Completed Event: Baseball versus No. 11 seed Kansas State on May 19, 2026 , Loss , 5, to, 9
Final Score
Baseball
5
vs No. 11 seed Kansas State
9
The University of Utah Athletics
Position Breakdown: Pitcher/Catcher
2/6/2020 2:58 PM | Baseball
Utes Have More Depth Coming into the Season
SALT LAKE CITY – Utah baseball is closing in on their 2020 season and UtahUtes.com has been breaking down each position group on the team.
Â
The pitchers and catchers both have more depth coming into the season with players returning from injury as well as a highly ranked freshman class.
Â
Along with getting redshirt senior Kyle Robeniol and redshirt sophomore Justin Kelly back from injury, Utah has several returning pitchers that got a bunch of experience on the mound a season ago. Robeniol was the Friday night starter until injuring his knee against Oregon State. The left hander started seven games in 2019 and held a 4.91 ERA.
Â
As the injuries piled up in 2019, it thrust Dustyn Schramm, David Watson and Zac McCleve into starting roles as well as the primary closer out of the bullpen just as freshmen. Schramm ended up starting in eight games with 16 appearances and he held a 5.10 ERA. Watson got three starts last season with two of them coming in the final two weekends earning wins in both of those games. McCleve was one of the most consistent pitchers last season. In 30 appearances, he held a 5.72 ERA and five saves.
Â
While closing last season strong, Watson also had a good summer on the Corvallis Knights. He struck out 45 batters in 47 innings while holding a 4.02 ERA. Watson went 5-1 over the summer.
Â
"David Watson has made a huge improvement from last year and had a great summer and fall," head coach Bill Kinneberg said. "We feel like he has a really good chance of starting."
Â
Riley Pierce will also be in the running to start.
Â
Back in 2018, Justin Kelly made 12 appearances out of the bullpen and is now back. Ian MacIver is also back from injury and both Kelly and him will provide good depth in the bullpen.
Â
Some of the freshmen coming in will get some time on the mound as well. Trey Clarkson could see time at first base, but also come out of the bullpen to provide depth. Sean Bolin, from Dallas, Texas, will also provide some depth.
Â
The pitching group also welcomes a new coach in Gary Henderson. He has a ton of experience after being a head coach at Kentucky and Mississippi State.
Â
"The key to any pitching is consistent strikes with two or three pitches," Kinneberg said. "That's something Gary has worked on really hard in the fall and so far this spring. We've seen some great improvement out of some guys and am really anxious to see us in St. George to see what their progress has been in three months."
Â
At catcher, Utah returns starter Zack Moeller for his redshirt senior season. He started in 45 games last season and hit .264 on the year. His OPS was third on the team at .786. He also slugged .408 with 31 RBI.
Â
The other two players that will get some time at catcher are Jayden Kiernan and Christopher Rowan, Jr.
Â
Brock Rudy fought through an injury in the fall and will be used primarily as a designated hitter early in the season and will be able to start catching again in April.
Â
The team will travel to St. George one more time this weekend before heading to UC Davis to begin the season on Friday, February 14.
Â
Â
Â
Â
The pitchers and catchers both have more depth coming into the season with players returning from injury as well as a highly ranked freshman class.
Â
Along with getting redshirt senior Kyle Robeniol and redshirt sophomore Justin Kelly back from injury, Utah has several returning pitchers that got a bunch of experience on the mound a season ago. Robeniol was the Friday night starter until injuring his knee against Oregon State. The left hander started seven games in 2019 and held a 4.91 ERA.
Â
As the injuries piled up in 2019, it thrust Dustyn Schramm, David Watson and Zac McCleve into starting roles as well as the primary closer out of the bullpen just as freshmen. Schramm ended up starting in eight games with 16 appearances and he held a 5.10 ERA. Watson got three starts last season with two of them coming in the final two weekends earning wins in both of those games. McCleve was one of the most consistent pitchers last season. In 30 appearances, he held a 5.72 ERA and five saves.
Â
While closing last season strong, Watson also had a good summer on the Corvallis Knights. He struck out 45 batters in 47 innings while holding a 4.02 ERA. Watson went 5-1 over the summer.
Â
"David Watson has made a huge improvement from last year and had a great summer and fall," head coach Bill Kinneberg said. "We feel like he has a really good chance of starting."
Â
Riley Pierce will also be in the running to start.
Â
Back in 2018, Justin Kelly made 12 appearances out of the bullpen and is now back. Ian MacIver is also back from injury and both Kelly and him will provide good depth in the bullpen.
Â
Some of the freshmen coming in will get some time on the mound as well. Trey Clarkson could see time at first base, but also come out of the bullpen to provide depth. Sean Bolin, from Dallas, Texas, will also provide some depth.
Â
The pitching group also welcomes a new coach in Gary Henderson. He has a ton of experience after being a head coach at Kentucky and Mississippi State.
Â
"The key to any pitching is consistent strikes with two or three pitches," Kinneberg said. "That's something Gary has worked on really hard in the fall and so far this spring. We've seen some great improvement out of some guys and am really anxious to see us in St. George to see what their progress has been in three months."
Â
At catcher, Utah returns starter Zack Moeller for his redshirt senior season. He started in 45 games last season and hit .264 on the year. His OPS was third on the team at .786. He also slugged .408 with 31 RBI.
Â
The other two players that will get some time at catcher are Jayden Kiernan and Christopher Rowan, Jr.
Â
Brock Rudy fought through an injury in the fall and will be used primarily as a designated hitter early in the season and will be able to start catching again in April.
Â
The team will travel to St. George one more time this weekend before heading to UC Davis to begin the season on Friday, February 14.
Â
Â
Â
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballESPN+ Feature | Utah Baseball's Seth Graham-Pippin & Jet Gilliam
Friday, May 15
ESPN+ Feature | Behind Game Day: Grass & Turf
Tuesday, May 12
ESPN+ Feature | Utah Baseball's Luke Jacobs
Wednesday, April 29
ESPN+ Feature | Utah Baseball's Cal Miller
Friday, April 24