D1 Baseball released its fall report on Louisiana Tech this morning.
PITCHING:
After a historical 2021 with early season wins over Arkansas and Ole Miss and a Regional win over Alabama before losing in the finals to NC State, Louisiana Tech has the look of a national Top 30 club once again for 2022. Although they were beaten by 2021 CWS participant Tennessee during their 16-inning scrimmage in Millington on October 30, the Bulldogs return plenty of offense and almost their entire pitching staff.
The front of the rotation will include last season’s weekend starters Jonathan Fincherand Jarrett Whorff. A 6-foot-3, 240-pound lefty, Fincher pitched in the No. 1 spot last spring, posting a 3.05 ERA in 100.1 IP. At Millington, his velo was down a bit, working 86-88 and touching 90 with his fastball. He attacked with a high-spin fastball, while mixing in an occasional mid-70s curve and showing feel for a change.
Whorff is a fifth-year senior pitchability right-hander. Last spring, he shutout Arkansas 2-0 early in the season with a two-hit complete game. He walked one and punched out 10. His results against the Vols were not the same on this look with velocity more 88-90 than his typical 90-93. The slender built, quick-armed Whorff relied on his best pitch, a power-sink changeup throughout his three innings pitched. He also showed good sink and arm side life on his fastball while mixing in a fringe-quality slider at 78-79 mph.
Completing the rotation will likely be righthander Ryan Jennings with lefties Cade Gibson and Jackson Lancaster adding even more depth and options for the Bulldogs. Lancaster, a transfer from Missouri, entered the fall as a two-way option, but after a strong showing on the mound he’s expected to contribute more with his arm than bat. Drafted out of Itawamba JC (Miss.) in 2019 (38th round- Seattle), he made 10 appearances out of the Mizzou bullpen last spring, posting a 2.45 ERA, but walked 10 in 7.1 IP. Against Tennessee he pitched at 87-89 mph with his fastball from a high three-quarter slot and clean arm action.
With a loose arm and moderate effort from a high three-quarter slot, Gibson filled the zone with a three-pitch arsenal. Working mostly to his armside with an 89-92 mph fastball, a 77-78 hard-biting curve and a near average changeup during his three innings against Tennessee he looked tough to beat when his breaker was “on.” The lefty also showed good feel for an 80-81 mph change-of-pace with some late fade. The highlight of his 2021 season was a 7.1 IP, five hit, one run performance in a 13-1 win over Ole Miss.
Jennings gives the Bulldogs a power option in the middle of their rotation. His fastball touched 94 on my gun, but reports of higher velocities were also heard from this look. With a quick arm on a very athletic, 6-foot, 180-pound frame, he attacked with his low-90s fastball and spun a 75-77 mph curveball that ranged from average to above average in quality. He dropped his hand, tipping an 84 mph changeup as his third pitch.
The Dogs’ pen will once again be led by righthanded co-closers Landon Tomkinsand Kyle Crigger. The fifth-year senior Crigger throws a low-90s jumping fastball. His lively heater got on hitters quickly and the Volunteers could not get to it during his first inning pitched as he struck out the side, all on his No. 1. At 6-foot-2, 180 pounds he attacked the zone and was very competitive, adding a low-80s rolling slider and near average 82-84 mph changeup to his repertoire. The fourth-year junior Tomkins did not pitch against UT, but at his best he will throw a changeup in any count, while adding a 89-93 mph fastball with big sink and run. At times, his stuff moves so much that he becomes inconsistent in the strike zone (17 BB in 28 IP in 2021), but opponents struggle to barrel him up (.218 Opp Avg).
The top ‘22 draft-eligible pitching prospects appeared to be Jennings, Whorff, Gibson and Crigger on this look.
PITCHING:
After a historical 2021 with early season wins over Arkansas and Ole Miss and a Regional win over Alabama before losing in the finals to NC State, Louisiana Tech has the look of a national Top 30 club once again for 2022. Although they were beaten by 2021 CWS participant Tennessee during their 16-inning scrimmage in Millington on October 30, the Bulldogs return plenty of offense and almost their entire pitching staff.
The front of the rotation will include last season’s weekend starters Jonathan Fincherand Jarrett Whorff. A 6-foot-3, 240-pound lefty, Fincher pitched in the No. 1 spot last spring, posting a 3.05 ERA in 100.1 IP. At Millington, his velo was down a bit, working 86-88 and touching 90 with his fastball. He attacked with a high-spin fastball, while mixing in an occasional mid-70s curve and showing feel for a change.
Whorff is a fifth-year senior pitchability right-hander. Last spring, he shutout Arkansas 2-0 early in the season with a two-hit complete game. He walked one and punched out 10. His results against the Vols were not the same on this look with velocity more 88-90 than his typical 90-93. The slender built, quick-armed Whorff relied on his best pitch, a power-sink changeup throughout his three innings pitched. He also showed good sink and arm side life on his fastball while mixing in a fringe-quality slider at 78-79 mph.
Completing the rotation will likely be righthander Ryan Jennings with lefties Cade Gibson and Jackson Lancaster adding even more depth and options for the Bulldogs. Lancaster, a transfer from Missouri, entered the fall as a two-way option, but after a strong showing on the mound he’s expected to contribute more with his arm than bat. Drafted out of Itawamba JC (Miss.) in 2019 (38th round- Seattle), he made 10 appearances out of the Mizzou bullpen last spring, posting a 2.45 ERA, but walked 10 in 7.1 IP. Against Tennessee he pitched at 87-89 mph with his fastball from a high three-quarter slot and clean arm action.
With a loose arm and moderate effort from a high three-quarter slot, Gibson filled the zone with a three-pitch arsenal. Working mostly to his armside with an 89-92 mph fastball, a 77-78 hard-biting curve and a near average changeup during his three innings against Tennessee he looked tough to beat when his breaker was “on.” The lefty also showed good feel for an 80-81 mph change-of-pace with some late fade. The highlight of his 2021 season was a 7.1 IP, five hit, one run performance in a 13-1 win over Ole Miss.
Jennings gives the Bulldogs a power option in the middle of their rotation. His fastball touched 94 on my gun, but reports of higher velocities were also heard from this look. With a quick arm on a very athletic, 6-foot, 180-pound frame, he attacked with his low-90s fastball and spun a 75-77 mph curveball that ranged from average to above average in quality. He dropped his hand, tipping an 84 mph changeup as his third pitch.
The Dogs’ pen will once again be led by righthanded co-closers Landon Tomkinsand Kyle Crigger. The fifth-year senior Crigger throws a low-90s jumping fastball. His lively heater got on hitters quickly and the Volunteers could not get to it during his first inning pitched as he struck out the side, all on his No. 1. At 6-foot-2, 180 pounds he attacked the zone and was very competitive, adding a low-80s rolling slider and near average 82-84 mph changeup to his repertoire. The fourth-year junior Tomkins did not pitch against UT, but at his best he will throw a changeup in any count, while adding a 89-93 mph fastball with big sink and run. At times, his stuff moves so much that he becomes inconsistent in the strike zone (17 BB in 28 IP in 2021), but opponents struggle to barrel him up (.218 Opp Avg).
The top ‘22 draft-eligible pitching prospects appeared to be Jennings, Whorff, Gibson and Crigger on this look.
