Friday, February 14
Cary, N.C.
2 p.m.
Bucknell University
vs
Penn State
Bucknell Baseball Opens 2020 Season in North Carolina This Weekend
2/12/2020 11:30:00 AM | Baseball
LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Bucknell University baseball team will begin its 2020 campaign in Cary, N.C. for games against Penn State, Monmouth, and NJIT from Friday, Feb. 14-Sunday, Feb. 16.
Setting the Scene/Bucknell Schedule
Bucknell (0-0, 0-0 PL) vs. Penn State (0-0, 0-0 Big Ten) – Friday, Feb. 14 – 2 p.m.
Bucknell (0-0, 0-0 PL) vs. Monmouth (0-0, 0-0 MAAC) – Saturday, Feb. 15 – 10 a.m. (DH)
Bucknell (0-0, 0-0 PL) vs. NJIT (0-0, 0-0 ASUN) Sunday, Feb. 16 – 10 a.m.
About the Bison
Season Preview: Baseball Sets Sights on Patriot League Tournament Return
After a disappointing campaign for the Bison in 2019 in which the squad finished 14-33 and missed out on the Patriot League Tournament for the first time since 2015, Head Coach Scott Heather believes there are still some positives to take away after a strong finish to end the season. The Bison won four out of their last five games, including winning their last three Patriot League contests against Lafayette and Lehigh.
"Those games helped us to remember what we were capable of," said Heather. "Lehigh is a talented team, and they were still fighting for their playoff spot at the time. The team is a motivated group right now, and we believe they will use the challenges of last season to become a stronger unit this season."
Heather, who consistently challenges his squad in the early portions of the schedule, believes that this year is no different. Coach Heather will hope to find out where exactly his team stands after a tough month of February that includes a trip to ACC power Virginia in the second weekend of the season for a four-game series. Interestingly enough, the last time Bucknell visited Davenport Field in 2014 was one of the finest years in program history under Heather, where he guided the squad to a Patriot League Tournament Championship, a 31-21-1 record, and an NCAA Regional appearance. Bucknell played the No. 3 National Seed Cavaliers to open the NCAA Regional that year, falling 10-1.
"This schedule will present a challenge, but I'm excited that the UVA series is the second weekend, and hopefully we'll be ready for it having played four games already. When you play those top teams, you have an opportunity to see what you need to get better at, and I think when you play teams that will challenge you, it will only make you better in the long run. We want to be playing our best baseball at the end of the season and be ready to go for our league opener at home against Navy. Overall, it gives us a chance to look at our full pitching staff and develop a few more guys while also being cognizant of our workload to be ready for the Navy series."
Below is a position-by-position breakdown of the 2020 Bucknell baseball team.
Catcher
Bucknell's depth was tested at the catcher position last season. The Bison used four different catchers in 2019, with Alex Baumann the lone returner of that group. Baumann, a rising senior, will bring experience after starting the final ten games of the season. The New York, N.Y. native hit his first career home run against Lafayette in Bucknell's final home series, and proved a reliable option at catcher for the latter half of the season.
"Baumann had a great fall," said Heather. "We project him as a middle of the order lineup guy for us, and he's really matured behind the plate. We're excited to have him back healthy and ready to go."
The Bison brought in two freshman catchers to compete behind Baumann in Jake Wortman and Nick Christopher, and Heather said both could see the field early on.
"Both of those guys can swing the bat well," added Heather. "Wortman brings a solid presence behind the plate, and Christopher is a solid catch-and-throw guy for us. We're excited about that position and how those guys have developed over the fall."
First Base
Peter Marren, after a strong conclusion to his sophomore season, will look to play at first base to start the year. The Darien, Conn. native notched a hit in five of his last seven games, including a 2-2 effort against La Salle in Bucknell's come-from-behind victory over the Explorers in April.
