Photo by: Niamh Brennan
It All Starts with Pitching
Feb 17, 2021 | Baseball
NEW ORLEANS – Tulane baseball head coach Travis Jewett knows that the key to winning begins with the brown circle in the middle of the diamond. It's all about pitching.
Fortunately for Tulane, the Green Wave have plenty of arms in their arsenal which has contributed to the high expectations in Uptown this season. Tulane opens the year by returning all three of its starters from its weekend rotation last season in the form of Braden Olthoff, Jack Aldrich and Donovan Benoit.
"In baseball with the limited scholarships, you have to identify where the money belongs and where the strengths start from," Jewett said. "The strength starts at the pitching mound. We really feel like over the course of time that it does. We have been able to realize where we need to be strong. We feel like we are in a spot now where it needs to be."
The Green Wave trio of Olthoff, Aldrich and Benoit combined for an 8-0 win-loss record, posted a 1.89 earned run average, logged 66.2 innings, struck out 83 and held opponents to a .181 batting average last season.
Tulane also welcomes back closer Keagan Gillies after he tallied a team-best four saves in 2020.
"That experience was so valuable for them and it gave them a chance to catch their breath over the summer, evaluate themselves and find a way to come back better," pitching coach Daniel Latham said. "So few times do you get your entire weekend rotation, your closer and some of your main bullpen pieces all back for the next year."
In addition to returning their starting rotation, the Green Wave also welcome back left-handed reliever Justin Campbell (3.00 ERA, 6.0 IP) and right-handed pitchers Adam Grintz (0.00 ERA, 2.0 IP). Trent Johnson (4.70 ERA, 7.2 IP), Bryce Mackey (0.00 ERA, 2.0 IP), Robert Price (6.23 ERA, 4.1 IP), Clifton Slagel (3.46 ERA, 13.0 IP) and C.J. Whelan (0.00 ERA, 0.1 IP).
"I think this group has a chance to have a little bit of depth," Latham said. "Obviously we have some proven guys, but we also have some new guys coming in that I think can contribute early on and that we need have contribute early on. Some of the guys that we identified to maybe fill some of the roles left behind that we thought would be gone now might be in a little bit of a different role."
The pitching staff's depth stems from an offseason recruiting campaign that focused on filling the void left by players who were considering leaving following the 2020 season. However with a large majority of the pitching staff returning for 2021, Latham has a group that will provide something all coaches covet. Competition.
"We weren't going to give anybody anything this year just because they did it last year," Latham said. "They were going to have to compete for their job again and earn it again. We challenged them on that end to where we said, 'Yeah you guys did something last year, but you haven't done it for a full season yet. Can you come back better than you were last year?' I think all of those guys really took that challenge and ran with it. I'm super proud with how our guys came back and how they responded and that goes for that bullpen guys too that returned from last year. I just think across the board our guys committed to getting a year better as pitchers. I'm excited to see how that is going to play out."
In addition to the returners, Tulane also added RHP Aaron Ball, RHP Zach DeVito, RHP Tyler Hoffman, LHP Keaton Knueppel, RHP Blake Mahmood, RHP Jack McDonald, RHP Kennedy Norton and RHP Camryn Szynski, RHP Lane Thomas, RHP Turner Thompson and LHP Brian Valigosky to its 2021 roster.
"We are excited about our young guys, our junior college transfers and our grad transfer guys. I think they give us a chance to have a well-rounded staff," Latham said.
"I think what we got at this point is a bunch of guys that have been in this system for a long time. They know what the expectations are and they know what daily preparation looks like. Our veterans that have been so well versed in our program have really helped some of the new guys transition a little better because they have become extensions of our coaching staff. There are going to be things that I miss so I need our veterans holding themselves and their teammates to a high standard even when a coach is not there to watch."
DOWNLOAD THE APP
Download the official mobile app of Tulane Athletics. Now, you can stay in touch with the Green Wave anytime and anywhere on your Android or iOS mobile device.
FOLLOW ON SOCIAL MEDIA
For behind-the-scenes coverage, follow Tulane baseball (@GreenWaveBSB) on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
SUPPORT TULANE BASEBALL THROUGH THE GREEN WAVE CLUB
Tulane baseball's tradition of SLAPPING THE WALL following each Green Wave win has generated significant momentum within the program in recent years and we want you to join in the excitement. This season, Tulane Athletics invites fans to join in the momentum with your pledge to the Green Wave Club. For more information, visit GreenWaveClub.com.
WE ARE NOLA BUILT
Tulane University is located in the city of New Orleans. It is a city built on tradition and resiliency. The lessons Green Wave student-athletes have learned through their connection with this university and city have BUILT doctors, lawyers, business leaders, conference champions, all-conference players, All-Americans, professional athletes and NCAA tournament teams. The city of New Orleans has shaped us into who we are today. We are One City. We are Tulane. We are NOLA BUILT. Check out our story at NolaBuilt.com.
