Picture credit score: © Matt Marton-Imagn Photos
Colter McAnelly got here into his junior yr on the College of Utah off a sophomore season that noticed him land a first-team All-Huge 12 choice. He labored deep into video games, struck out round a batter an inning and managed a sub-4.00 ERA whereas pitching half his video games in a really hitter-friendly residence park. He was by no means one to overwhelm you with stuff, however he’d bob and weave with a four-pitch combine, together with a low-90s cut-ride fastball and a reasonably good, and fairly spinny 12-6 curve he might transfer up and down.
Not a lot modified in his scouting report this yr—which might be learn neutrally or negatively, relying in your standpoint—however his ERA jumped three full runs. Consequently, he averaged solely round 5 innings a begin, with all his peripherals (Okay, BB, HR, and H/9) getting a modest bump. However whereas the scouting report didn’t actually change, the place he threw his pitches did. The Utes beforehand performed at Smith’s Ballpark, sharing a house with the Salt Lake Bees, the Triple-A affiliate of the Angels. The Bees moved from downtown Salt Lake to the southwestern suburbs and a brand new ballpark within the grasp deliberate group of Dawn. Utah spent yet one more season at Smith’s earlier than opening a brand new on-campus stadium, an eight-figure renovation of their former apply discipline. It’s a lot cozier confines, and a pair miles additional up the Wasatch bench, offering an additional 400 ft or so of elevation.
