Wong Stadium hasn’t looked this good in years, UH-Hilo baseball coach Kallen Miyataki said, and just in time for him to wear out a path between the dugout and the mound.
Turnstile pitching will be on display by design during a five-game season-opening series against San Diego Christian. The Vulcans will stretch out their arms and utilize strict pitch limits. But the piggy back pitcher usage underscores another point: from the sixth-year ace with savvy to the sixth-year closer with fury and everything in between – hard-throwing right-handed starters, a promising freshmen, long men, middle men, short men, a shorter man (two-batter specialists), left-handed specialists and set-up men – Miyataki feels like he’s a man with options.
“We’re balanced,” he said. “I’m not afraid to go to the pen.”
This is the final go-around for the proverbial crafty lefty, Kyle Alcorn, who looks to make year 6 his best yet by building on a campaign in which he went 3-3, ate up innings and sported a 3.82 ERA.
“He’s our dinosaur, our go-to guy,” Miyataki said.
“We talk about changing speeds and disrupting timing,” he said. “Everybody knows it’s all about disrupting timing.”
During a the PacWest season, he’ll hand the ball to Alcorn to start every series, but that honor Friday likely will go to a new face, Barron Holtz, a transfer from Division I North Dakota State. The junior right-hander will potentially be the Vuls’ hardest thrower, touching as high as 94 mph on the radar gun, with a curveball to complement the firm stuff.
“He’s learning to pitch,” Miyataki said. “If he pitches he’ll be fine. If he overthrows, he won’t be fine.”
Right-hander Christian DeJesus (1-4, 4.81 ERA in 2021) is coming off of a strong summer season on the mainland, his coach said, and has a spot in the rotation. Striking out more than a batter an inning last year, he’s set to get a start during Saturday’s doubleheader, as is another Oahu native James Yamasaki, who transferred in after a year of juco ball in Washington.
DeJesus and Yamasaki are both plus arms, Miyataki said, and he’s especially high on freshman Conor Meehan, a California native who throws in the high 80s, adding in a curveball and changeup.
“He’s going to be a sleeper,” Miyataki said. “By the time he hits junior year, he’ll be in the 90s. He’s got game. Potentially could be our fourth starter. He’s doing really well.”
“A freshman who just knows what to do with the ball and is not afraid to come at you.”
On that note, “fierce competitor” is exactly how Miyataki describes closer John Kea, the program’s all-time leader in saves. Kea may have to wait around all game to pitch, but his impact can be felt in other facets of the game.
“He’s a great leader,” said teammate Cody Hirata, a Waiakea High alum. “He keeps everything positive.”
Other options for the back end of the bullpen are Takashi Umino (3.00 ERA in 18 innings in 2021), a closer at a previous stop, transfer Alden Norquist, left-hander Jacob Liberta and Hirata.
“Anyone of those guys could back up Kea,” Miyataki said.
Liberta and Hirata also could pitch long relief, as could Waiakea alum Ty Honda (4 1/3 scoreless innings in 2021), and freshman Devin Meyer. Another Waiakea alum, senior Jamieson Hirayama, has a role that’s a little more defined: spot relief, coming into face just a hitter or two.
The staff should be boosted by the presence of catcher Jaryn Kanbara, another sixth-year player.
“Jaryn knows what I want,” Miyataki said.
Miyataki said he’ll need six starters when the Vuls head to the mainland in March for consecutive four-games series, and that could raise the profile of left-hander Aaron Davies. Of the redshirt freshman’s seven appearances last season, five were starts. He reminds his coach of Alcorn.
“Potentially, he should be a good one,” Miyataki said.
This weekend, Davies is set to follow Holtz on Friday, while Liberta will do the same for DeJesus on Saturday. For the second game that day, Meyer could make his debut in relief of Yamasaki.
Auditions will be on full display as Miyataki wears out the grass, walking from the dugout to the mound.
“I’m just happy we get to play more teams than just (Hawaii Pacific),” Hirata said. “Back at Wong, it’s great to see everybody fresh and ready to play.”
