Completed Event: Baseball versus (2) Georgia Tech on May 31, 2026 , Win , 15, to, 8
Final
Baseball
15
vs (2) Georgia Tech
8
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University of Oklahoma Athletics
Young Arms Expected to Carry Their Share
October 26, 2015 | Baseball
| New Pitchers | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Name | Class |
| RHP | Chris Andritsos | Fr. |
| RHP | Connor Berry | Fr. |
| RHP | Alex Daniele | Jr. |
| RHP | Dylan Grove | Fr. |
| RHP | Austin Hansen | Fr. |
| RHP | Jake Irvin | Fr. |
| LHP | Austin Kerns | Jr. |
| RHP | Ryan Madden | Fr. |
| RHP | JB Olson | Jr. |
| RHP | Kyle Tyler | Fr. |
| RHP | Joey Zurawick | Jr. |
Pitching dictates a ball game. The player on the mound at the start of the game has been entrusted by his coaches and teammates to set the tone, to execute a game plan and with each out deeper he makes it in the game the greater the chances of victory for his side at the end of the day.
Since head coach Pete Hughes and pitching coach Jamie Pinzino embarked on their first season at Oklahoma in the spring of 2014, each year has been nothing like the last. Upon their arrival, the Sooners returned just 41% of innings pitched for 2014 and only five starts in Big 12 conference play. Last season, those numbers grew to 74% of innings and 23 starts. After the nation's largest MLB draft class departed for the minor leagues in June, the numbers are back down to 42% of innings and 16 starts.
The difference in returning starts from 2015 to 2016 is only seven, but the margin is actually much smaller. Last season's number was a culmination of five different pitchers, two of which would work primarily out of the bullpen in 2015. This season, Oklahoma's 16 returning starts from Big 12 play represent the rotation's workhorses; Alec Hansen and Jake Elliott. The two junior right-handed pitchers each earned All-Big 12 Honorable Mention a year ago and enter the season as the anticipated Friday and Saturday starters on the weekend for the Sooners. Hansen and Elliott account for 74% of Oklahoma's returning innings pitched.
The Sooners welcomed 11 new pitchers as a part of its 2015 recruiting class that landed on campus back in August. That group will be counted on immediately to step up for key starts on the weekend and in the midweek as well as bolster the OU bullpen.
"To get the quality of a person and the loyalty that each of them exemplified to come here and be a part of our mission and our goals is the best part of that class."
Pete Hughes, Head Coach
“A team loses as much as we did on the mound to the draft, these guys better be ready to go,” Hughes said of his new stock of pitchers. "We try to talk to them about that every day. That way it's a smooth transition and we can get the growing pains out of the way in the fall.”
Among the 11 pitchers, there are two state Gatorade Players of the Year, two All-Americans and two MLB draft picks. Right-handers Ryan Madden, the Colorado Gatorade Player of the Year, and Jake Irvin, the only high school player drafted out of Minnesota, were taken in the 35th and 37th rounds, respectively. Fellow right-handers Chris Andritsos and Kyle Tyler, the Oklahoma Gatorade Player of the Year, each earned Louisville Slugger All-America recognition and went undrafted due to their intention to attend OU.
“To get the quality of a person and the loyalty that each of them exemplified to come here and be a part of our mission and our goals is the best part of that class,” stated Hughes. “As far as depth, I don't think I've ever had a class this deep show up on campus.”
Seven new pitchers come to OU from the high school ranks, while four enter from junior college. Rounding out the high school group are RHP Connor Berry, RHP Dylan Grove and RHP Austin Hansen.
“It speaks to our staff and their recruiting efforts and how hard-working and talented they are to get that group of guys on our campus and to fight the draft and still get them here,” continued Hughes. “This class shows me that our staff is one of the best around and also tells me that these kids are loyal to this program and want to be a part of it. That's why they didn't sign [professionally].”
