The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
2010 Baseball Preview: Pitchers And Catchers
2/17/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 17, 2010
The UAB baseball team is six days away from its 2010 season opener, a Feb. 23 road contest at SEC foe Mississippi State. The Blazers will then open their home slate Feb. 26-28 with a four-game series at Young Memorial Field against Ball State.
With the season almost here, uabsports.com provides a look at the 2010 Blazer baseball team this week with a series of previews. Check the site throughout the week as we feature the following:
Monday - 2010 Season Overview
Wednesday - Pitchers and Catchers
Friday - Infielders and Outfielders
Pitchers
In 2010, UAB returns three pitchers who have been major contributors to the Blazers' weekend rotation.
Shay Crawford (16) and Beau Pender (12) combined to start 28 games for UAB in 2009. Crawford, who was coming off a medical redshirt year, posted a 5-2 record and led the starters with a 5.14 ERA. Pender entered the starting rotation in the season's third weekend and was one of the Blazers' most effective pitchers until injury sidetracked him late in the year.
The third UAB pitcher with significant starting experience is Mitch Kloskowski, a fifth-year senior who was limited to just one appearance in 2009 because of injury. Kloskowski has started 30 games in his collegiate career and won six outings in 2008, his last healthy season.
Add to that mix former Georgia transfer Ryan Woolley, and the possibilities for the 2010 staff grow even greater. Woolley, who has yet to throw a pitch for the Blazers, was a sixth-round draft choice of the Atlanta Braves in 2009 but opted to return to UAB, where he will be a junior this spring.
"We are optimistic that we're going to make a nice jump on the mound this year in talent level, which we feel like is the best we've had," Shoop said. "The kids have responded fantastic to (pitching coach) Josh (Hopper), and the mindset is good. With the combination of talent and how they've meshed with coach Hopper, we feel like pitching could become a strength for us."
Depth exists for this year's pitching staff not only in the starting rotation but also in the bullpen, where UAB returns seven pitchers who made at least 10 appearances last year.
Tops among those pitchers in terms of appearances was Tristan Farrell, who pitched in a team-high 23 games in 2009, his first year with the program. Fellow junior college transfer Nick Graffeo turned into the Blazers' closer last year, picking up six saves and logging more strikeouts than innings pitched.
Blake Huddleston is also back after taking on an increased role in his sophomore campaign. Huddleston finished the 2009 season with a 5-0 record, posting four of those wins in conference play to go along with his 1.93 ERA in league games.
Colin McMurry provided UAB with a left-handed option both as a reliever and a midweek starter as a freshman last season. He pitched in 16 games and managed a 3-2 record in his rookie campaign.
Trey Vice, also a left-hander, Robert Brewster and Mikael Saway give UAB three more veteran relief options.
Additionally, UAB welcomes several newcomers on the mound in Ben Bullard, Mason Hutchins, Tyler Johnson and Trey Waltman. Johnson will sit out this season after transferring from Mississippi State, but the other three will look to make an impact in 2010.
Catchers
Behind the plate, Digger Towe returns for his senior year after splitting time with former Blazer Allen Aubin in 2009. Towe was the Blazers' starting catcher in 27 games a year ago and also made 21 starts as designated hitter on his way to second-team all-conference honors.
In his first full healthy year at UAB, Towe led the Blazers in batting average (.353) and RBI (61). He garnered national recognition on March 17, 2009 when he was selected as the Pro-Line Athletic National Hitter of the Week after recording 16 RBI in a six-game stretch.
Behind Towe, UAB has three other catching options. Andrew Manning, the Blazers' returning third baseman, can also catch. Additionally, UAB welcomes a pair of freshman catchers in Harry Clark and Jacob German.
"Digger will start the year as our No. 1, and what we do behind that is yet to be determined," Shoop said. "We like our freshmen. Jacob German can shut down a running game and is one of the best throwers I've ever had already. Harry is solid defensively and just never swings and misses, so he's a left-handed bat that's going to be a tough out. They're both going to play significant roles, if not this year, eventually."
