freshman watch: pitchers

Here’s a look at the top freshman pitchers on the Cape. Those with a ‘*’ by their names have been primarily starters. A ‘+’ indicates they’ve pitched fewer than 10 innings.

**Update: added Kyle Gibson to the list. Gibson is one of the best pitchers in the league, let alone the best freshmen pitchers.

Boxberger, Oliver and Brewer merit special attention because of their roles as starters. All three have put up great numbers.

Boxberger was USC’s top starter in his first year with the program, posting a 3.20 ERA in 14 starts. He has carried that success over to the Cape, though he hasn’t recorded a decision in four starts. He has struck out 14 in 19 innings.

Oliver went 6-1 for Oklahoma State this spring, but struggled in the ERA department, finishing with a 5.52 mark. He has been lights-out this summer, allowing just 14 hits in 32 innings. Oliver has decent size (6-foot-2) and he’s lefthanded, so he’s surely making an impression on scouts. Out of high school in Vermilion, Ohio, Oliver was a 17th-round draft pick.

Brewer was a highly-touted prospect coming out of high school in Paradise Valley, Ariz., where he didn’t lose a single game, but an illness this spring kept him from seeing much action for the Bruins. He pitched in only four games. But Brewer appears to be healthy now, and he’s making the most of it. An 18th-round pick out of high school, the 6-foot-4 righty has struck out 14 in 23 innings.

Brewer’s college teammate Gavin Brooks would also be on this list, but he has left the Chatham A’s after suffering an injury. Before the injury, Brooks had a 2.61 ERA.

As for the relievers on this list, Brown and Couture have both been tremendous. Brown has 14 strikeouts in 12 innings and has allowed just seven hits. Couture has struck out 18 against just four walks in 19.2 innings.

White has made four appearances for Chatham out of the pen since arriving from the College World Series, but is scheduled to make a start Thursday. If he does well, White will continue to establish himself as one of the top freshman pitchers in the country. White was a 14th round pick out of high school and when he arrived on the UNC campus, he was tabbed as the preseason ACC freshman of the year. He didn’t put up spectacular numbers for the Tar Heels but he was one of their three regular starters, which is pretty good in itself. White is someone to keep an eye on the rest of the summer.

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