University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Panthers Get 2018 Fall Season Underway with Team Practice
9/24/2018 10:38:00 AM | Baseball
Mike Bell Era Begins at Pitt
PITTSBURGH – The University of Pittsburgh baseball team will get the 2018 fall season started Monday with the first full team practice.
BRING IN BELL
Mike Bell is entering his first season as head coach at Pitt after a seven-year stint as the associate head coach for ACC powerhouse Florida State. He brings 14 years of Division I coaching experience to the program and has coached 47 MLB draft picks, including 2006's No. 1 overall pick Luke Hochevar.
In 2012, he was named the Perfect Game Assistant Coach of the Year and before the 2017 season, was named the No. 13 recruiter in the country by D1Baseball.com. In the last 13 years, Bell has also helped lead three teams to four College World Series appearances - Tennessee (2005), Oklahoma (2010), and Florida State (2012 & 2017). In his time at Florida State, the program won three ACC titles in 2015, 2017, and 2018 and his pitchers have recorded 500 or more strikeouts.
SUMMER CATCH
Junior pitcher Dan Hammer had a summer to remember in the prestigious Cape Cod League, earning national recognition in his second stint with the Chatham Anglers. The hard-throwing righty was the East Division's starting pitcher in the 2018 Cape Cod League All-Star game and put up impressive numbers splitting time between the bullpen and the starting rotation.
The Panthers' righty was one of the best in the nation's top collegiate summer league, posting a 2-0 record and a 2.16 ERA in 25.0 innings for the Anglers, striking out 20 in the process.
The Chatham Anglers are no stranger to Pitt pitchers, having hosted 2016 First Round Draft pick T.J. Zeuch, as well as 2017 19th round pick Isaac Mattson and 2018 Sixth Round pick RJ Freure.
ALL SIGNS POINT WEST
Redshirt junior pitcher Derek West had a solid season in the Cape Cod League, pitching with the league champion Wareham Gatemen. After joining the Gatemen in July, West made four appearances, including two starts, competing to a 1.10 ERA in 16.1 innings. He allowed just two runs off eight hits and six walks, striking out 15 and holding opponents to a .143 average.
BRALWING AT PNC
The Panthers announced that the 2019 home contest against rival West Virginia will take place at PNC Park as the Backyard Brawl makes its professional debut. The game marks the first time the two schools will meet at PNC Park and the sixth time the Panthers take the field at the newest home of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Pitt owns a record of 3-2 at PNC Park all-time with the previous five games coming against Duquesne. It will be the first time since the 2009 season that the Panthers lace up at PNC Park. Pitt has outscored opponents by a margin of 34-16 at PNC Park.
NEWCOMERS
There will be many new faces on the diamond for the Panthers this season as the program welcomes 17 newcomers.
PANTHERS TO PROS
Four Panthers took their careers to the professional ranks following the 2018 season as RJ Freure, Matt Pidich, Liam Sabino and Yaya Chentouf each inked pro contracts.
Also drafted in the 2018 MLB First Year Player Draft was Derek West, who was taken in the 28th round by the Atlanta Braves. West announced in June his decision to return to Pitt.
UP NEXT
The Panthers will open the exhibition season Friday, Oct. 12, hosting the Toronto Mets in the first of two home contests at Charles L. Cost Field. Youngstown State will visit Friday, Oct. 19 before the Panthers conclude the 2018 fall season at rival WVU on Friday, Oct. 26 for the #FallBrawl.
#H2P | Twitter | Instagram
BRING IN BELL
Mike Bell is entering his first season as head coach at Pitt after a seven-year stint as the associate head coach for ACC powerhouse Florida State. He brings 14 years of Division I coaching experience to the program and has coached 47 MLB draft picks, including 2006's No. 1 overall pick Luke Hochevar.
In 2012, he was named the Perfect Game Assistant Coach of the Year and before the 2017 season, was named the No. 13 recruiter in the country by D1Baseball.com. In the last 13 years, Bell has also helped lead three teams to four College World Series appearances - Tennessee (2005), Oklahoma (2010), and Florida State (2012 & 2017). In his time at Florida State, the program won three ACC titles in 2015, 2017, and 2018 and his pitchers have recorded 500 or more strikeouts.
SUMMER CATCH
Junior pitcher Dan Hammer had a summer to remember in the prestigious Cape Cod League, earning national recognition in his second stint with the Chatham Anglers. The hard-throwing righty was the East Division's starting pitcher in the 2018 Cape Cod League All-Star game and put up impressive numbers splitting time between the bullpen and the starting rotation.
The Panthers' righty was one of the best in the nation's top collegiate summer league, posting a 2-0 record and a 2.16 ERA in 25.0 innings for the Anglers, striking out 20 in the process.
The Chatham Anglers are no stranger to Pitt pitchers, having hosted 2016 First Round Draft pick T.J. Zeuch, as well as 2017 19th round pick Isaac Mattson and 2018 Sixth Round pick RJ Freure.
ALL SIGNS POINT WEST
Redshirt junior pitcher Derek West had a solid season in the Cape Cod League, pitching with the league champion Wareham Gatemen. After joining the Gatemen in July, West made four appearances, including two starts, competing to a 1.10 ERA in 16.1 innings. He allowed just two runs off eight hits and six walks, striking out 15 and holding opponents to a .143 average.
BRALWING AT PNC
The Panthers announced that the 2019 home contest against rival West Virginia will take place at PNC Park as the Backyard Brawl makes its professional debut. The game marks the first time the two schools will meet at PNC Park and the sixth time the Panthers take the field at the newest home of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Pitt owns a record of 3-2 at PNC Park all-time with the previous five games coming against Duquesne. It will be the first time since the 2009 season that the Panthers lace up at PNC Park. Pitt has outscored opponents by a margin of 34-16 at PNC Park.
NEWCOMERS
There will be many new faces on the diamond for the Panthers this season as the program welcomes 17 newcomers.
PANTHERS TO PROS
Four Panthers took their careers to the professional ranks following the 2018 season as RJ Freure, Matt Pidich, Liam Sabino and Yaya Chentouf each inked pro contracts.
- RJ Freure – Sixth Round – Houston Astros
- Matt Pidich – Eighth Round – Cincinnati Reds
- Liam Sabino – 35th Round – St. Louis Cardinals
- Yaya Chentouf – 36th Round – Detroit Tigers
Also drafted in the 2018 MLB First Year Player Draft was Derek West, who was taken in the 28th round by the Atlanta Braves. West announced in June his decision to return to Pitt.
UP NEXT
The Panthers will open the exhibition season Friday, Oct. 12, hosting the Toronto Mets in the first of two home contests at Charles L. Cost Field. Youngstown State will visit Friday, Oct. 19 before the Panthers conclude the 2018 fall season at rival WVU on Friday, Oct. 26 for the #FallBrawl.
#H2P | Twitter | Instagram
Players Mentioned
RHP/OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballPitt Baseball | The Cardiac Cats do it again and defeat Louisville 13-11!
Wednesday, May 21
Pitt's Jayden Melendez Hits The Bull
Wednesday, May 21
Pitt First Baseman Luke Cantwell's Beautiful Basket Catch
Wednesday, May 21
Highlights | Pitt 13, Louisville 11 | ACC Tournament
Tuesday, May 20