Before the season:
Spencer Jones (LHP):
I don't think people realize that Spencer Jones was not only the #31 overall player in his class but also the #2 overall left-handed pitcher. He's most known for a low to mid 90s fastball, (potentially more velo as he's filled out) and a good curveball. He had Tommy John in June of 2020 so he should be ready to pitch this season. He's at the least a solid bullpen arm who they will most likely work in really slowly
Michael Doolin (RHP):
He was the third highest-rated of our pitchers in the 2019 class behind Jones and Leiter and came in as the #98 overall player. He throws low 90s and has some nice off-speed stuff two but is mostly known for his command. In 2020, he had 5 appearances for a total of 10.1 innings, with an Era of 0.87, and had 18 strikeouts to 4 walks
He had Tommy John last March of 2021 and he's said he's on track to be back in late January to February. If so, they'll likely ease him in but he's a likely bet to be one of the 4 starters next season
Brett Hansen (LHP):
@DoreFan 's favorite player was likely just held out this season to have a year of practice to get back into baseball after a 3 year Mormon mission. Like Doolin, he was our third highest-ranked pitcher in the 2019 class and was also ranked #98 overall. His perfect game profile describes him as a good strike thrower of all his pitches, including 4 seam with up to low 90s Velo, cutter, curve, and changeup. It's an odd situation but based on how highly touted he was in high school he's definitely a guy who could be a really solid long relief guy at the least
Ryan Stefiuk (LHP):
I haven't heard anything about him being hurt, but it's noticeable that he was the only freshman who did not pitch considering he was our 4th highest rated at 147 in the 2020 class (Grayson Moore was listed as an outfielder). Stefiuk "really knows how to pitch" according to perfect game, with a fastball that top out around 91 but could get more out of it and also has a nice curve and changeup, plus has a "feel for mixing pitches and deception. Really don't know what to think here considering he didn't pitch this season.
In summary we had 3 lefties on the roster who are all better than Hunter Owen. Those 3 plus Berkwich should give us a nice stable of lefties in the pen
During the season:
Ethan Smith:
Ah yes, the mystery man himself. He did eventually come back from everything but was clearly not the same pitcher. But in 2020 when he didn't have any injuries, he was really really good. He started 4 games and appeared in another, throwing 19 innings and having a solid 1.42 era and 23 strikeouts to 9 walks. He was even one of our better bullpen arms as a freshman in 2019, throwing 33 innings over 17 appearances with a solid 3.27 era, striking out 47 and walking 17. Ethan has a body of work that speaks for itself. He should be back next year, and if he is, he's an obvious candidate to be one of the 4 starters.
Sam Hliboki:
Another stud reliever we lost during the season. Sam was basically Kevin Kopps level as a freshman. Over 15.2 innings in 5 appearances, Hliboki did not allow a single run, and struck out 16 only walking two. He was not as good this year, because that statline would be impossible to replicate, but we was still very good out of the pen. He pitched 20 innings in 9 appearances including 1 start, where he had a very good 2.70 era, striking out 20 and only walking 4. Like with Ethan Smith, he probably would have made a solid 3rd starter this past season had he not gotten hurt. Unfortunatlely he had Tommy John in May so at best he would be back in March. If so, he's still probably a candidate to start, or at least continuing being the solid 3 inning bullpen ace that he has been
Miles Garrett:
Garrett was actually our 2nd highest rated pitcher behind Christian Little, coming in at #126 overall. He was a very consistent bullpen arm right away and brought a competitive mentality that we despretaly could have used on the field at the end of this season. Garrett was great in his short relief stints, with 9.2 innings of 2.79 era ball over 9 appearances. He also struck out 8 and only walked two. He was definitly on track to being an important relief arm to use for a couple of innings per weekend series. His injury was shoulder related and I don't think much is known publicly about it, but I would hope he'll be ready to go for next season. He'll at the least be a short relief guy for a couple innings like he was this past year, though his perfect game profile mentions he has a "long history of performance and maintaining his stuff deep into games" so maybe he could be a long relief type guy too.
The amazing thing is that you could almost make a decent staff out of all the players they lost
SP1: Ethan Smith
SP2: Michael Doolin
SP3: Sam Hliboki
Long relief: Miles Garrett, Brett Hansen
Short: Ryan Stefuik
Closer: Spencer Jones
You throw in these guys, plus McIlvain, Little, Reily, Berkwich, and the fact that they have 6 pitchers committed with a 10 grade (highest grade perfect game gives) and with hopefully at least three of those guys making it to campus, you could have a very deep staff next year.
