homers, 238 RBI and a .309 batting average."
On top of the returning talent, Tulane has welcomed 16 new faces into the team, comprised of 10 junior college transfers and six high school recruits. With two catchers, one infielder, five right-handed pitchers and two left-handed pitchers entering the fray, the level of competition for each position is intense.
"Like coach always says, internal competition is what brings you to those big games and we have a lot of that this year," said senior right-hander Keagan Gillies.
Much of the attention heading into the 2020 season has been on the revamped pitching staff. Gillies has been excited since the end of last year.
"In the fall we had our Fall World Series at the end and there were not many games where the pitching staff gave up more than three or four runs," Gillies said. "Which is a testament to us because our hitters are pretty incredible."
At the back end of the pitching staff, junior closer Connor Pellerin echoed similar sentiments.
"It's no secret that we were kind of struggling on the mound and I think that bringing in these new junior college transfers and some freshmen is really going to help us out on the mound," said Pellerin.
While there is a newfound confidence amongst the pitchers, the offense believes it can make life even easier for the staff.
Sophomore outfielder Hudson Haskin enjoyed a 2019 season full of accolades, but he doesn't put too much pressure on himself to replace the talent lost to the major leagues.
"This year the offense is deep, we are multifaceted, and we can beat you in a lot of different ways," Haskin said. "The guys that we had last year are a year improved."
Senior infielder Grant Mathews, who drove in more runs last season than any returning player, is thrilled with what he sees.
"Inside the team we feel more well-rounded overall," said Mathews. "The energy is about as high as it has been. I've been here for four years; I think it's as high as it has ever been."
The energy that Mathews praised is tangible. Everyone inside the program expects to win games. Welcoming 16 new players into a team with high expectations can present growing pains, but the assimilation has been tremendous.
"Coming into this year there were a lot of new faces," said Pellerin, "but after the fall and now the spring we have really grown together as one collective unit."
The team has quickly become a tight-knit group in the clubhouse, and the bonding doesn't stop there.
"We pretty much hang out with each other 24-7," said Haskin. "Whether it's at the field or at home, we are always together. We have been able to build some pretty close relationships."
The key for Tulane is to turn those close relationships off the field into success between the lines. Redshirt senior infielder Jonathon Artigues highlighted the responsibility of the older players in helping the younger guys improve each and every day.
"The most important thing is just staying focused day to day, understanding the importance of each day, understanding the importance of practice," said Artigues. "I think we have a lot of guys with a lot of experience working with the new guys. It's a good mesh."
With new and experienced players coming together harmoniously, everyone inside the program shares the same goal: To play past the regular season and make noise in regionals.
"We want to play in the postseason," said Haskin. "That's why you get up early for lifts, why you stay after practice. I'm excited to win and be successful as a team, I'm excited about this group of guys and I think that we have everything we need to win games."
Mathews spoke with confidence much akin to Jewett's. He and his team believe that with hard work and a little luck, this could be a year to remember.
"No doubt, we can do it," said Mathews. "We definitely have the talent, it's just a matter of putting it out there. But I believe that we will, for sure."
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