Danny Hultzen has been named the ACC Pitcher of the Week ---- he is playing for UVA and has been unbelievable throwing 13 strikeouts in seven innings at Wake Forest. He is currently UVA's Friday night pitcher ---
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I assume he's a Maryland product?
Yes he is, though at the rate he's going, a lot of folks are going to be laying claim to him as an alum.
Saw the Wake effort in person, and the Florida State game on ACCSelect. (BTW, 9 K's vs. Wake -- it was FSU who K'ed 13 times!) I knew Danny when he was smallish and a left-handed Maddux type. Now he's 6'1" and throwing 92+ on top of his pitchability. I hear he turned down a lot of money last June.
Too bad we don't play UVA the next 2 years, there will be lots of scouts at those games!
Saw the Wake effort in person, and the Florida State game on ACCSelect. (BTW, 9 K's vs. Wake -- it was FSU who K'ed 13 times!) I knew Danny when he was smallish and a left-handed Maddux type. Now he's 6'1" and throwing 92+ on top of his pitchability. I hear he turned down a lot of money last June.
Too bad we don't play UVA the next 2 years, there will be lots of scouts at those games!
One cautionary note, though.
After 6 innings in the Wake game, UVA was up 15-2 and Hultzen was at 87 pitches. They sent him out for the 7th and he ended up at 106 on a mid-50's evening.
After 6 innings in the FSU game, UVA was up 13-0 (!) and Hultzen was at 98 pitches. They sent him out for the 7th and he ended up at 115 on a chilly, rainy day.
UVA has a history of taking bright young pitchers and grinding them into the ground by tournament time, and the cumulative effect over the years in a few cases has damaged players' draft status. As examples, Jacob Thompson went from projected 1st rounder to 5th rounder when his MPH dropped; Sean Doolittle, once a Clemens award finalist, also faded his junior year, ultimately gave up pitching and went pro as an offensive player.
It would be nice if UVA would learn from their history and take things a bit more carefully with Danny. I understand the desire to win and if the games had been on the line maybe you could justify it. But these games were blowouts. And it's a long season for a kid who's going to be asked to throw more than he has ever before.
UVA is extraordinarily deep in pitching. They have quality arms in the bullpen that they barely even use. I simply don't understand why they couldn't pull Hultzen after 6 and take a look at one of those guys early in the season when the opportunities presented, instead of risking wearing Danny down early.
After 6 innings in the Wake game, UVA was up 15-2 and Hultzen was at 87 pitches. They sent him out for the 7th and he ended up at 106 on a mid-50's evening.
After 6 innings in the FSU game, UVA was up 13-0 (!) and Hultzen was at 98 pitches. They sent him out for the 7th and he ended up at 115 on a chilly, rainy day.
UVA has a history of taking bright young pitchers and grinding them into the ground by tournament time, and the cumulative effect over the years in a few cases has damaged players' draft status. As examples, Jacob Thompson went from projected 1st rounder to 5th rounder when his MPH dropped; Sean Doolittle, once a Clemens award finalist, also faded his junior year, ultimately gave up pitching and went pro as an offensive player.
It would be nice if UVA would learn from their history and take things a bit more carefully with Danny. I understand the desire to win and if the games had been on the line maybe you could justify it. But these games were blowouts. And it's a long season for a kid who's going to be asked to throw more than he has ever before.
UVA is extraordinarily deep in pitching. They have quality arms in the bullpen that they barely even use. I simply don't understand why they couldn't pull Hultzen after 6 and take a look at one of those guys early in the season when the opportunities presented, instead of risking wearing Danny down early.
I hope they take care of him. I hope Scott Silverstein gets some time on the mound soon, too.
LHPMom
fan of all LHPs
LHPMom
fan of all LHPs
What is wrong with 105 to 120 pitches in college?
Perhaps it is time we stop babying the arms so kids can go the entire game
Perhaps it is time we stop babying the arms so kids can go the entire game
What is wrong with it is that it's early in the season and the weather is also not conducive. And there are too many examples of it not working out well over the long term.
i agree with your comment to many pitches, iam sure all of the wake fans would have loved to get him out of the game early since he was in control and maybe the next would not be so. Danny has a dad maybe if he felt the same way he should get up and tell them, obvious not he was enjoying his son. When it comes to winning what price will a coach, dad pay? the answer is easy. They live for today and throw caution to wind and we will worry about tommorrow when it comes,if they are pitching well, let him stink it up and you will hear to many pitches. Yes iam on the fence. What is the correct number to throw in Feb,Mar,Apr, etc & what % should be breadking pitches. Let them have fun and if the dad feels it is to many then step up. Coaches have jobs and they live for today and recuiting the next player to take his place anyway. Don't blame them it's only business
Midlo, while you are much more knowledgeable than I on these issues, are you a bit conflicted in your comments?
Your son chose another, competing school for any combination of appropriate reasons, rather than stay in state at UVa, which I think would have been interested in him. Wake and UVa will continue to compete on the field and for future players from this area.
While I agree pitch counts are critically important and the data points you provide on past UVa pitchers being overused are hard to argue with, is there a need or benefit to bashing the UVa staff?
Your son chose another, competing school for any combination of appropriate reasons, rather than stay in state at UVa, which I think would have been interested in him. Wake and UVa will continue to compete on the field and for future players from this area.
While I agree pitch counts are critically important and the data points you provide on past UVa pitchers being overused are hard to argue with, is there a need or benefit to bashing the UVa staff?