"Peter is a guy who can help us offensively," said Heather. "He had a good fall as well as a quality summer, and he's worked tremendously hard to set himself up to be a major contributor for us this year. We expect him to hold that position down for us."
Henry Novicki is a freshman who Heather mentioned will provide depth, while First Team All-Patriot League selection Tyler Wincig could also see time at first base. The reigning Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year saw time at first base and the outfield last season and has played every position but catcher, third base, and center field during his Bucknell career.
Middle Infield
Evan Madigan returns as the team's primary shortstop during the 2019 season after forming a solid partnership with Caleb Broughton at second base. The senior from Point Pleasant, started 42 of Bucknell's 47 games last year, and made a tremendous play at shortstop to rob Lehigh of a game-tying single in Bucknell's 6-5 win over the Mountain Hawks in the penultimate game of the series.
"Madigan had a great fall," said Heather. "He's grown in so many ways, and has developed into a leader for us."
At second, Heather said sophomore Brendan Lowery is the frontrunner to begin the season after Broughton is expected to miss time due to an injury. Lowery started 11 games as a freshman, and will look to make a bigger impression in year two.
"Brendan is a solid defensive player for us," said Heather. "We also believe if given the chance that he can progress and be a productive offensive player for us as well."
Freshman Will Potdevin will look to compete in the middle infield for the Bison, while another freshman, Alex Markopoulos, is another option at both middle infield positions.
Third Base
Eunsang Yu figures to be the day one starter at third, according to Heather. The Seattle, Wash. native will look to win the job in his first year, and Heather is excited about what the freshman can bring.
"We really feel Eunsang can help us offensively, and we were impressed with his defense as well," said Heather. "He's played a great third base for us in the fall, he's college ready, and we expect him to be ready to go for us on day one."
Outfield
Heather highlighted the outfield as a strength for the Bison.
The Bison will return two All-League selections to the outfield in Wincig and centerfielder JohnPaul Bell. Wincig will primarily see time at right field according to Heather, but the senior did see time at left field last season.
Wincig returns after an excellent junior season that saw the New York, N.Y. native earn First Team All-Patriot League laurels, and will head into his senior year at Bucknell's lone Preseason All-Patriot League pick. Wincig hit .348 in 38 games, second in the Patriot League. He led the league in slugging percentage (.643), and finished second in on-base percentage (.500). Wincig's on-base percentage was the third-best in Bucknell history, and also ranked 20th in Division I.
"Tyler was a major run producer for us last season, and he's a special guy to have in your lineup," said Heather. "He doesn't just hit for power, he gets on base, and he's very selective in his approach. He's going to hit somewhere in the top middle of our order. The more we can have him up there the better. He's a tough out for any type of pitcher. He's continued to improve, and he's one of the hardest workers I have ever coached."
Bell, a Second-Team All-Patriot League pick, enjoyed a solid junior season in which he batted .316 and put up solid numbers in the middle of the order. Bell started the 2019 season on a tear by hitting .459 with 14 RBIS through the first ten games, including a 3-for-5 effort with five runs driven in against NC State last February. Bell saw time in both left and center field in 2019, and finished eighth in the Patriot League in batting average. The Downingtown, Pa. native's .421 on-base percentage was seventh in the Patriot League, and his 36 RBIs last season led the Bison.
"JohnPaul has really improved his pitch selection and what he swings at," said Heather. "He can hit for power, get on base, and plays solid defense. Tyler and JohnPaul are our captains and our leaders, and they have done a tremendous job in bringing this team together."
Chris Cannizzaro returns after an injury cut short his freshman season. The Staten Island, N.Y. native was Bucknell's opening day starter at right field against NC State, and posted two hits in his collegiate debut against the Wolfpack. Cannizzaro rapped multiple hits six times in his 14 appearances, and will look to make a bigger impression after coming back healthy in his second year.
