We’re back with part three of our 2023 Hurricanes baseball team preview. Today we’re previewing the pitchers. T-minus 20 days until baseball is back at The Light vs Penn State, and we will most likely see Gage Ziehl on the bump to start the season. The OBB Hurricanes Baseball Preview is on deck.

This is part three of four in the OBB Legend position-by-position breakdown, Here are potential starters in: The Pitchers

Starting Pitchers

• Gage Ziehl (Friday)
• Alejandro Rosario (Saturday)
• Karson Ligon (Sunday)
• Rafe Schlesinger (Midweek)

Gage Ziehl is the 6-0 Sophomore RHP from Macedon, NY who is coming off a freshman campaign in which he went 2-2 and 4.04 ERA in 30 appearances. Hopefully Ziehl can have a similar bullpen to rotation impact that we saw from Carson Palmquist a year ago. Ziehl struck out 52 batters vs. 16 walks last season.

The next man in rotation will be Alejandro Rosario. The Junior has always had high potential since arriving in Coral Gables but he has never completely put it together. Coming off a Freshman All-American season, Pipo was expected to be the Friday night ace for the 22’ Canes. However, he ended up having a subpar campaign going 2-3 with a 7.05 ERA.

Rosario bounced in and out of the rotation with 15 appearances and 12 of them being starts last year. The Canes would benefit immensely if Pipo can become the Ace in his draft eligible year.

Rounding out the weekend rotation will most likely be sophomore Karson Ligon . The second year hurler went 6-6 with 67 K’s while posting a 4.90 ERA. Ligon made 16 appearances with 15 of them being starts. If Ligon can build on the flashes of potential he showed at times last year, the rotation will be solid throughout the weekend .

Sophomore LHP Rafe Schlesinger is slated to get first crack as the mid-week guy. The southpaw had a 3.38 ERA and held opposing batters to a .250 batting average. Schlesinger will need to cutdown on his walk to strike out ratio in order to solidify the mid-week spot. (9 walks, 8 strike outs in ’22)

the Closer

While the rotation may have some question marks, the strength of the Miami staff will no doubt be the return of All-American Redshirt Junior closer Andrew Walters. Following the move of the aforementioned Carson Palmquist, into the rotation , Walters slide into the closer role and didn’t miss a beat.

Walters had 62 K’s over 32 and 2/3 innings while having an ERA of 1.65 . The decision to turn down going pro, after being selected in 18th round by the Baltimore Orioles, could pay off big time for the Miami Hurricanes.

The Shake is the Canes Baseball hub at Discord-U. Join the discussion today and be part of Discord-U. The OBB Legend is its exclusive home and we will put a welcome mat out for you. Batter Up!