INDIANAPOLIS - The 2023 Butler pitching staff features a revamped rotation and bullpen under new head coach Blake Beemer.
 
"The nice part about our pitching staff is that we have experienced options. In all, we have 19 different arms ready for the 2023 season," Beemer said.
 
"The game starts on the bump, and I think we have a hungry group. They have a sour taste in their mouth from the results they had last year, but that has not dictated how they have gone about their work in getting ready for this season."
 
Weekend Rotation
The starting rotation for the Bulldogs is still up in the air. While Alex Voss has solidified himself as one of the weekend starters, there is still a battle between Cory Bosecker, Aaron Barokas, Nick Miketinac, and Jon Vore for the last two spots.
 
Voss is returning for his fifth season in a Bulldog uniform. The right-handed pitcher will look to make his first start since 2021 after holding a 5.14 ERA as a long-reliever in 16 appearances last season.
 
In his 2022 junior season, Bosecker was a weekend starter leading the team with 14 starts on the mound. The southpaw struck out a team-high 69 batters ranking seventh in the BIG EAST while only walking 25 batters.
 
Barokas is a senior transfer from Bellevue University. In his first year in a Bulldog uniform, he struck out 58 batters and ended the 2022 season with a 2-4 record.
 
After missing all of last season due to injury, Miketinac hopes to fight for the last spot. During his 2021 season, the right-hander threw 7.1 innings and struck out five batters.
 
Vore held a record of 3-2 in 16 appearances last season. He threw 26 strikeouts over 35.2 innings pitched and a season-high 75 pitches in his first start of the season at Murray State (2/20) in Murray, KY. 
 
"We also are not dead-set on how this battle will play out," Beemer said. "People tend to gravitate towards what is normal and in college baseball, it is normal to name three-weekend starters and let them go, but we are not married to that idea. When you have 19 different arms, you have the ability to do some things differently."
 
Bullpen
 The Bulldog bullpen will include Luke Zmolik, Spencer Seigworth, Clay Holzworth, Cole Graverson, and Ben Whiteside.
 
Zmolik had a shortened opportunity last season pitching only three innings, but Beemer believes he could be in for a larger role this season.
 
"He might be a guy that we throw out there to open a game up," Beemer said. "He could set the tone for one or two innings, and then maybe he passes the ball on to a more traditional starter to go four or five innings from there."
 
There are also a few young guns looking to make an impact in their first collegiate season on the mound, including Cooper Robinson, Grant Brooks, Shane Kilfoyle, and Gabe Pancratz.
 
"We are not opposed to being creative and we are not trying to hide anything," Beemer said. "We just want to put our team in the best position to win games."
 
Closers
 On the back end of the bullpen, Lukas Galdoni, Dawson Taylor, and Cade Thune could be in for Beemer's unique approach to the closer role.
 
Galdoni earned three saves in 2022 over 38 innings pitched. The right-hander threw 25 strikeouts with only 11 walks.
 
The only other active Butler pitcher who earned a save last season was Taylor after earning one against Jackson State (2/26). He also racked-up 13 strikeouts compared to just seven walks in 15 appearances.
 
Thune is a transfer from Kalamazoo College who struck out 49 batters and earned two saves with a 5.63 ERA last season.
 
"If you have a lead in the seventh, eighth, ninth, we would feel good about passing the ball off to one of those three. Give them each an inning and try to shorten games."

Catchers
Butler returns two veterans behind the plate this year in seniors Garret Gray and Kollyn All. The Bulldogs will also have two younger options in the mix with sophomore Cade Vota and freshman Keegan Connors pushing for playing time.
 
All played 47 games for Butler last year primarily at catcher. He ranked third on the team with a .262 batting average in 2022. Over 47 games, All generated 44 hits, 28 RBI's and 26 runs.
 
Gray made 23 starts last season, splitting time at catcher and first base. He hit .309 by recording 25 hits in 81 at-bats.
 
"Gray hit the ball well last year, so his bat has never been in question," Head Coach Blake Beemer stated. "He really emerged as a vocal leader for us this fall and that's exactly what you need from your catcher."
 
With All away from the team in the fall, Vota was able to step up and share more reps alongside Gray. Vota played in eight games last season, making one start. He held a .250 batting average at the plate in his limited time.
 
"Vota did a great job receiving the ball this fall and showed the ability to block pitches and work at a high level," Beemer added.
 
Connors was added to the program after hitting .407 as a senior in high school. He helped Harry Jacobs High School win a 4A Regional Championship before arriving on campus.
 
"Connors is another young man that gives us competition behind the plate," Beemer stated. "He is twitchy and a great base runner. We are really happy that we gave him a spot and he has been fun to have around the team."
 
Overall, Beemer loves the versatility and depth he has behind the plate.
 
"The fun part as a coach is that All is a right-handed hitter while Gray and Vota are left," Beemer explained. It gives us some real options in how to formulate the lineup. That being said, we will play matchups and we don't have to have one guy bear the brunt of the load."