Baseball season is just around the corner for Arizona State baseball and the Sun Devils will have plenty of new faces contributing to the team’s last ride in the Pac-12 conference.
With another strong freshman class incoming and a transfer class that was ranked by D1Baseball.com as the 25th-best in the country, there’s good reason for head coach Willie Bloomquist to be excited about the talent of this team.
“This is a four-year decision for the rest of your life,” Bloomquist said on the commitment he expects from the newcomers.
The ASU roster had several major holes to fill with eight players leaving in the draft after last season along with another six in the transfer portal.
Going into his third season leading the ship, Bloomquist’s team is almost completely of his making. He told the media that during this offseason he kept focusing on players who would fit with the hard-working team mentality of guys who just want to represent ASU the right way.
“We’ve gotten the right ones,” Bloomquist said. “When you mix in guys like that and start adding it up, and the idea and fact that they’re just anxious to play and contribute and be a part of ASU is what really speaks volumes for them.”
With all of the newcomers, the pitching staff might have a complete facelift compared to last year. Sophomores Sean Fitzpatrick from Arkansas and Ben Jacobs from UCLA, along with seniors from GCU Connor Markl and Hunter Omlid are all set to eat up big innings for the Sun Devils.
Bloomquist mentioned how all of the incoming talent meshing with the roster has provided him with a wealth of talent and experience all over the field, making it harder to decide final roles.
“There’s a little clarity on a standpoint of the guys who are gonna run out on Friday, but there are a lot of guys who can play,” Bloomquist said. “There’ll be a handful of guys who start every day assuming they’re healthy. But other than that there’s a dog fight and there’s guys who have earned playing time.”
Markl along with freshman pitcher Thomas Burns are the two where there seems to be some clarity. Bloomquist mentioned the two as players who have almost locked down a spot in the weekend rotation. Jacobs among other names were tossed around and still are being debated for who will solidify themselves for Sunday.
The fact that so many spots are still up for grabs is a testament to ASU’s recruiting and the competition they have had this offseason.
“These guys are eager to get out there it’s been a fun group to work with,” pitching coach Sam Peraza said. “These guys have a little sense of pride in the program like I mentioned earlier. They’ve been waiting three years really since we stepped on campus here. When I got the job in July of 2021, these were the guys we targeted.”
The development of team chemistry along with growth from the younger players will be paramount for the Sun Devils to make it through their schedule. ASU’s out-of-conference schedule includes five schools that made it to regionals. Including the Pac-12 schedule boosts that number to ten.
Bloomquist is excited for the challenge the team will face all year. He made it clear that the competition between the offense and pitching has been beneficial to the team’s preparation.
If all goes to plan, Bloomquist and the team know with the Pac-12 dissolving they have two goals: win the conference and go to Omaha. To do that, they have to make it through that tough schedule.
“There’s no layups. From our opening weekend to our first midweek versus Kansas State who’s top 25,” Bloomquist said. “I’m not gonna get burned by RPI and strength of schedule. That once was enough for me and whoever makes those decisions on RPI, I’m still trying to figure that out I guess. But I didn’t want strength of schedule to be a factor.”
ASU opens the season with a three-game set against Santa Clara beginning Feb. 16 in Tempe.
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