"Chris is a good athlete, he swings the bat well, and he makes the plays in the outfield," said Heather. "He can contribute in a lot of ways. He has a good power-speed combo, and losing him early on last year hurt us. Having him back this year at full strength will be a great addition to our team."
Heather added that Kyle Lyons is a freshman that has plus speed in the outfield, and could be a difference-maker with that speed both offensively and defensively. Heather noted that Lyons could compete for time in the outfield early on, and will have a chance to contribute right away.
Kendall Pierson, after coming in as a catcher/first baseman, has also been getting looks in the outfield in the fall. The 6'4 235-pound sophomore from Tewksbury, N.J. brings power to the lineup, and Heather said that if he continues to swing the bat the way he did in the fall, he could look to nail down a spot in the Bucknell lineup.
"Kendall has the potential to change our lineup and make it more dynamic," said Heather. "He can be an intimidating presence in the batter's box."
Freshman Jacob Terwilliger is an infield/outfield combo player that Heather said has a good arm and is a good runner that will look to compete for time, while Josh Hunter returns for his senior season to bring added experience to the outfield.
Pitching
"Overall, I feel like we have a lot of options to choose from on the mound," said Heather. "The way the schedule maps out at the beginning of the year, we are going to be able to utilize a lot of guys and develop roles as the year goes on."
The Bison will have several new faces in the staff for the opening series after rotation mainstays Jeff Gottesman and Jack Grabek graduated. The Bison will also have to look for a new closer in the bullpen after the graduation of Hunter Robichaux, who signed a pro contract with the Florence Freedom in the summer joining former teammate Mike Castellani '17.
However, the Bison do have players returning that have had valuable experience as starters, and Heather said this is a talented group on the mound for the upcoming season, including several 2019 contributors who will look to take that next step.
Nate Grisius proved reliable for the Bison when given the ball as a starter and as a reliever last season. The rising senior started eight games for the Bison, compiling 40 strikeouts in 50.1 innings. Grisius has proven he can perform against quality opposition in the Patriot League, as one of his finest performances in a Bucknell uniform came in seven shutout innings at Patriot League Tournament Champion Army in a 2-0 Bucknell win in West Point last season.
Jack Simpson is another veteran of the rotation, primarily serving as the No. 3 starter behind Gottesman and Grabek last season. Simpson struck out a career-high seven batters in back-to-back appearances against Niagara and Toledo, and logged a career-best 61.1 innings in 2019. The senior has played a major role for the Bison pitching staff since earning a spot as the team's top reliever as a freshman, and expects to once again feature prominently in the Bison rotation this season.
Brenden Tuttle is another pitcher that Heather expects to compete for a place in the rotation. The junior, who has been a reliable option out of the bullpen during his first two seasons, made his first career start against Lehigh in the final game of 2019, throwing 121 pitches while allowing four hits in six innings of work.
"We're going to look to start Tuttle this year," said Heather. "He has one of the best breaking balls around, and does a really good job of getting all of his pitches over the plate for strikes."
Andrew Funovits also returns after a promising freshman season. The Pittsburgh, Pa. native picked up his second save of the season in the Lehigh game, and notched an impressive performance in earning a three-inning save in Bucknell's 9-8 win over Towson last April. Heather expects to use Funovits out of the bullpen once again this season.
"Andrew is very consistent, and he had a really good freshman year," said Heather. "He's going to go out there and throw strikes and get his slider over the plate. He has two very good pitches to get people out."
Nicholas Sadd earned time as a midweek starter last season, and showed promise early on when given the ball. The junior from Atlanta carried a 0.00 ERA through his first six appearances, and provided a quality start with five strikeouts while allowing just two hits in five innings against Saint Joseph's last March.
Matt Shobe is a left-handed option out of the bullpen, and Heather said he will look expand his role this season.
"It's great to have a guy with experience like Matt," Heather said. "He's pretty consistent, and we see him as one of our early go-to guys in the bullpen."
Bucknell will benefit from the addition of four freshmen who will look to break into roles in year one.
