The news was music to Tyler Pitzer’s ears.
Even if the word the South Fayette product, now in his freshman season on the University of South Carolina’s pitching staff, would be receiving his first career start last weekend came suddenly.
“It was awesome first hearing about it on Saturday after our doubleheader,” Pitzer said. “I wasn’t too nervous.”
Less than 24 hours later Sunday, Pitzer took the mound with the chance to secure a sweep for his Gamecocks over traditional SEC power Vanderbilt, the third-ranked team in the country.
Pitzer did not disappoint.
The 6-foot-2, 195-pound right-hander conceded only two unearned runs, on three hits, in 6⅓ innings while striking out nine batters with one walk to earn his fourth victory of the season in his collegiate debut as a starting pitcher.
“Obviously, the first inning, the first couple of batters there was a little bit [of nerves],” said Pitzer, who held one of the nation’s top lineups in check during South Carolina’s 10-2 win. “I think having as many appearances as I did before that I kind of got comfortable with that, and then I didn’t really think of it any differently, just go out and keep doing what I was doing. I think that worked out well.”
As good as last week ended, Monday only got better for the McDonald native.
Pitzer was named SEC Freshman of the Week for the first time. In addition to his strong start against Vanderbilt, he tossed two innings of scoreless relief last Tuesday, racking up two strikeouts and allowing no hits in the Gamecocks’ 14-8 victory against USC Upstate.
“He’s kind of a quiet kid around me,” said first-year South Carolina pitching coach Matt Williams. “I think he has fun with the guys, but he’s a guy that’s very businesslike when he comes to get his work in. Whether it be his catch play or whether it be his bullpen, I think he approaches it in a very professional manner.”
And that has certainly been the case in his first season of NCAA Division I baseball.
Pitzer is 4-0 with a 0.48 ERA in 18⅔ innings. He has allowed three runs, one earned, on 12 hits with 29 strikeouts and seven walks.
“I think it starts with the work ethic,” Williams said. “He’s very consistent in what he does. I think his habits are really good. When you get a young guy with good habits, it gives him a chance. Obviously with those things and combining it with the athleticism that he has you get good things.”
For Pitzer, adapting to SEC competition has not come without challenges.
“It’s definitely been a big change,” said Pitzer, whose senior season at South Fayette was only in its early stages at this time last year. “Going from high school level you’ve got a certain amount of teachers, a certain amount of this and that all in one time span of the day. You go to college and now you’re doing your own classes and the baseball aspect of it is a lot more work, a lot more of your own development with your coaches and stuff.
“The big thing is just, you’ve got to space your time out and make sure you’re getting all your work in schoolwise, and then baseball is a lot more work, it’s a lot more important.”
Keeping things simple has also been critical.
Pitzer has leaned on locating his fastball, which ranges anywhere from 92 to 95 mph, and keeping hitters off balance with his slider and change up.
“In high school, my freshman, sophomore and junior year I was all curveball, and then senior year I kind of just had the slider,” he said. “I didn’t mean to completely get rid of my curveball, but my slider just progressed really well, and I kind of got rid of it. Honestly, since I stepped on campus it just progressed really quickly. Williams definitely had a big part in that.”
The key now will be to continue to develop those pitches, especially the changeup, Williams said.
“I actually got here in June,” Williams said. “He was recruited by the previous pitching coach. I will tell you, once I got here, met him and then obviously got to see him all fall, we saw a good arm. The biggest thing for him was just learning to be composed. He’s done that, and he’s done a tremendous job this early spring.”
Williams said Pitzer has an opportunity to be a very strong addition to his pitching staff this season and beyond.
“The arm first off, the arm is super fast,” Williams said. “He’s very athletic and then the fastball has tremendous carry to it. The sweeper, the slider, has been very good.”
Pitzer said he is expecting to remain in the mix with South Carolina’s starting rotation this season.
“I just want to keep making the best out of my opportunities I’m given and see where that takes me,” he said.
As far as Williams is concerned that could be quite a long way.
“I think it’s kind of year to year but obviously he’s starting as a freshman in the SEC so I guess it will kind of be up to him,” he said. “He’s starting as a Sunday guy this past week, I mean, realistically you hope the kid grows into a Friday night starter.
“We’ll let him continue to earn that and continue to work hard, and I think good things will happen for him.”
John is a copy editor and page designer at the Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at jsanta@unionprogress.com.