Ali Kilponen

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Kilponen has impressed me most of the pitchers so far this year. Just curious why she isn't given more of a chance to start big games like the Shelbys.

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If she keeps doing what she is doing, she will get more big starts. I think they are building her up to get there. She has had control issues at times. She was extremely raw coming to LSU. She originally was committed to Colorado St (I think), she opened her recruitment back up with how she had been performing in hs and travel ball over the years. She got a lot of phone calls from top schools. She visited Washington then visited LSU two weeks later before committing.

Her first year at LSU showed promise but obviously had some hiccups with the control issues that got her at time. Kilponen easily is as talented as anyone on staff. She has increased her velocity up and has touched 70 multiple times this fall and early spring.

I think we see her in a lot more big games this year. When her control is on, she is capable of very big things.

Kilponen’s entire throwing motion was changed by the coaches when she arrived at LSU, everything that she had learned prior to coming to LSU was changed pretty much. Ali had amazing control all throughout high school (just look at her stats) then was changed, so of course she was going to have control issues. Torina is a great pitching coach and In the end Ali will be WAY better because of it...growing pains of learning a new style are tough though. Would have been nice to see her red shirt last year.

Wickersham and Gorsuch are and should be LSU’s go to pitchers in the big games early in the year. Wickersham and Gorsuch have an amazing change up which can keep top opponents off balance throughout a long game. Kilponen really needs a good change that she can through for a strike and she will be huge.

Kilponen coming in late in games is actually a pretty good idea in a closer type role with her throwing as hard as she does. I think with Wickersham starting and being a dropball pitcher with a great change then having Kilponen come in late who is a riseball/curve with much more speed is a deadly combo. At this point Kilponen starting against top teams is a bit risky without her having the change. After a great hitter has seen her a couple times through the lineup they will be ready for the speed.