Heather noted that Chris Difiore is a freshman left-hander with a good three-pitch mix, and had one of the better falls after proving himself in a college wood-bat league over the summer. Will Greer is another incoming freshman that Heather said he could see as a major contributor, either as a starter or as a stopper or reliever. Tyler Rigot is another freshman lefty that Heather said is a great option for the Bison situationally. Heather added that Anthony Casciola is another solid arm out of the bullpen that will look to compete for innings.
Steven Walker is another returner who will look to take the next step in year two. Heather noted that Walker elevated his game at the end of last year, and has very good off-speed stuff coming out of the bullpen. Luke Allain will look to make a bigger impact in his sophomore year, while Wincig could also help as a pitcher when needed. Renn Lints, a wide receiver for the Bison football team, also joins the Bison pitching staff for the spring.
Matt Ottsen, a junior, impressed in the fall, and Heather said he is one of their most improved players.
"We see Matt as a great left-handed option out of the bullpen," said Heather. "We could see him in either a set-up or stopper kind of role, or even closing games when the situation is right. We became more and more comfortable putting him out there as the fall went on."
"Positionally, I really feel good about the lineup that we will put out there on a day-to-day basis," said Heather. "Our depth will be young, but the talent is there. I think from top to bottom, we'll produce runs and play solid defense. I'm the most excited about our defensive improvement from last year."
Setting the Scene/Bucknell Schedule
Bucknell (0-0, 0-0 PL) vs. Penn State (0-0, 0-0 Big Ten) – Friday, Feb. 14 – 2 p.m.
Bucknell (0-0, 0-0 PL) vs. Monmouth (0-0, 0-0 MAAC) – Saturday, Feb. 15 – 10 a.m. (DH)
Bucknell (0-0, 0-0 PL) vs. NJIT (0-0, 0-0 ASUN) Sunday, Feb. 16 – 10 a.m.
About the Bison
- Bucknell will take the field for the first time since sweeping Lehigh by identical scores of 6-5 in the final two games of the 2019 season at Depew Field on April 28.
- The Bison ended their season winning four out of their last five games in a strong surge to close the 2019 campaign.
- Bucknell returns First-Team All-Patriot League selection and Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year Tyler Wincig for his senior season. The New York, N.Y. native is one of eight seniors on the Bucknell squad. Also returning for the Bison as a senior is JohnPaul Bell, who earned Second-Team All-Patriot League honors from the league office last season. Matt Shobe, Josh Hunter, Jack Simpson, Nate Grisius, Evan Madigan and Alex Baumann round out the senior returners for Bucknell in 2020.
- Bucknell returns five players who started 20 or more games in 2019 as position players, as well as seven pitchers who logged eight or more appearances last season.
- The Bison welcome 12 new freshmen to the fold. The group hails from eight different states, and consists of five pitchers and seven position players.
- Head Coach Scott Heather returns for his eighth season in charge of the Bucknell baseball program. Heather needs just nine wins to reach 150 for his career, where he already owns the second-highest amount of wins in program history behind longtime Head Coach Gene Depew. Depew accrued 591 wins in 31 seasons as the Head Coach of the Bison baseball program from 1982-2012.
- Bucknell first met Penn State in 1886, and faced the Nittany Lions in University Park last season in a midweek contest on April 2. Wincig posted a 2-for-4 day at the plate, while Bell notched an RBI single in a 9-3 defeat for the Bison.
- The Bison have never faced Monmouth or NJIT in program history.
Season Preview: Baseball Sets Sights on Patriot League Tournament Return
After a disappointing campaign for the Bison in 2019 in which the squad finished 14-33 and missed out on the Patriot League Tournament for the first time since 2015, Head Coach Scott Heather believes there are still some positives to take away after a strong finish to end the season. The Bison won four out of their last five games, including winning their last three Patriot League contests against Lafayette and Lehigh.
