MICHAEL BRUNTZ30 mins3
It's been about a month since
Nebraska baseball players fanned out across the country to various summer ball locales to get more at-bats and innings and hone their craft for next season.
Summer ball is particularly important for players who maybe didn't see as many at-bats or pitch as many innings as they would have like or expected during the season.
Here are a few starts to summer ball that have my attention as the calendar prepares to flip to July.
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Case Sanderson, LaCrosse Loggers: About the only lull that occurred during Sanderson's freshman campaign came during an 0-for-11 stretch in Omaha at the Big Ten Tournament. The talented freshman has picked up the pace once again this summer in the Northwoods League. Sanderson is hitting .452 with 15 RBI in eight games for the Loggers. While it's still early, Sanderson is sporting a salty 1.131 OPS and has struck out just twice in 31 at-bats. Sanderson will be a key piece of the Husker lineup going forward and is holding up well in one of the tougher summer leagues in the country.
Max Buettenback, Willmar Stingers: As a freshman, Buettenback appeared in just six games and had six at-bats. The Lincoln Southeast product has exploded this summer in the Northwoods League, hitting .400 with five homers and 16 RBI in 14 games. Nebraska's coaches have liked the long-term picture for Buettenback at the plate, and his .535 on-base percentage should certainly get plenty of notice. Nebraska will likely have an opening at catcher this coming season and Buettenback's back could force his way into the lineup.
Rhett Stokes, Willmar Stingers: Stokes was one of the top JUCO hitters in the country before arriving at Nebraska, and he kept himself in the lineup this season in Lincoln with a .360 average that led the team. This summer, Stokes is hitting .412 in 12 games with one homer and five RBI. Nebraska could have interesting decisions to make this coming season with at-bats on the infield. Stokes and Cayden Brumbaugh are both set to return at second base and Joshua Overbeek seems to have a strong grip on the starting job at third. Stokes and Buetteback are over-shadowing fellow Willmar Stingers teammate Gabe Swansen, who is hitting .327 with one homer and 11 RBI in 13 games.
Ty Horn, Corvallis Knights: It's worth keeping a close eye on Nebraska's young pitchers, especially given the roles up for grabs this coming season. Horn has put together a strong start on the West Coast, notching a 1-0 record and one save in four appearances for the Corvallis Knights. Horn has allowed just one earned run in 11.0 innings, while striking out 12 and walking six. Horn was a brief entrant in Nebraska's weekend rotation and will likely get another chance to compete for a starting role this fall when the team returns to Lincoln.
Tucker Timmerman, Matsu Miners: Timmerman began his freshman season as a high-leverage option out of the bullpen, but saw his use decline through the year. This summer he's off to Alaska, where Bolt and his staff have sent young pitchers to get away and focus on their craft. The right-hander has made three appearances this summer, compiling a 1-0 record and 1.29 ERA. In 7.0 innings, Timmerman has allowed one earned run, while striking out 11 and walking one. A good start for a pitcher who has the build and competitiveness to be a factor again for Nebraska as a sophomore.
Carson Jasa, Walnut Creek Crawdads: The 6-foot-7, 230-pound right-hander redshirted in his first season on campus this spring. There's a lot to like in Jasa's pitching toolbox. He runs his fastball into the mid-90s and has the potential for high strikeout numbers if he can avoid walks. So far this summer, Jasa is 1-0 in his three starts with a 3.86 ERA. In 14.0 innings, the Colorado native has struck out 21, walked 14 and surrendered just seven hits.