Baseball Season Preview: Pitching staff poised for excellent season
SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University baseball team opens the 2016 season against Army in Cary, N.C., on Friday Feb. 19. BryantBulldogs.com will take an in-depth look at the club over the next week, previewing the catchers, infielders, outfielders and pitchers.
Bryant has heavily relied on its pitching staff over the years but the staff struggled a bit in 2015, posting an ERA nearly two runs greater than 2014 and over 200 walks for the first time in nearly 20 years. With the loss of just three seniors, however, the Bulldogs' pitching staff has the pieces to return to their formidable form in 2016.
"We think our pitching staff will be improved from last year and we are excited about how it will unfold over the first 3-to-4 weeks of the season," head coach Steve Owens said. "Going into the season, we have a group of established starters that we are confident in and we are looking forward to piecing together the other important roles of long, middle and short relief."
The Bulldogs will have a bona fide No. 1 starter on Friday in the form of sophomore right-hander James Karinchak (Walden, N.Y.). The 2015 Northeast Conference Rookie of the Year and a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American, Karinchak was dominant in his first season for the Black and Gold, leading the league in wins (8), strikeouts (74) and complete games (6). He went 8-5 with a 3.24 ERA in 14 appearances, 11 starts, and posted a league-leading three shutouts on the season. Karinchak's eight wins are the second-most by a freshman in Bryant DI history, while his six complete games were tied for the most in a single season in program history.
"James is a true Friday guy who gives us a chance to compete with a front-line opponent on the mound every week," Owens said. "He has worked extremely hard in the offseason and has the combination of a great mentality to go along with really good stuff. We are looking for James to set the tone on Friday and to also help the other pitchers as the weekend progresses."
Bryant's No. 2 starter will be senior James Davitt (Wallingford, Conn.). The Bulldogs' most utilized reliever a year ago, Davitt will be tasked with making the transition into the starting rotation. He made a team-high 22 appearances in 2015, including 14 of Bryant's final 27 games. He went 3-1 with four saves and a 2.63 ERA in 27 1/3 innings over that stretch and finished the year with 35 strikeouts and just 15 walks in 43 2/3 innings. Davitt enters the season with 34 career appearances but just one start.
"Jimmy emerged last year and showed us what type of competitor he could be," Owens said. "With his really good 3-pitch mix, plus command and ability to control the running game, Jimmy has an excellent opportunity to be very successful."
Junior Brandon Bingel (Peabody, Mass.) will be Bryant's Sunday starter and everyday DH this season after posting impressive numbers both on the mound and at the plate in 2015. On the mound, Bingel went 5-2 with a team-leading 3.23 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 47 1/3 innings. He posted an 8.68 ERA in six relief appearances before going 5-1 with a 1.89 ERA in six starts. At the plate, Bingel hit .317 with eight doubles, four triples and seven home runs, becoming the first player in program history to lead the team in home runs and ERA. He finished with 31 RBI and 39 runs scored in 53 games.
"We moved Bing into a starting role at the middle of last season and he immediately gave us an opportunity to win every single time out," Owens said. "He has a great pitch-to-pitch mentality, is an excellent athlete and we are excited about his maturation as a pitcher."
The Black and Gold's fourth starter on opening weekend will be freshman Steve Theetge (Cicero, N.Y.). A big, strong left-hander, Theetge enjoyed an outstanding career at Cicero North, going 7-2 with a 1.23 ERA and 88 strikeouts in just 62 innings pitched as a senior.
"We look for Steve to compliment the three righty's and give opponents a different look on the weekend," Owens said. "He's a guy we feel can stay strong deep into games even as a young pitcher."
Bryant will also look to redshirt junior Garrison Banas (Hadley, Mass.) to compete for a starting role during the mid-week games. Banas had to sit out last season after transferring from Stetson but has impressed the coaching staff in the fall and winter. He appeared in 16 games over his two years with the Hatters.
"Garrison is conditioned to be a starter and we are hoping for him to take over the mid-week starter role," Owens said. "He has good velocity, an excellent breaking ball, is very athletic and we are confident and rooting for him to have a great season."
The Bulldog bullpen has the pieces to be special and the Bryant coaches will use the first weeks of the season to solidify the roles. Sophomore left-handers Justin Snyder (Georgetown, Mass.) and Logan Lessard (Cromwell, Mass.) return after successful rookie seasons and are the early favorites at the backend of games. Snyder went 2-4 with a 5.45 ERA in 18 appearances and 34 2/3 innings as a freshman, while Lessard was 1-1 with two saves and a 5.23 ERA in 15 appearances before missing the final month of the season with an injury.
"Justin is very confident, has really good movement and has a lot of experience for a young pitcher," Owens said. "We are looking to him to become very consistent this spring."
"Logan's a hard-thrower and his unique arm slot makes him difficult to hit," Owens added.
Graduate student Garrett Hayward (Glendale, R.I.) and sophomore Matt Knych (Manville, R.I.) round out Bryant's left-handed options out of the bullpen. Hayward, a daunting 6-foot-7, joins the Bulldogs after spending his undergraduate career at Duke, appearing in 12 games over his three seasons with the Blue Devils. He went 18-1 in his high school career at Mount St. Charles Academy and was a two-time ACC Academic Honor Roll selection at Duke. Knych joined the team as a walk-on last season after battling back from Tommy John surgery.
"Garrett has a fresh arm and we look to utilize him in short periods in a lot of games this season," Owens said. "Matt has really come on of late, has shown excellent tempo, great command and will be utilized in situations throughout the year."
The Bulldogs will also have a great deal of righties to go to out of the bullpen this spring. That group will consist of a senior, a redshirt junior, two sophomores and four freshmen. Michael Marshall (Maynard, Mass.), who has an excellent changeup, is the lone senior in the group and is looking to rebound from an injury-riddled season in 2015. Oliver Powers (Newtown, Conn.), a Radford transfer, will be eligible to play after sitting out last season due to NCAA transfer rules and enters the season in great shape and could be called on in the middle innings.
Ross Weiner (Woodbridge, Conn.) and Ryan Johnson (East Falmouth, Mass.) both earned valuable experience as freshmen last year and could make an impact this season as well. Weiner emerged at the end of last season, earning the starting nod in the NEC Championship game. He went 0-1 with a 5.29 ERA in 34 innings and Johnson posted a 4.61 ERA in 13 2/3 innings.
"Ross has the best breaking ball in the bullpen but we are challenging him to improve his command," Owens said. "RJ is a hard-throwing righty that is working extremely hard and has the potential to be a big-time arm with improved consistency."
Bryant's freshmen class features some big arms that the Black and Gold are looking to have an impact early on in their careers. Mason Palmieri (Lincoln, R.I.) and Nathan Wrighter (Windsor, N.Y.) bring a size factor, standing 6-5 and 6-7, respectively. Palmieri was a four-year starter at nearby Lincoln, while Wrighter posted a 1.21 ERA as a senior at Windsor Central. Craig Lacey (Westfield, Mass.) has also impressed with his loose arm, easy mechanics and his sinking fastball that reminds many of former Bulldog Kevin McAvoy. Jack Owens (Scituate, R.I.) wraps up the class and has recently dropped his arm slot to a side arm look and the delivery has increased the velocity and movement of his fastball and slider.