"Those games helped us to remember what we were capable of," said Heather. "Lehigh is a talented team, and they were still fighting for their playoff spot at the time. The team is a motivated group right now, and we believe they will use the challenges of last season to become a stronger unit this season."
Heather, who consistently challenges his squad in the early portions of the schedule, believes that this year is no different. Coach Heather will hope to find out where exactly his team stands after a tough month of February that includes a trip to ACC power Virginia in the second weekend of the season for a four-game series. Interestingly enough, the last time Bucknell visited Davenport Field in 2014 was one of the finest years in program history under Heather, where he guided the squad to a Patriot League Tournament Championship, a 31-21-1 record, and an NCAA Regional appearance. Bucknell played the No. 3 National Seed Cavaliers to open the NCAA Regional that year, falling 10-1.
"This schedule will present a challenge, but I'm excited that the UVA series is the second weekend, and hopefully we'll be ready for it having played four games already. When you play those top teams, you have an opportunity to see what you need to get better at, and I think when you play teams that will challenge you, it will only make you better in the long run. We want to be playing our best baseball at the end of the season and be ready to go for our league opener at home against Navy. Overall, it gives us a chance to look at our full pitching staff and develop a few more guys while also being cognizant of our workload to be ready for the Navy series."
Below is a position-by-position breakdown of the 2020 Bucknell baseball team.
Catcher
Bucknell's depth was tested at the catcher position last season. The Bison used four different catchers in 2019, with Alex Baumann the lone returner of that group. Baumann, a rising senior, will bring experience after starting the final ten games of the season. The New York, N.Y. native hit his first career home run against Lafayette in Bucknell's final home series, and proved a reliable option at catcher for the latter half of the season.
"Baumann had a great fall," said Heather. "We project him as a middle of the order lineup guy for us, and he's really matured behind the plate. We're excited to have him back healthy and ready to go."
The Bison brought in two freshman catchers to compete behind Baumann in Jake Wortman and Nick Christopher, and Heather said both could see the field early on.
"Both of those guys can swing the bat well," added Heather. "Wortman brings a solid presence behind the plate, and Christopher is a solid catch-and-throw guy for us. We're excited about that position and how those guys have developed over the fall."
First Base
Peter Marren, after a strong conclusion to his sophomore season, will look to play at first base to start the year. The Darien, Conn. native notched a hit in five of his last seven games, including a 2-2 effort against La Salle in Bucknell's come-from-behind victory over the Explorers in April.
"Peter is a guy who can help us offensively," said Heather. "He had a good fall as well as a quality summer, and he's worked tremendously hard to set himself up to be a major contributor for us this year. We expect him to hold that position down for us."
Henry Novicki is a freshman who Heather mentioned will provide depth, while First Team All-Patriot League selection Tyler Wincig could also see time at first base. The reigning Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year saw time at first base and the outfield last season and has played every position but catcher, third base, and center field during his Bucknell career.
Middle Infield
Evan Madigan returns as the team's primary shortstop during the 2019 season after forming a solid partnership with Caleb Broughton at second base. The senior from Point Pleasant, started 42 of Bucknell's 47 games last year, and made a tremendous play at shortstop to rob Lehigh of a game-tying single in Bucknell's 6-5 win over the Mountain Hawks in the penultimate game of the series.
"Madigan had a great fall," said Heather. "He's grown in so many ways, and has developed into a leader for us."
At second, Heather said sophomore Brendan Lowery is the frontrunner to begin the season after Broughton is expected to miss time due to an injury. Lowery started 11 games as a freshman, and will look to make a bigger impression in year two.
"Brendan is a solid defensive player for us," said Heather. "We also believe if given the chance that he can progress and be a productive offensive player for us as well."
Freshman Will Potdevin will look to compete in the middle infield for the Bison, while another freshman, Alex Markopoulos, is another option at both middle infield positions.
