Privateer Baseball 2024 Preview: Relievers

When it comes to the bullpen, covering all options would be akin to calling roll in an auditorium style classroom. The New Orleans Privateers will not have a shortage of options as guys will look to carve out a defined role during the 2024 season.

Jacob Mead emerged as the closer late in the 2023 season but fast forward to ’24 with Mead graduated and there hasn’t been a clear-cut favorite for the closer’s role at least to start the year.

“I don’t think I can name an exact closer right now and part of that is we’re banged up a little bit,” said Coach Blake Dean. “Nathan Blasick has been anywhere from 93 to 97 while converting to a relief pitcher. Skylar Jones is coming off an injury last year and we’ve had to be careful with him but he’s got good stuff. We’ll go by committee early in the season.”

Jones has pitched at Snead State and Chattahoochee Valley in the last two years. At Snead State, Jones won four decisions in 14 appearances. He was selected to the Alabama High School Athletic Association All-Star Team while at Trussville High School.

There are several returners who can be used in multiple roles and some may be innings eaters out of the pen if needed. Ryan Delorbe, Jack Williams, Trey Usey, Caleb Seroski and Connor Macip are among the returners who can stretch out if needed.

Usey had 14 appearances with two starts last year and had four straight scoreless appearances early in the ’23 season. Williams has 10 wins and 57.1 innings thrown in two seasons with the Privateers. Delorbe had 20 strikeouts in 21.1 innings. Seroski has 111 strikeouts in 109.1 career innings with New Orleans. Five of Macip’s nine appearances last season went two innings or longer.

“We have a lot of guys who can fill multiple roles for us in the bullpen depending on what we need from game to game. There are a lot of guys we’re trying to bring along for the season but we’re going to rely on everyone. We have options going into this season.”

Zeph Hoffpauir didn’t have a lot of innings on his arm last season but in the time he was on the mound, he rarely got hit. Hoffpauir gave up three hits in 7.1 innings and he struck out 10 batters. Hoffpauir is one of the older guys Coach Dean referenced.

“Zeph never really gets hit but he just has to find the zone. The thing I like about Zeph is he’s very mature and we have very candid conversations about what he’s doing. He’s an older guy who knows what the expectations are.”

Canaan Clayton made 19 appearances in his first collegiate season. The New Orleans native was thrown into some high leverage situations and he picked up his first career save against South Alabama in late April of last season. Clayton pitched to a 3.86 ERA.

One of the newcomers Coach Dean talked about in an ability to be used in multiple roles is Grant Edwards. He also had high praise for the Walker, La. native who went 5-0 with a 3.80 ERA at East Central CC last season.

“Grant Edwards is another guy who has a lot of innings and he has good stuff. He reminds me of a young Reeves Martin,” said Dean. “The only difference is Edwards’ fastball sinks more whereas Martin had that rise to his fastball.

A lot of newcomers, who were essential in the Privateers being ranked as the 13th best JUCO signing class of 2024 will be a part of the pen. Kyrin Tyson-Long, Bryce Calloway, Kace Matthews, Cade Mitchell, Brooks Byers, Tyler Velino, and Jayden Lopez all come from previous JUCO stops while Elijah Karney is a true freshman from California.

Long won Alabama Independent School Association Player of the Year in 2019 and had a 2.84 ERA as a freshman at Shelton State. Matthews struck out 59 batters in 52.1 innings at Jones JC. Mitchell was First Team All-Region at Chattahoochee Valley in 2023. Calloway struck out 80 batters in 62 innings at Central Alabama CC and was First Team All-Conference in ’23.

Velino had three wins and two saves last season at Delgado. Karney was a two-time All-League selection at Paloma Valley High School. Byers struck out 28 batters in 24.1 innings last year at Wallace-Dothan. Lopez had 118 strikeouts in 99.1 career innings at East Georgia State.

The season starts for the Privateers next Friday when they open against the Georgia State Panthers at Maestri Field. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

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