Fortunately for Tulane, the Green Wave have plenty of arms in their arsenal which has contributed to the high expectations in Uptown this season. Tulane opens the year by returning all three of its starters from its weekend rotation last season in the form of Braden Olthoff, Jack Aldrich and Donovan Benoit.
"In baseball with the limited scholarships, you have to identify where the money belongs and where the strengths start from," Jewett said. "The strength starts at the pitching mound. We really feel like over the course of time that it does. We have been able to realize where we need to be strong. We feel like we are in a spot now where it needs to be."
The Green Wave trio of Olthoff, Aldrich and Benoit combined for an 8-0 win-loss record, posted a 1.89 earned run average, logged 66.2 innings, struck out 83 and held opponents to a .181 batting average last season.
Tulane also welcomes back closer Keagan Gillies after he tallied a team-best four saves in 2020.
"That experience was so valuable for them and it gave them a chance to catch their breath over the summer, evaluate themselves and find a way to come back better," pitching coach Daniel Latham said. "So few times do you get your entire weekend rotation, your closer and some of your main bullpen pieces all back for the next year."
In addition to returning their starting rotation, the Green Wave also welcome back left-handed reliever Justin Campbell (3.00 ERA, 6.0 IP) and right-handed pitchers Adam Grintz (0.00 ERA, 2.0 IP). Trent Johnson (4.70 ERA, 7.2 IP), Bryce Mackey (0.00 ERA, 2.0 IP), Robert Price (6.23 ERA, 4.1 IP), Clifton Slagel (3.46 ERA, 13.0 IP) and C.J. Whelan (0.00 ERA, 0.1 IP).
"I think this group has a chance to have a little bit of depth," Latham said. "Obviously we have some proven guys, but we also have some new guys coming in that I think can contribute early on and that we need have contribute early on. Some of the guys that we identified to maybe fill some of the roles left behind that we thought would be gone now might be in a little bit of a different role."
The pitching staff's depth stems from an offseason recruiting campaign that focused on filling the void left by players who were considering leaving following the 2020 season. However with a large majority of the pitching staff returning for 2021, Latham has a group that will provide something all coaches covet. Competition.
"We weren't going to give anybody anything this year just because they did it last year," Latham said. "They were going to have to compete for their job again and earn it again. We challenged them on that end to where we said, 'Yeah you guys did something last year, but you haven't done it for a full season yet. Can you come back better than you were last year?' I think all of those guys really took that challenge and ran with it. I'm super proud with how our guys came back and how they responded and that goes for that bullpen guys too that returned from last year. I just think across the board our guys committed to getting a year better as pitchers. I'm excited to see how that is going to play out."
In addition to the returners, Tulane also added RHP Aaron Ball, RHP Zach DeVito, RHP Tyler Hoffman, LHP Keaton Knueppel, RHP Blake Mahmood, RHP Jack McDonald, RHP Kennedy Norton and RHP Camryn Szynski, RHP Lane Thomas, RHP Turner Thompson and LHP Brian Valigosky to its 2021 roster.
"We are excited about our young guys, our junior college transfers and our grad transfer guys. I think they give us a chance to have a well-rounded staff," Latham said.
"I think what we got at this point is a bunch of guys that have been in this system for a long time. They know what the expectations are and they know what daily preparation looks like. Our veterans that have been so well versed in our program have really helped some of the new guys transition a little better because they have become extensions of our coaching staff. There are going to be things that I miss so I need our veterans holding themselves and their teammates to a high standard even when a coach is not there to watch."
DOWNLOAD THE APP
Download the official mobile app of Tulane Athletics. Now, you can stay in touch with the Green Wave anytime and anywhere on your Android or iOS mobile device.
FOLLOW ON SOCIAL MEDIA
For behind-the-scenes coverage, follow Tulane baseball (@GreenWaveBSB) on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
SUPPORT TULANE BASEBALL THROUGH THE GREEN WAVE CLUB
Tulane baseball's tradition of SLAPPING THE WALL following each Green Wave win has generated significant momentum within the program in recent years and we want you to join in the excitement. This season, Tulane Athletics invites fans to join in the momentum with your pledge to the Green Wave Club. For more information, visit GreenWaveClub.com.
WE ARE NOLA BUILT
Tulane University is located in the city of New Orleans. It is a city built on tradition and resiliency. The lessons Green Wave student-athletes have learned through their connection with this university and city have BUILT doctors, lawyers, business leaders, conference champions, all-conference players, All-Americans, professional athletes and NCAA tournament teams. The city of New Orleans has shaped us into who we are today. We are One City. We are Tulane. We are NOLA BUILT. Check out our story at NolaBuilt.com.
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