SEC Baseball: Top 10 relief pitchers entering 2023 season

With the departure of many of SEC baseball’s top relievers from the 2022 season, there is plenty of chances for the players on this list to make a name for themselves. Some as long-relievers, some as middle-relievers, and some as one-inning closers.

Honorable Mention:

• RHP Chandler Marsh – Georgia Bulldogs

Top 10 relief pitchers entering 2023 SEC baseball season

10. LHP Riley Cooper – LSU Tigers

Although Cooper came off a rough 2022 season, I expect him to be a breakout closer in SEC baseball. With a stacked LSU team, Cooper should be in a lot of save situations. Especially if Christian Little is setting him up for the late innings.

9. LHP Zack Morris – Arkansas Razorbacks

Morris comes into his senior year being the set-up guy for the Razorbacks this year. As Brady Tygart will likely take on the role of being the closer, Morris will have the job of getting him into the game with a lead. As long as he does what he did in 2022, he should be just fine. Morris posted a 6-1 record with a 2.31 ERA in 2022.

8. RHP Cade Austin – South Carolina Gamecocks

Austin led the Gamecocks with 27 appearances in 2022 as a redshirt freshman. He compiled a 3.17 ERA in 54 innings which was good enough to earn him Freshman All-American honors. Austin should be the main closer this year. Although he only had 2 saves last year, I expect him to step up and take on a more important role in 2023.

7. LHP Kirby Connell – Tennessee Volunteers

Connell had a stellar year in 2022 and looks to top it going into his senior year. Connell allowed just a 1.66 ERA in 38 innings last year. With Camden Sewell being the #1 option out of the bullpen, I expect Connell to be the set up guy to complete a nasty 1-2 punch between him and Sewell.

6. RHP Blake Purnell – Florida Gators

Purnell is an interesting story. He was a walk on and redshirted his freshman year. Last year (his redshirt freshman year), Purnell was the first guy out of the pen for the Gators as he led the team with 36 appearances. He finished the season with four saves, a 2.86 ERA, and Freshman All-American honors. Purnell’s sudden progression indicates that he is still getting better and will look to replicate his success in the 2023 season.

5. RHP Josh Mallitz – Ole Miss Rebels

After a tough freshman season as a starter, Mallitz fully transitioned into being a reliever in the 2022 season. The move paid dividends, as he was a big factor for Ole Miss during their title run. Although Mallitz only appeared 17 times last season, he was nothing short of dominant in those appearances. In 31 innings, he totaled 48 strikeouts and 1.45 ERA with a .171 batting average against. I expect Mallitz to only get better as he grows into this role.

4. RHP Thomas Schultz – Vanderbilt Commodores

Schultz is a guy who will be a big back-end bullpen piece for the Commodores this season. With a strong pitching staff returning for 2023, the Vandy boys should continue to put Schultz in a position to slam the door on games. After making 9 starts during the 2021 season, Schultz quickly adapted to his new role as the closer. He finished with 8 saves in 2022 while also adding an impressive 2.88 ERA. I expect more of the same from Schultz as he enters his senior year.

3. RHP Brady Tygart – Arkansas Razorbacks

Tygart was the ace of the bullpen in the 2022 season for the Razorbacks as a freshman. He earned Freshman All-American and SEC All-Freshman team honors in his first year. Despite his 3.82 ERA in 37.2 innings, Tygart totaled a team best 8 saves in 2022 and is only going to get better with time.

2. RHP Christian Little – LSU Tigers

After being passed up for a spot in the rotation at Vanderbilt, Little transferred to LSU this off-season. But, with the addition of Paul Skenes, it is likely that Little will be valued more as a reliever rather than a midweek starter. He had a solid year out of the bullpen last year for the Commodores posting a 3.72 ERA in 38.2 innings. If he can buy in to being a long-reliever, I would predict him to be an integral part of this LSU team that could propel them to a deep post-season run.

1. RHP Camden Sewell – Tennessee Volunteers

Entering the SEC baseball season as a preseason All-American, Sewell is a clear choice for the #1 spot. He is coming off a super successful 2022 season in which he filled the role of the long-inning reliever for the Vols. Sewell totaled 6 wins out of the bullpen proving he was a difference maker. With the Vols returning a star-studded pitching rotation, Sewell will continue to be put in situations in which he can succeed.