INDIANAPOLIS – The Butler Bulldogs will look different on the mound in 2024. 12 new arms joined the program over the off-season while 11 left campus. BU will return seven student-athletes from last year's team to mix with the newcomers. Team Captain Cole Graverson and LHP Ben Whiteside are the most experienced returners of the group. Graverson tossed 40 innings over 20 appearances in 2023 and Whiteside was a specialist coming out of the bullpen 19 times.
 
"It's exciting to have so many new faces," Head Coach Blake Beemer explained. "As a staff we feel like we filled a lot of needs on this team, but anytime you add 12 guys there will be some questions that need to be answered. We are looking for guys to go out and earn roles on this team. That's the fun part. We talk about the race to two strikes. If this group can get the count where we want it, we can be successful."
 
Two newcomers and a returner have solidified starting roles as the team prepares for opening weekend at Florida State. That trio of players includes Tyler Banks, Justin Hornschemeier and Grant Brooks.
 
"Tyler has a great chance to get a start at Florida State, but we are not sure which day yet," Beemer added. Banks is a guy we can use in different roles. He throws a lot of strikes and has been steady on the mound for us which is needed with this group."
 
Banks is from Littleton, Colorado and arrived at Butler as a transfer from North Park University in Chicago. Yet another transfer slated to start a game for the Bulldogs against the Seminoles is Wright State transfer Justin Hornschemeier.
 
"Justin has an electric arm," Beemer stated. "He can throw in the mid-90's, but we are trying to harness it a little more before we get started this weekend. He has worked hard and is going to get a look as a starter."
 
The returner trying to carve out a role as a weekend arm is right-hander Grant Brooks. A year ago, Brooks made four appearances, including two starts. He struck out 10 over 8.1 innings.
 
"Grant has improved from last year and has a good swing and miss pitch that can help us," Beemer said. "We will probably use him as a starter early in the year, but he could also be an option to use at the back end of the bullpen."
 
Nothing is set in stone as the team prepares for the start of the season. Seth White, Nate Rosser, Cooper Robinson, and Cole Graverson are other guys fighting for starting roles that may also be used in clutch situations.
 
White came to Butler from Santa Barbara City College and Rosser is another right-hander that joined the program after playing at Ohlone College.
 
"Bother White and Rosser are true competitors that throw a lot of strikes." Beemer added. 
 
Robinson made 16 appearances out of the bullpen for Butler a year ago. He tossed 25.1 innings and struck out 22 batters. Graverson gives Butler a mature veteran in the group. He struck out 46 batters over 40 innings in 2023 and made a start against #1 LSU in Baton Rouge.
 
"Robinson has really done a great job over the last few weeks and is making strides in the right direction," Beemer stated. "Graverson being a team captain says a lot about who he is as a person. We are happy to have him back."
 
Beemer noted some players that are showing flashes and additional guys that bring experience to this position group. The Bulldogs think they can get some great things out of Gage Vota, Shane Kilfoyle, Gabe Pancratz, Tate Foxson and Simon Linde. Experienced players set to see some time include Nick Miketinac, Jake Putnam, Andrew Crumbley, Ben Whiteside, Colin Dailey, Christian Finnigan and Aidan Hatcher.
 
"I'm excited for the competition among all our pitchers," Beemer said. "I think it's a deeper group than last year and we have more options. It's now up to us as coaches to keep getting this group better as the year moves along."
 
Behind the Plate
Coach Beemer is confident in all four catchers on the Butler roster. Cade Vota and Keegan Connors return to the team while the staff went out to add Zach Munton and Drew Charney. Munton played at Paris JC in 2023 and Charney is a true freshman from Hopkins, Minn.
 
"Vota shows the type of maturity that we expected as a player that has been through a full season with our coaching staff," Beemer explained. "He asks good questions, he is intuitive, and he's been a leader for us this year."
 
Vota played in 25 games last year, making 13 starts. He posted a .979 fielding percentage, limiting himself to just two errors all season.
 
"Overall, we can go four deep at this position," Beemer said. "The fun part with this group is that they all enjoy it. They work hard and they want to get better. No one has cemented themselves into the starting role, so it will be a dog fight this spring to see who gets the nod. We have left handers and right handers so we have the ability to platoon guys when we need to. It's great to have depth back there and we will continue to push this group to get better throughout the year."