re: Official Adam4848 Baseball Preview Feb 10th (Pro Prospects)

RELIEF PITCHING

Jesse Stallings


Parker Bugg


Hunter Newman


Doug Norman


Russell Reynolds


Jesse Stallings So. 6’2 200lbs (37)
Parker Bugg Jr. 6’6 220lbs (46)
Hunter Newman Jr. 6’3 190lbs (55)
Doug Norman So. 6’3 190lbs (21)
Russell Reynolds Jr. 6’2 195lbs (45)
Alden Cartwright So. 6’0 180lbs (32)
Jake Latz RFr. 6'2 195lbs (67)
John Valek III Sr. 6'0 175lbs (27)
Collin Strall Jr. 5’10 180lbs (30)
Hunter Devall Sr. 5’8 180lbs (12)
Cole McKay Fr. 6'5 230lbs (33)
Caleb Gilbert Fr. 6'2 180lbs (41)

The bullpen will lose Kyle Bouman and Zac Person but return every other arm from a year ago. Similar to the starting rotation the bullpen will be a major strength of the team. As important as having numerous quality arms is this should show the effort Mainieri and Dunn put in to make deep runs in Omaha these next few years. As far as pitching goes so do teams deep in the year. Looking at the bullpen Parker Bugg, Hunter Newman, Jessie Stallings, Alden Cartwright, Doug Norman, Russell Reynolds, Colin Strall, Hunter Devall, and Jake Latz return while John Valek III, Cole McKay, and Caleb Gilbert will appear in a Tiger uniform for the first time. I will list the guys in no particular order.

Jesse Stallings returns as a redshirt sophomore and one of the liveliest arms with outstanding velocity who tend to run into trouble last year in SEC with his inability to get an off speed consistently for a strike. A year later it is still unclear in what specific spot Mainieri plans for the power arm although it is evident he needed an offseason refining the off speed pitches. Don’t count Stallings out, this will be an extremely important arm for LSU.

Parker Bugg will be the utility man this season. After having pitched in almost any situation you can think of in his freshman and sophomore years Parker is both a very poised and imposing figure on the mound. His velocity is only average but can mix and match speed as well as location at any time. What you’ll get in Bugg is a lockdown arm who can come in as setup or closer.

Hunter Newman was the outstanding freshman arm that was sidelined in 2014 and for the most part was a complete unknown going into 2015. After having the lowest ERA on the team a season ago in relief appearances it became apparent Newman was that fire stopper in big time situations, I don’t look for this to change. Expect to see Newman in that same situation where he could be called upon for 1 innings stints multiple times a weekend.

Doug Norman was a part of the talented freshman pitching crop a season ago and for a couple weeks got off to a slow start before etching a role. With his funky delivery and release he makes an excellent option to bring out the pen for 2-3 innings as he faces the order one time through. What I love about Doug is he can give you an inning and stretch it to four if need be, as one of the more powerful arms in the bullpen his role will expand in 2016.

Russell Reynolds the other outstanding freshman injured in 2014 came back a season ago and put up good numbers when his he had control of his pitches. When he’s on he becomes an instant setup man/closer. He’s much like Newman to an extent that you’ll be able to use at any time period or situation.

Alden Cartwright to me this season will be a situational fire stopper, think of someone who will come in to get 1-2 guys out when playing matchups. With an above average curve ball and life on his fastball he’s a perfect candidate see multiple appearances in a weekend and is another important piece of the puzzle.

Jake Latz one of the prized recruits of the 2014 class and highest drafted player to turn down a pro contract a year ago hopes to make a return early to mid-April. Although he has run into arm soreness and setbacks over the past year and a half he’s nearing the tossing stages of rehab in the next couple of weeks and is optimistic he will be at full speed by tournament time. The added depth and firepower to the already loaded pitching staff would be big if and when Latz returns. When Latz is at his best he’ll sit at 91mph from the left side with a great changeup, look for him to remain a relief man at least in 2016.

John Valek III the senior transfer from Akron is a bit of an unknown to me currently on where the coaches deem fit. As Akron’s Friday night starter a year ago he has the ability to stretch innings and for that reason I like him in a long reliever role. Now John doesn’t have great velocity but he pounds every inch of the zone and has been one of the shining stars in spring ball.

Colin Strall and Hunter Devall both add depth to the bullpen both from the right hander as a side winder and from the left side respectively. Look for both to see multiple appearances in midweek games as well as to eat up innings in mop up duty.

Cole McKay was the highest rated prospect from the 2015 class to attend LSU and was approached by multiple teams in the top 10 rounds before declining each respectively. I see Cole as your typical power arm who in a year or two with more refined pitches can be very very good and apart of the weekend rotation. As it sits right now he’ll slowly work his way into playing time as he fine tunes both his curve ball and slider. He’s not as polished as Alex Lange coming out of high school but he has an extremely similar ceiling and with the frame he has can push his velocity in the upper 90’s over the next couple of springs.

Caleb Gilbert may be my favorite freshman who has continued to impress every outing he has been put in during both the fall and spring ball, his poise allows him to go after hitters when typically young arms tend to shy away. If I had one pick of a player from this group to become a midweek starter I could see Caleb taking over the role if Bain or Smith is moved to the pen. Expect to see a lot out of him early in the year.

Nick Bush a freshman arm from the left side is out indefinitely with Tommy John Surgery.

I don’t want to utter the phrase there are too many arms on this staff…because there is no such thing nonetheless the depth will be outstanding in a year it will be desperately needed. Now while Mainieri hasn’t made any final decisions on how he’s going to piece together his bullpen it will slowly show itself. I think guys such as Doug Norman, John Valek III, Cole McKay, and Caleb Gilbert will fit into some form of long relief. Then you have Alden Cartwright, Hunter Newman, and Russell Reynolds as inning stoppers. Colin Strall and Hunter Devall would be hitter by hitter situational pieces as well as serve mop up duty. That leaves you with both setup man and closer which I still think Parker Bugg and Jesse Stallings hold the edge for. Don’t be surprised to see a guy like Reynolds or Norman be given an audition here as well. When Latz returns I see him fitting into a setup/inning type of relief depending on how he velocity matures. In summary I think this bullpen is very deep with large quantity of still young arms that will get the job done more times than not. Because LSU does not have a true no doubt closer heading into the year I can’t grade them as high as the starters but I look for Dunn to etch that out sooner rather than later.

GRADES ARE FOUND IN BELOW POST