Conner Berry (above) pitched 5.1 innings of one-run ball as he scattered four hits in a start at game three of Oklahoma's Fall World Series on October 14.
Irvin looks the part of an Oklahoma starter; standing at 6-foot-5. In 2015, the Sooners opened their first Big 12 series with all three starting pitchers standing 6-foot-6 or taller. Irvin and 6-foot local product Tyler, out of Westmoore High School, each got a chance to showcase his starter-skillset with a start on the mound in the fall world series. Madden, a 6-foot-3 switch-hitter, and Andritsos, a 6-foot-4 right-handed bat, have also shown the ability to produce at the plate and handle a glove at first base.
All seven have seen live-game action in the fall, including an exhibition against the Ontario Blue Jays and a three-game, intra-squad fall world series to end fall ball in mid-October.
“When you get a different color jersey you're throwing at or you get a decent crowd in the stands, it creates some adrenaline, anxiety and gets the competitive juices going. It can speed up on freshman, but it was a good test and why we wanted to throw our new guys,” Hughes said of their performance against OBJ.
"It speaks to our staff and their recruiting efforts and how hard-working and talented they are to get that group of guys on our campus and to fight the draft and still get them here."
Pete Hughes, Head Coach
Irvin was the first of five freshmen pitchers to throw against the Blue Jays back on September 27. He faced the minimum in two innings after picking off a baserunner that led off the game with a single. He struck out three, which was matched by Berry, who struck out the side in the third, and Tyler.
“I thought they all handled it pretty well,” estimated Hughes. “It was important to do that, and see what they can do, because our young guys are going to factor in so much to our pitching this year.”
Joining the seven freshmen are junior college transfers; RHP Alex Daniele, LHP Austin Kerns, RHP JB Olson and RHP Joey Zurawik.
During the fall world series, Berry pitched 5.3 innings in a no-decision; the most innings among any newcoming pitcher. He scattered four hits and a walk on just 67 pitches. Kerns represented the JuCo transfers will a 4.1-inning start. He allowed just one run one two hits and struck out four in a no-decision.
The goal for Hughes and Pinzino is to have their entire pitching staff “Big 12-ready”. The first Big 12 series of the season is at Texas Tech, March 25-27. Prior to that, Oklahoma will play 22 non-conference games, including match-ups with UCLA, USC, Mississippi State, Long Beach State and Oral Roberts, to prepare for eight-consecutive weekends against Big 12 competition.
“I say they're all pretty close. They're ready to do it,” Hughes assessed of the entire class. “A large part of it, is determining, mentally, where they are at and the goals they have set for themselves. I would say, pretty much everyone in this class is determined to give us quality innings in Big 12 play, which is great. Now you've got to go execute, but that's the hardest part. They've got to be prepared mentally to think, 'hey, I'm going to have a role here and it's going to happen now'. I think most of those guys are there and that's why we brought them in.”
The last piece of the puzzle will be figuring out who fits what role and when to best use them. Beyond Hansen and Elliott anchoring the weekend rotation, every role is up for competition. Junior Sheldon Neuse, the Sooners' starting shortstop, returns as a serious contender to hold down the closer role. A 6-foot-1 right-hander that throws in the high-90s, Neuse went 1-1 with one save and a 1.12 earned run average in six appearances last season. Also returning to the staff is senior right-hander Keaton Hernandez, who totaled 35 innings and 20 strikeouts with a 3.86 ERA. Hernandez worked ideally in a middle- and long-relief role in his first season with the Sooners in 2015. He also made one midweek start and has shown the capability to be a serious innings-eater for Oklahoma.
“We're looking for a third and fourth starter plus a reliable seventh and eighth inning guy as well as a closer. Sheldon is always there too. I think those roles are going to become more-and-more clear when we get into the preseason. This fall, we wanted to stretch everybody out and see what they can do. There are a whole lot of different pieces to this puzzle that we've got to put together by February and I'm excited about it.”
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