Maryland baseball right-hander Hunter Parsons felt nervous when he discovered he was going to start in place of injured right-hander Taylor Bloom on Sunday against Purdue.
The freshman had two previous starts in his Terps career, but neither of those outings came on a weekend. Plus, the series was tied, 1-1, putting extra pressure on the rookie.
But when Parsons learned the news the evening before facing the Boilermakers, he stayed calm by reminding himself it was just another start. And his nervous butterflies vanished as he allowed two runs in six innings in Maryland’s 11-3 win. This weekend at Penn State (24-18, 9-6 Big Ten), Parsons is prepared for a start if Bloom can’t play again. Parsons has made a quick adjustment to college baseball, coach John Szefc said, so the Terps feel comfortable starting the newcomer on the mound regardless of the situation.
“It’s huge, especially in a weekend when Bloom gets hurt, for Hunter to be able to come in and pick us up,” Szefc said Saturday. “Even though [Purdue] doesn’t have a good record, they’re battling to win a conference series on a Sunday just like we are. Without a good start, you don’t know where it’s going to go.”
After his senior season at Parkside High School, Parsons was drafted in the 40th round of the MLB draft by the Cleveland Indians. But he decided to stick with the Terps (22-18, 7-5). Parsons’ first five appearances came as a reliever while Szefc tested other freshmen for one of the midweek starting jobs.
But after rookie right-handers John Murphy and Cameron Enck struggled in their starts, Parsons got an opportunity to start on the mound at VCU on March 30.
Even though Parsons followed that game with two other impressive starts, Szefc said the Fruitland native’s performance against the Rams was the best start of his short Terps career. Parsons allowed one run in 4.2 innings to lead Maryland to a 7-1 victory.
The fourth-year coach said The Diamond, VCU’s stadium, is a tough place to play. Plus, that was when Szefc said Parsons proved he was “a guy.”
“Anytime you come in and help the team win is a great feeling,” Parsons said Saturday. “I was just happy I was able to step up and get the team a win.”
The following week against James Madison, Parsons allowed one run in seven innings while earning his first career win. Even as a reliever, Szefc said Parsons has played well and has made a smoother transition than most freshmen.
Szefc said that most young pitchers have grown accustomed to a starting role throughout their high school years, so they aren’t comfortable entering in the middle of games upon playing in college.
Associate head coach Jim Belanger has helped Parsons transition into that role by developing his arsenal of pitches. Parsons said Belanger taught him a new grip for his slider and changeup. That paid off against Purdue, as the 6-foot-3, 200-pound hurler said he used his changeup often to keep the Boilermakers off balance.
“He’s got a good fastball for a freshman, and he lives in the low-90s,” right-hander Mike Rescigno said on April 6. “He pretty much has a wipeout slider. As he just keeps pitching, he’ll keep building confidence and get better.”
Last Sunday, Szefc said Bloom’s hamstring was at 70 percent, and he wouldn’t start a pitcher unless he’s at 90 percent. Though Szefc said he’d love to have Bloom back, the coach knows he has a reliable backup option if the sophomore isn’t healthy enough to face the Nittany Lions.
“He’s a front-line arm,” Szefc said on April 6. “It’s good for now, and it’s good for the future. We need guys like him in the program.”
