Nebraska baseball will open its season this weekend with four games on the road against UC Riverside.
Nebraska head coach Darin Erstad held his hour-long coaches show on Monday evening and gave an extensive preview of his team heading into the opener. Here are a few bullet points from the appearance.
Erstad gave a number of updates on injured pitchers making their way back and their availability for the weekend. Erstad said junior Chad Luensmann is good to go for the weekend and will pitch. “He’s ready to roll,” Erstad said of Luensmann. “He’s not built up to the max pitch count, but he’s in a good place.”
— Left-handed pitcher Connor Curry is also available for the weekend. Curry has battled multiple injuries during his time at Nebraska.
“Connor is in a good place as well,” Erstad said. “He’s not built up as much as Chad is. He’ll be a starter, but he’ll probably pitch out of the pen. He’s shown good stuff, we just have to get him to maintain that…he’s an intense, max-effort guy, and it’s a matter of finding the happy medium for him.
“He’s every bit of a Friday starter when he’s got it going.”
— Robbie Palkert will also be available. His season ended on the first weekend a year ago, but he has shown good control and velocity
“Robbie has thrown live the last two weekends and he’s ready to go,” Erstad said. “He will be in a position to help us. His velocities have been solid. It’s a huge veteran arm to have to help this weekend.”
— Reece Eddins is closer to where he was before his injury, Erstad said, and he could be a valuable arm either as a starter or out of the bullpen.
“He could start, or long relief. I think he’s earned the right to start. He’s been here five years and has a three-pitch mix,” Erstad said. “He’s sustaining his staff and has his angle on his fastball.”
— Nebraska will take 16 pitchers on the trip to California this weekend, and among the younger pitchers going will be local products Colby Gomes and Kyle Perry. Gomes is every bit of 6-foot-5, 225 pounds, while Perry gives the Huskers another left-handed arm. With four games, including a Saturday doubleheader, a number of young pitchers will get the chance to show what they can do.
— Sophomore Jaxon Hallmark will pitch this season, Erstad said. Hallmark played both on the infield and in the outfield last season, but Hallmark, who was a solid pitcher in high school in Texas, will throw for the Huskers.
“He gets out there and has that bulldog mentality,” Erstad said. “He will be upper 80s, touching 90s.”
For the first few weekends, look for Mojo Hagge to serve as the team’s designated hitter. Erstad said Hagge has had some arm soreness that the staff wants to be careful with.
You could also see freshman Spencer Schwellenbach all over the infield. Schwellenbach was a two-way player in Michigan, but arm issues suffered during his senior year of high school will keep him off the mound. Erstad said Schwellenbach, who homered twice in the Red-White Series in the fall, will play at third base, a little at first base, while also serving as the designated hitter.
Nebraska head coach Darin Erstad held his hour-long coaches show on Monday evening and gave an extensive preview of his team heading into the opener. Here are a few bullet points from the appearance.
Erstad gave a number of updates on injured pitchers making their way back and their availability for the weekend. Erstad said junior Chad Luensmann is good to go for the weekend and will pitch. “He’s ready to roll,” Erstad said of Luensmann. “He’s not built up to the max pitch count, but he’s in a good place.”
— Left-handed pitcher Connor Curry is also available for the weekend. Curry has battled multiple injuries during his time at Nebraska.
“Connor is in a good place as well,” Erstad said. “He’s not built up as much as Chad is. He’ll be a starter, but he’ll probably pitch out of the pen. He’s shown good stuff, we just have to get him to maintain that…he’s an intense, max-effort guy, and it’s a matter of finding the happy medium for him.
“He’s every bit of a Friday starter when he’s got it going.”
— Robbie Palkert will also be available. His season ended on the first weekend a year ago, but he has shown good control and velocity
“Robbie has thrown live the last two weekends and he’s ready to go,” Erstad said. “He will be in a position to help us. His velocities have been solid. It’s a huge veteran arm to have to help this weekend.”
— Reece Eddins is closer to where he was before his injury, Erstad said, and he could be a valuable arm either as a starter or out of the bullpen.
“He could start, or long relief. I think he’s earned the right to start. He’s been here five years and has a three-pitch mix,” Erstad said. “He’s sustaining his staff and has his angle on his fastball.”
— Nebraska will take 16 pitchers on the trip to California this weekend, and among the younger pitchers going will be local products Colby Gomes and Kyle Perry. Gomes is every bit of 6-foot-5, 225 pounds, while Perry gives the Huskers another left-handed arm. With four games, including a Saturday doubleheader, a number of young pitchers will get the chance to show what they can do.
— Sophomore Jaxon Hallmark will pitch this season, Erstad said. Hallmark played both on the infield and in the outfield last season, but Hallmark, who was a solid pitcher in high school in Texas, will throw for the Huskers.
“He gets out there and has that bulldog mentality,” Erstad said. “He will be upper 80s, touching 90s.”
For the first few weekends, look for Mojo Hagge to serve as the team’s designated hitter. Erstad said Hagge has had some arm soreness that the staff wants to be careful with.
You could also see freshman Spencer Schwellenbach all over the infield. Schwellenbach was a two-way player in Michigan, but arm issues suffered during his senior year of high school will keep him off the mound. Erstad said Schwellenbach, who homered twice in the Red-White Series in the fall, will play at third base, a little at first base, while also serving as the designated hitter.