Third Base
Eunsang Yu figures to be the day one starter at third, according to Heather. The Seattle, Wash. native will look to win the job in his first year, and Heather is excited about what the freshman can bring.
"We really feel Eunsang can help us offensively, and we were impressed with his defense as well," said Heather. "He's played a great third base for us in the fall, he's college ready, and we expect him to be ready to go for us on day one."
Outfield
Heather highlighted the outfield as a strength for the Bison.
The Bison will return two All-League selections to the outfield in Wincig and centerfielder JohnPaul Bell. Wincig will primarily see time at right field according to Heather, but the senior did see time at left field last season.
Wincig returns after an excellent junior season that saw the New York, N.Y. native earn First Team All-Patriot League laurels, and will head into his senior year at Bucknell's lone Preseason All-Patriot League pick. Wincig hit .348 in 38 games, second in the Patriot League. He led the league in slugging percentage (.643), and finished second in on-base percentage (.500). Wincig's on-base percentage was the third-best in Bucknell history, and also ranked 20th in Division I.
"Tyler was a major run producer for us last season, and he's a special guy to have in your lineup," said Heather. "He doesn't just hit for power, he gets on base, and he's very selective in his approach. He's going to hit somewhere in the top middle of our order. The more we can have him up there the better. He's a tough out for any type of pitcher. He's continued to improve, and he's one of the hardest workers I have ever coached."
Bell, a Second-Team All-Patriot League pick, enjoyed a solid junior season in which he batted .316 and put up solid numbers in the middle of the order. Bell started the 2019 season on a tear by hitting .459 with 14 RBIS through the first ten games, including a 3-for-5 effort with five runs driven in against NC State last February. Bell saw time in both left and center field in 2019, and finished eighth in the Patriot League in batting average. The Downingtown, Pa. native's .421 on-base percentage was seventh in the Patriot League, and his 36 RBIs last season led the Bison.
"JohnPaul has really improved his pitch selection and what he swings at," said Heather. "He can hit for power, get on base, and plays solid defense. Tyler and JohnPaul are our captains and our leaders, and they have done a tremendous job in bringing this team together."
Chris Cannizzaro returns after an injury cut short his freshman season. The Staten Island, N.Y. native was Bucknell's opening day starter at right field against NC State, and posted two hits in his collegiate debut against the Wolfpack. Cannizzaro rapped multiple hits six times in his 14 appearances, and will look to make a bigger impression after coming back healthy in his second year.
"Chris is a good athlete, he swings the bat well, and he makes the plays in the outfield," said Heather. "He can contribute in a lot of ways. He has a good power-speed combo, and losing him early on last year hurt us. Having him back this year at full strength will be a great addition to our team."
Heather added that Kyle Lyons is a freshman that has plus speed in the outfield, and could be a difference-maker with that speed both offensively and defensively. Heather noted that Lyons could compete for time in the outfield early on, and will have a chance to contribute right away.
Kendall Pierson, after coming in as a catcher/first baseman, has also been getting looks in the outfield in the fall. The 6'4 235-pound sophomore from Tewksbury, N.J. brings power to the lineup, and Heather said that if he continues to swing the bat the way he did in the fall, he could look to nail down a spot in the Bucknell lineup.
"Kendall has the potential to change our lineup and make it more dynamic," said Heather. "He can be an intimidating presence in the batter's box."
Freshman Jacob Terwilliger is an infield/outfield combo player that Heather said has a good arm and is a good runner that will look to compete for time, while Josh Hunter returns for his senior season to bring added experience to the outfield.
Pitching
"Overall, I feel like we have a lot of options to choose from on the mound," said Heather. "The way the schedule maps out at the beginning of the year, we are going to be able to utilize a lot of guys and develop roles as the year goes on."
The Bison will have several new faces in the staff for the opening series after rotation mainstays Jeff Gottesman and Jack Grabek graduated. The Bison will also have to look for a new closer in the bullpen after the graduation of Hunter Robichaux, who signed a pro contract with the Florence Freedom in the summer joining former teammate Mike Castellani '17.
