Virginia recruited Bethesda’s Danny Hultzen to be a pitcher. But Hultzen has been much more.
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This weekend when Virginia (46-12-1) plays at Mississippi (43-18) in a best-of-three NCAA Super Regional, the Cavaliers will be counting on more from Hultzen than any other player. The St. Albans graduate is a rarity at college baseball’s top level — an everyday player who pitches.
In his freshman season, Hultzen has a 9-1 record with a 2.01 ERA. When he’s not on the mound, the 6-foot-2, 190-pound left-hander plays first base, batting .335.
“It wasn’t the plan,” said Hultzen of his full-time role. “I didn’t have the confidence that I could hit at this level. But once we got into fall practice, I realized I could do it. Then I was determined to show that I could play every day.”
So how rare is Hultzen’s full-time act?
Of the 16 teams in this weekend’s Super Regional round, only two have top-shelf pitchers who play every game. Freshman P/DH Nick Ramirez has 10 home runs and seven saves for Cal State Fullerton. Sophomore P/OF Mike McGee leads Florida State in home runs (18) and RBI (75) and has a 6-2 record as a starter.
“The day-to-day process of playing the field and pitching takes a toll on you,” said Hultzen. “I save my energy for the days I pitch.”
Hultzen played a key role last weekend as Virginia traveled west and pulled off three surprise victories, handing San Diego State phenom Stephen Strasburg his first loss this season, then toppling No. 1-ranked Cal Irvine twice, to win the program’s first NCAA region title.
Hultzen fanned twice against Strasburg, but got a single, one of eight hits the Cavaliers managed off the ace in the 5-1 victory. It was the most surrendered by the man expected to be selected No. 1 in the MLB draft later this month. The biggest hit came in the first inning as DH Phil Gosselin took a 97 mph fastball over the wall in left-center field.
“It was the first pitch he saw. We fed off that,” said Hultzen. “I think the feeling we got in that game carried over.”
On Saturday, Hultzen then quieted the potent bats of Cal Irvine, scattering six hits and a walk and fanning four in 7 1/3 innings, his longest outing this season, as Virginia won 5-0.
“He has really good command. You are going to have to beat him,” said Virginia coach Brian O’Connor. “He has multiple pitches that he can throw for strikes and, shoot, the guy is left-handed and throws up to 92 miles per hour. You throw all those things together and you have a good pitcher.”
As Virginia ventures into uncharted territory this weekend, pursing its first berth in the College World Series, the Cavaliers can be encouraged by their freshman standout, who has handled all of his new responsibilities without a hitch.
“It’ll be a different environment. And we’re playing an SEC team,” said Hultzen. “But we’ve got a lot of confidence right now.”
