Hot Stove: Pitching Staff Reloads for 2017

NORMAN, Okla. – University of Oklahoma baseball pitchers have begun to go beyond mechanics and into the process of first-year pitching coach Skip Johnson. Brought on by head coach Pete Hughes over the summer after 10 years in Austin, Johnson got his first opportunity to work with Sooner pitchers this fall.

The 2017 Oklahoma pitching staff returns 17 total wins from a year ago and a collective 3.65 earned run average for a full staff that posted a 4.41 ERA in 2016. However, the eight returning Sooner pitchers accounted for just 46% of the total strikeouts and 49% of all inning pitched. That leaves room for OU's latest class to fill out the rest of the rotation and bullpen spots going forward.

#26 | Vincenzo Aiello | Gr. | Staten Island, N.Y.

Aiello, a graduate transfer from Rider, a Division I school from the MAAC, appeared in 52 games, including 19 starts for the Broncs over the last four years. Originally from Tottenville High School in New York, he was a two-time All-Star in the New England Collegiate Baseball League over the summer with the Plymouth Pilgrim in 2014 and 2016. A starter in 2016, his fastball velocity and wipeout slider have Aiello headed toward the back-end of the bullpen. He'll compete for crucial, late-inning outs with returning setup man JB Olson.

Hughes on Aiello:

“Vinny is a mature veteran kid, who has thrown a lot of innings at the Division I level. We expect a lot out of him. We saw what we expected, so that just needs to transfer in the spring. It's a power arm with the command of a slider and a veteran presence on the mound. He did show that. He's going to be in the back end of our bullpen. If we use him in the right spots and the right ways, he's going to have a really good year for us in this league.”

Johnson on Aiello:

“You can look at all the numbers, but he's also new. The longer we can keep him in the process of just throwing to the mitt, we've got a good chance for him to grow. I think Vinny is a sprinter. He's a back-end of a bullpen guy because he's got a power breaking ball that he can throw for strikes. If we can put him situations where he can succeed in the seventh of eighth innings, then he might take off.”

#42 | Braidyn Fink | Fr. | Moore, Okla.

A local product, Fink played his prep ball at Westmoore High School, where he helped the team to the 6A state championship game in 2015. A young left-handed arm, Fink throws his fastball consistently in the high 90s and will look to build upon his experience in the spring for a shot at getting left-handed hitters out in relief.

Johnson on Fink:

“I think he'll throw a little bit in certain situations for us. With experience and poise, I think he could end up being a guy. His fastball is his best pitch. He's 89-91 from the left side.”

#37 | Braden Minor | Fr. | Wichita, Kan.

The 2014 Kansas Gatorade Player of the Year as a sophomore, Minor earned All-State three times and was twice the league MVP at Eisenhower High School in Wichita. His stuff plays best to getting right-handed hitters out in middle relief scenarios.

Johnson on Minor:

“Minor was really good at the end of the fall. He showed a lot of promise and is a strike thrower. He'll be in a middle relief role to come in and get right-handers out.”

#31 | Trevor Munsch | Fr. | Lawrence, Kan.

Munsch is one of two left-handed pitchers in the freshman class and will compete for outs against left-handed hitters in the Sooner bullpen. Standing at 6-foot-4 and just 165 pounds, his ability to make strides in the weight room will strengthen his ability to perform on the mound for OU come the spring.

Johnson on Munsch:

“His last three weeks of the fall were doing bullpens. We made some mechanical changes. He's a left-hander that throws sinkers. If he's pounding the strike zone, he could be a situational left-hander for us. His biggest growth opportunity is for him to get bigger and more mature.”

#20 | Devon Perez | Jr. | Ashburn, Va.

Perez (pictured at top) played his first two years of collegiate ball at Iowa Western Community College. He was dominant as a freshman with a 9-0 record, 2.43 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 59.1 innings as a freshman. Last season, Perez went 4-1 with a 4.13 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 24 innings of work. A 6-foot-5 right-hander, Perez will be in the mix immediately for the Sooners either in the bullpen or competing for a role as the Sunday or midweek starter.

Hughes on Perez:

“Perez is a new guy. Once his velocity starts jumping, he's a straight thrower and competes. He's an older guy so he's a good veteran addition to our pitching staff. I want to get him to where he can be a Tuesday guy for us. He throws 88-91, but he should be sitting at 91.”

Johnson on Perez:

“Devon is a strike thrower. He showed a lot of promise in the fall. He's very competitive; almost to a fault where he over-competes. We could use him as a Sunday or Tuesday starter.”

#35 | Nathan Wiles | Fr. | Overland Park, Kan.

The third Sooner freshman pitcher from Kansas, Wiles played his high school ball at Blue Valley West and was an All-State First Team selection as a senior with an 8-0 record and 1.34 ERA. A 6-foot-5, 240-pound right-hander, Wiles projects as a starter down the road, but could make an immediate contribution out of the bullpen, while competing for a starting position to round out the Sooner rotation.

Johnson on Wiles:

“Wiles is big and physical. He was good early in the fall. His strength is his poise, but his opportunity to grow comes in his toughness. He's built like a diesel engine. He should be a starting pitcher, but he has got to go out and be a lion. That's the maturation process that we all try to speed up for freshman. We've just go to make sure that we put all of our newer guys in situations where they can grow confidence.”