By Nick Brockman, Messenger Sports Reporter nbrockman@the-messenger.com
The Tradewater Pirates pitching corps grew once again this week when the organization announced the signing of right-handed pitcher Nolan Mullaney on Thursday.
Mullaney, a freshman at San Bernadino Valley College (Calif.), represents the team's fourth signed pitcher thus far and the first commitment to be locked down by assistant coach Brad Cowan, who will assume responsibility for Pirate hurlers.
Cowan said he extended a contract offer to Mullaney, who graduated from Fontana High School (Calif.), after learning of the young pitcher's upper 80s fastball and 12-to-six curveball, a pitch that appears to roll off a table when it breaks.
"I'm big on trying to get different styles of pitchers," Cowan said. "That 12-6 curve gives hitters a hard time sometimes. He's something different, so I figured he would be a good fit."
When Cowan talked with Mullaney's college coach, the California skipper said Mullaney, at 6-0, 190 pounds, was projected as the team's No. 1 or 2 starting pitcher.
With Mullaney's addition, Tradewater's roster now stands at 13 players with 11 spots to fill.
Cowan said he's awaiting a signed contract from a starting pitcher at Northwest Florida State College and has received verbal commitments from other pitchers.
Mullaney, a freshman at San Bernadino Valley College (Calif.), represents the team's fourth signed pitcher thus far and the first commitment to be locked down by assistant coach Brad Cowan, who will assume responsibility for Pirate hurlers.
Cowan said he extended a contract offer to Mullaney, who graduated from Fontana High School (Calif.), after learning of the young pitcher's upper 80s fastball and 12-to-six curveball, a pitch that appears to roll off a table when it breaks.
"I'm big on trying to get different styles of pitchers," Cowan said. "That 12-6 curve gives hitters a hard time sometimes. He's something different, so I figured he would be a good fit."
When Cowan talked with Mullaney's college coach, the California skipper said Mullaney, at 6-0, 190 pounds, was projected as the team's No. 1 or 2 starting pitcher.
With Mullaney's addition, Tradewater's roster now stands at 13 players with 11 spots to fill.
Cowan said he's awaiting a signed contract from a starting pitcher at Northwest Florida State College and has received verbal commitments from other pitchers.
Although Cowan has focused his attention thus far on starters, he understands the importance of a quality bullpen.
"The relievers usually come (into the summer) and they don't have the innings that some of the starters do," he said of pitchers playing in summer leagues after the collegiate season ends. "These guys throw a lot of innings if they're one of the top three or four guys.
"They might be a little tired come summer ball. It's good for the relievers to get some more innings in the summertime."
Like Mullaney, many pitchers in the K.I.T. League will enter the summer fresh from their collegiate debuts.
Such inexperience can prove difficult to work with occasionally, but Cowan said he plans to help his staff to adjust and learn the mental aspects of pitching.
"A lot of these guys are throwers, especially the young guys," he said.
"They don't know how to spot, command their pitches. You have to teach them how to pitch. You're not going to throw a guy a fastball right down the middle on an 0-2 count. You don't do stuff like that. The pitch has to be off the plate and out of their reach."
"The relievers usually come (into the summer) and they don't have the innings that some of the starters do," he said of pitchers playing in summer leagues after the collegiate season ends. "These guys throw a lot of innings if they're one of the top three or four guys.
"They might be a little tired come summer ball. It's good for the relievers to get some more innings in the summertime."
Like Mullaney, many pitchers in the K.I.T. League will enter the summer fresh from their collegiate debuts.
Such inexperience can prove difficult to work with occasionally, but Cowan said he plans to help his staff to adjust and learn the mental aspects of pitching.
"A lot of these guys are throwers, especially the young guys," he said.
"They don't know how to spot, command their pitches. You have to teach them how to pitch. You're not going to throw a guy a fastball right down the middle on an 0-2 count. You don't do stuff like that. The pitch has to be off the plate and out of their reach."
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