Tennessee is handing the ball to true freshman Garrett Crochet, who is a Ocean Springs, Mississippi, native. He was a late bloomer who impressed some scouts at a showcase, earning an offer from Tulane. Texas and Tennessee jumped in after that, and he eventually signed with the Vols, turning down an offer after being drafted in the 34th round.
Tonight will be his second start as UT is looking for any type of consistency this season. He shut down Cincinnati with eight innings of one-run, five-hit ball. He struck out eight and didn't walk anyone, which has been a constant for him this season. He has a 3.57 ERA in five appearances this year, striking out 20 and walking only three in 22.2 innings.
Crochet should sit 88-91and mostly show a fastball-curve mix. He'll hold his velocity well, but it doesn't have a lot of movement. However, he throws from the third base side of the rubber and does a good job of creating an angle that can be deceptive. I talked to a scout about him this morning who said he should be very, very good as his career goes on, but there's a lack of refinement so far.
While he hasn't walked many people he also doesn't hit his correct quadrant that often and leaves baseballs in very hittable positions. The curve can have some really good tumble at around 80 MPH when he's throwing it well, but it's a rhythm pitch that he will hang when the timing is off. Basically there are two versions of him, and one can be very good while the other will look like a freshman that didn't have a ton of early offers for a reason.
Tennessee doesn't have a lot of bullpen options, so Ole Miss needs to hit Crochet out of the game. He's unlikely to give a lot of gifts as far as walks, but he'll miss with pitches, and the Rebels need to make him pay for that. He also can last a long time so tiring him out isn't the way to go. From what I'm hearing, the key is to be aggressive and be really good with not chasing fastballs. He doesn't mind coming inside with his fastball so Ole Miss needs to get to him early and keep him from finding a rhythm with his curve release point.
The fastball is hittable but it's doubtful to walk you. This is a good introductory test for the Ole Miss offense. It's talent but it's not advanced. It's a training wheels SEC opponent.
Tonight will be his second start as UT is looking for any type of consistency this season. He shut down Cincinnati with eight innings of one-run, five-hit ball. He struck out eight and didn't walk anyone, which has been a constant for him this season. He has a 3.57 ERA in five appearances this year, striking out 20 and walking only three in 22.2 innings.
Crochet should sit 88-91and mostly show a fastball-curve mix. He'll hold his velocity well, but it doesn't have a lot of movement. However, he throws from the third base side of the rubber and does a good job of creating an angle that can be deceptive. I talked to a scout about him this morning who said he should be very, very good as his career goes on, but there's a lack of refinement so far.
While he hasn't walked many people he also doesn't hit his correct quadrant that often and leaves baseballs in very hittable positions. The curve can have some really good tumble at around 80 MPH when he's throwing it well, but it's a rhythm pitch that he will hang when the timing is off. Basically there are two versions of him, and one can be very good while the other will look like a freshman that didn't have a ton of early offers for a reason.
Tennessee doesn't have a lot of bullpen options, so Ole Miss needs to hit Crochet out of the game. He's unlikely to give a lot of gifts as far as walks, but he'll miss with pitches, and the Rebels need to make him pay for that. He also can last a long time so tiring him out isn't the way to go. From what I'm hearing, the key is to be aggressive and be really good with not chasing fastballs. He doesn't mind coming inside with his fastball so Ole Miss needs to get to him early and keep him from finding a rhythm with his curve release point.
The fastball is hittable but it's doubtful to walk you. This is a good introductory test for the Ole Miss offense. It's talent but it's not advanced. It's a training wheels SEC opponent.
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