However, the Bison do have players returning that have had valuable experience as starters, and Heather said this is a talented group on the mound for the upcoming season, including several 2019 contributors who will look to take that next step.
Nate Grisius proved reliable for the Bison when given the ball as a starter and as a reliever last season. The rising senior started eight games for the Bison, compiling 40 strikeouts in 50.1 innings. Grisius has proven he can perform against quality opposition in the Patriot League, as one of his finest performances in a Bucknell uniform came in seven shutout innings at Patriot League Tournament Champion Army in a 2-0 Bucknell win in West Point last season.
Jack Simpson is another veteran of the rotation, primarily serving as the No. 3 starter behind Gottesman and Grabek last season. Simpson struck out a career-high seven batters in back-to-back appearances against Niagara and Toledo, and logged a career-best 61.1 innings in 2019. The senior has played a major role for the Bison pitching staff since earning a spot as the team's top reliever as a freshman, and expects to once again feature prominently in the Bison rotation this season.
Brenden Tuttle is another pitcher that Heather expects to compete for a place in the rotation. The junior, who has been a reliable option out of the bullpen during his first two seasons, made his first career start against Lehigh in the final game of 2019, throwing 121 pitches while allowing four hits in six innings of work.
"We're going to look to start Tuttle this year," said Heather. "He has one of the best breaking balls around, and does a really good job of getting all of his pitches over the plate for strikes."
Andrew Funovits also returns after a promising freshman season. The Pittsburgh, Pa. native picked up his second save of the season in the Lehigh game, and notched an impressive performance in earning a three-inning save in Bucknell's 9-8 win over Towson last April. Heather expects to use Funovits out of the bullpen once again this season.
"Andrew is very consistent, and he had a really good freshman year," said Heather. "He's going to go out there and throw strikes and get his slider over the plate. He has two very good pitches to get people out."
Nicholas Sadd earned time as a midweek starter last season, and showed promise early on when given the ball. The junior from Atlanta carried a 0.00 ERA through his first six appearances, and provided a quality start with five strikeouts while allowing just two hits in five innings against Saint Joseph's last March.
Matt Shobe is a left-handed option out of the bullpen, and Heather said he will look expand his role this season.
"It's great to have a guy with experience like Matt," Heather said. "He's pretty consistent, and we see him as one of our early go-to guys in the bullpen."
Bucknell will benefit from the addition of four freshmen who will look to break into roles in year one.
Heather noted that Chris Difiore is a freshman left-hander with a good three-pitch mix, and had one of the better falls after proving himself in a college wood-bat league over the summer. Will Greer is another incoming freshman that Heather said he could see as a major contributor, either as a starter or as a stopper or reliever. Tyler Rigot is another freshman lefty that Heather said is a great option for the Bison situationally. Heather added that Anthony Casciola is another solid arm out of the bullpen that will look to compete for innings.
Steven Walker is another returner who will look to take the next step in year two. Heather noted that Walker elevated his game at the end of last year, and has very good off-speed stuff coming out of the bullpen. Luke Allain will look to make a bigger impact in his sophomore year, while Wincig could also help as a pitcher when needed. Renn Lints, a wide receiver for the Bison football team, also joins the Bison pitching staff for the spring.
Matt Ottsen, a junior, impressed in the fall, and Heather said he is one of their most improved players.
"We see Matt as a great left-handed option out of the bullpen," said Heather. "We could see him in either a set-up or stopper kind of role, or even closing games when the situation is right. We became more and more comfortable putting him out there as the fall went on."
"Positionally, I really feel good about the lineup that we will put out there on a day-to-day basis," said Heather. "Our depth will be young, but the talent is there. I think from top to bottom, we'll produce runs and play solid defense. I'm the most excited about our defensive improvement from last year."
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