Spencer Jones (LHP):
I don't think people realize that Spencer Jones was not only the #31 overall player in his class but also the #2 overall left-handed pitcher. He's most known for a low to mid 90s fastball, (potentially more velo as he's filled out) and a good curveball. He had Tommy John in June of 2020 so he should be ready to pitch this season. He's at the least a solid bullpen arm who they will most likely work in really slowly
Michael Doolin (RHP):
He was the third highest-rated of our pitchers in the 2019 class behind Jones and Leiter and came in as the #98 overall player. He throws low 90s and has some nice off-speed stuff two but is mostly known for his command. In 2020, he had 5 appearances for a total of 10.1 innings, with an Era of 0.87, and had 18 strikeouts to 4 walks
He had Tommy John last March of 2021 and he's said he's on track to be back in late January to February. If so, they'll likely ease him in but he's a likely bet to be one of the 4 starters next season
Brett Hansen (LHP):
@DoreFan 's favorite player was likely just held out this season to have a year of practice to get back into baseball after a 3 year Mormon mission. Like Doolin, he was our third highest-ranked pitcher in the 2019 class and was also ranked #98 overall. His perfect game profile describes him as a good strike thrower of all his pitches, including 4 seam with up to low 90s Velo, cutter, curve, and changeup. It's an odd situation but based on how highly touted he was in high school he's definitely a guy who could be a really solid long relief guy at the least
Ryan Stefiuk (LHP):
I haven't heard anything about him being hurt, but it's noticeable that he was the only freshman who did not pitch considering he was our 4th highest rated at 147 in the 2020 class (Grayson Moore was listed as an outfielder). Stefiuk "really knows how to pitch" according to perfect game, with a fastball that top out around 91 but could get more out of it and also has a nice curve and changeup, plus has a "feel for mixing pitches and deception. Really don't know what to think here considering he didn't pitch this season.
In summary we had 3 lefties on the roster who are all better than Hunter Owen. Those 3 plus Berkwich should give us a nice stable of lefties in the pen
During the season:
Ethan Smith:
Ah yes, the mystery man himself. He did eventually come back from everything but was clearly not the same pitcher. But in 2020 when he didn't have any injuries, he was really really good. He started 4 games and appeared in another, throwing 19 innings and having a solid 1.42 era and 23 strikeouts to 9 walks. He was even one of our better bullpen arms as a freshman in 2019, throwing 33 innings over 17 appearances with a solid 3.27 era, striking out 47 and walking 17. Ethan has a body of work that speaks for itself. He should be back next year, and if he is, he's an obvious candidate to be one of the 4 starters.
Sam Hliboki:
Another stud reliever we lost during the season. Sam was basically Kevin Kopps level as a freshman. Over 15.2 innings in 5 appearances, Hliboki did not allow a single run, and struck out 16 only walking two. He was not as good this year, because that statline would be impossible to replicate, but we was still very good out of the pen. He pitched 20 innings in 9 appearances including 1 start, where he had a very good 2.70 era, striking out 20 and only walking 4. Like with Ethan Smith, he probably would have made a solid 3rd starter this past season had he not gotten hurt. Unfortunatlely he had Tommy John in May so at best he would be back in March. If so, he's still probably a candidate to start, or at least continuing being the solid 3 inning bullpen ace that he has been
Miles Garrett:
Garrett was actually our 2nd highest rated pitcher behind Christian Little, coming in at #126 overall. He was a very consistent bullpen arm right away and brought a competitive mentality that we despretaly could have used on the field at the end of this season. Garrett was great in his short relief stints, with 9.2 innings of 2.79 era ball over 9 appearances. He also struck out 8 and only walked two. He was definitly on track to being an important relief arm to use for a couple of innings per weekend series. His injury was shoulder related and I don't think much is known publicly about it, but I would hope he'll be ready to go for next season. He'll at the least be a short relief guy for a couple innings like he was this past year, though his perfect game profile mentions he has a "long history of performance and maintaining his stuff deep into games" so maybe he could be a long relief type guy too.
The amazing thing is that you could almost make a decent staff out of all the players they lost
SP1: Ethan Smith
SP2: Michael Doolin
SP3: Sam Hliboki
Long relief: Miles Garrett, Brett Hansen
Short: Ryan Stefuik
Closer: Spencer Jones
You throw in these guys, plus McIlvain, Little, Reily, Berkwich, and the fact that they have 6 pitchers committed with a 10 grade (highest grade perfect game gives) and with hopefully at least three of those guys making it to campus, you could have a very deep staff next year.
