Courtesy of GoBonnies.com
By Scott Eddy, Assistant Sports Information Director
A year ago, the St. Bonaventure pitching staff was the best not only in the Atlantic 10, but one of the top staffs in the entire nation. The numbers don’t lie – the Bonnies compiled a team ERA of 2.79, more than an entire run lower than the next best A-10 ERA and a total that ranked fourth in Division I.
St. Bonaventure issued just 127 walks in 422 innings, far and away the fewest in the Atlantic 10, and surrendered only 10 home runs in 49 games, again easily the best in the conference.
Five members of that staff return in 2017, including All-Atlantic 10 selection Brandon Schlimm and fellow junior right-hander Aaron Phillips to lead the weekend rotation. Though pitching was the strength a year ago and several big names return, head coach Larry Sudbrook points to the mound as the biggest question mark heading into this spring.
“The pitching staff is the question,” Sudbrook said. “At the top, it is possible that Schlimm and Phillips may give us a better one-two than we had last year, but I’m almost certain we won’t be as deep three through six.”
The Bonnies lost four standout senior arms off last year’s staff. Connor Grey was outstanding in the conference rotation, going 3-6 but with a 2.84 ERA and a program-record 95 strikeouts in 92 innings pitched. His work as a Bonnie earned him a selection in the 20th round of the 2016 MLB Entry Draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks where he was later named a midseason all-star in the Pioneer League pitching for the ‘A’ league affiliate of the D-Backs in Missoula, Montana.
Also gone are Reid Van Woert (5-2, 2.89 ERA) and Drew Teller (5-1, 2.58), each who could be used as long men in the bullpen or as starters in conference or midweek play a year ago. Closer Thad Johnson also graduated last spring after registering six saves.
“For us to be successful, to get to the Atlantic 10 Tournament and make some noise, the question is the pitching staff,” Sudbrook said. “Do we have something beyond a very good one and two? We have some good arms, but we need to find out if they will be good pitchers.”
The Bonnies have known commodities at the top of the starting rotation. Schlimm, a junior right-hander, went 7-5 and ranked third in Bonnies season history with a 2.11 ERA over 13 starts and 94 innings of work last year. He struck out 64 and walked 23, and did not allow a single homer. Schlimm surrendered three earned runs or fewer in 12 of 13 starts and two runs or less in 10, standing third in the A-10 in ERA and fourth in opposing batting average (.212). He was even better against A-10 competition, posting a 5-2 record with a 1.85 ERA in conference play.
Phillips moves into the No. 2 spot this year after standing ninth in the Atlantic 10 with a 3.02 ERA in 56.2 innings including a scoreless inning streak of 29 innings to begin the season, the longest of any Division I starter. He went on to post incredible summer numbers, earning 2016 Perfect Game/Rawlings Summer Collegiate All-American Honors after going 7-1 with a 1.17 ERA including 38 strikeouts in 54 innings for the Olean Oilers of the New York Collegiate Baseball League, also taking that league’s Pitcher and Player of the Year accolades.
The third spot in the weekend rotation is up for grabs heading into the spring as the Bonnies figure to use their 11 games in Florida to decide the rest of the staff’s roles.
Lefty Nate Grant is back for his junior season after logging 27.2 innings in 23 relief appearances last year with a 3.90 ERA and 23 strikeouts. He also saw time in 17 games as a freshman.
Also in the mix are a pair of freshmen – right-hander Casey Vincent, brother of Cody Vincent who was one of the top pitchers in Bonaventure history, can touch low 90s on the radar gun and boasts three pitches, but is seeking more consistency in the strike zone after fall ball. Fellow right-hander Murphy O’Brien also joins the Bonnies and could win the final weekend starting job.
Another newcomer, left-handed freshman Danny Madden could win a starting job in the spring or be a specialist out of the bullpen.
Six-foot-seven right-handed sidearmer T.J. Baker returns to the bullpen after throwing in 23 games in relief last year with a 3.60 ERA. Junior righty Ben Contento also appeared in 10 games out of the ‘pen last year but will miss the season due to injury.
The closer job is another that is waiting to be won in the spring, though another newcomer may have a leg up in the battle. Redshirt freshman James Wetter moved ahead in the closer mix thanks to his plus-changeup following a strong fall and summer.
Other newcomers include Roman Wild, Brian Pulli and Alex Burke along with transfer Scott Jerge (Valparaiso) from the right side and freshmen lefties Ben Braun and Donovan Moffat.
The pitchers will again throw to one of the A-10’s best defensive catchers, senior Tommy LaCongo.
“Tommy is a great defender with a plus-arm,” Sudbrook assessed. “When he’s healthy no one is going to run on us. He may be the best throwing catcher in the A-10.”
LaCongo put up big offensive numbers (.327, .409 on-base percentage) at Monroe Community College before transferring to SBU. He started 44 of 45 games last year, but hopes to make the jump offensively to extend the Bonnies lineup after hitting .221 with two homers and 17 RBIs in his first year in Brown and White.
Behind LaCongo are senior Bradley Gresock, redshirt freshman Ben MacDonald and true freshman Isaac Porter.
The Bonnies open the 2017 season Feb. 24 vs. Eastern Michigan at Port Charlotte, Fla. and will play EMU, Dartmouth (2), Maine (4), Pennsylvania and North Dakota State (3) before returning home. The Bonnies open Atlantic 10 play at Davidson March 17-19 and begin their home slate March 21 vs. Niagara.
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