Healthier arms means deeper bullpen for MSU baseball team

A college baseball team can never have enough pitching.

That seems to be a common thought amongst all in the baseball world, regardless of which level of the game is being discussed.

Every coach loves to have options to turn to on the mound, but that was a luxury that Mississippi State head coach Andy Cannizaro didn’t have a season ago. MSU’s pitching situation last year became so dire due to injuries in fact that a trio of position players (outfielder Jake Mangum, first baseman Cole Gordon and outfielder Brant Blaylock) combined to make 30 appearances on the mound and win a total of five games between them.
When the 2018 season starts two weeks from today though, the Bulldogs will no longer be forced to turn to unique individuals in a desperate attempt to get quality innings.

“In terms of getting some of these arms back from injuries, from a head coaching standpoint, that’s a great feeling and just trying to increase our depth on the mound is a really great feeling compared to a year ago where we were so short-handed on the mound,” Cannizaro said. “I’m really excited to have a full holster of bullets, so to speak. I’m looking forward to it. We’re rocking and rolling and ready to go.”

MSU’s return to a healthier state will be especially beneficial to the Bulldog bullpen. More healthy bodies means less stress on arms and the ability to keep guys fresh.

Spencer Price

Price was Mississippi State’s primary closer last season before a nagging ankle injury hampered him some down the stretch. He’ll likely get first crack at being State’s primary stopper again.

Price shined in the role last year. He tied the team high with 31 pitching appearances and led the team in ERA (2.91), saves (14) and batting average against (.197). He also struck out 40 batters in his 34 innings of work.

While many of State’s bullpen options might jockey for position in the early going of the season, it’s almost a certainty that Price will be a late-inning staple for the Bulldogs.

Riley Self

Similar to Price, Self will almost assuredly be relied on in the late innings for MSU.

The big righty was a part-time closer for Mississippi State last year and collected eight saves of his own.

He tied Price with a team-best 31 appearances last year and had a 3.72 ERA over 48.1 innings of work. He struck out 60 total batters.

Self and Price probably both benefit the most from MSU’s healthier pitching staff. The two were perhaps overworked a season ago as the Bulldogs had to turn to them frequently as the team’s most reliable bullpen arms. With more guys to share the load, that should only improve the production out of Price and Self.

Blake Smith

Smith is perhaps the biggest returning piece to Mississippi State’s bullpen.

The senior right-hander threw only two innings in 2017 before being sidelined the rest of the year with an elbow injury.

However Smith displayed back in 2016 just how valuable he can be. In his last full season, Smith made 20 relief appearances and collected five saves and posted an ERA of only 2.93. He struck out 31 hitters over 27.2 innings and held opposing batters to a minuscule .168 average.

“He’s a fifth-year senior who had a tremendous year for us two years ago with the 2016 SEC Championship team here,” Cannizaro said.

Keegan James

James is another Bulldog who the injury bug bit last year. He underwent Tommy John surgery, but is set to return to the mound this year.

Like Smith, James has a track record. Back in 2016 for the Bulldogs, he made 14 appearances and started four games. He compiled a 3-0 record, had an impressive 3.24 ERA and held opponents to a .213 batting average.

Kale Breaux

Breaux, too, is bouncing back from Tommy John surgery. The left-hander pitched in one game for the Bulldogs last year before succumbing to his elbow injury.

Before getting hurt, Breaux was thought about highly.. Coming out of high school in 2015, he was projected to go early in the Major League Baseball Draft, but told pro teams he was going to MSU. He made 16 appearances in his freshman season in 2016, and though he had a 5.40 ERA, did strike out 19 batters in his 16.2 innings.

Graham Ashcraft

A hip injury ended Ashcraft’s 2017 season after only 10 games but like so many others, he has a chance for a bounce-back year.

Ashcraft appears to be a guy that could also start for the Bulldogs if needed. Half of his appearances a year ago came as a starter.

In his 10 outings in 2017, Ashcraft had a 2-0 record with a 5.62 ERA.

Denver McQuary

Like Ashcraft, McQuary has experience as both a starter and reliever.

Last year, McQuary made eight starts.

He has the stuff to be an effective weapon for MSU, regardless of how he is used. Last year, over 55.1 total innings, he limited opposing hitters to a .203 batting average. The biggest question mark with McQuary is his control. He walked almost a batter an inning on average last season, giving up 50 total walks.

Trysten Barlow

Barlow was often used for MSU last season. The left-hander tied for third on the team with his 26 appearances on the mound.

His ERA wasn’t spectacular (5.23), but he had a knack for getting strikeouts (28 over 20.2 innings) and batters only hit .225 against him.

Like McQuary, Barlow has to master his control to be a bigger piece of MSU’s pitching plans. He gave up 25 free passes over his 20.2 innings of work last year.