Indiana University Athletics
Baragar Comfortable, Dealing In Second Season For IU
4/22/2016 7:51:00 AM | Baseball
By: Sam Beishuizen | Twitter
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Caleb Baragar never had a chance to ease into Indiana's pitching staff. He didn't have time.
The senior-left hander transferred to IU after two years at Jackson Community College before the start of last season with two years of eligibility remaining. He immediately became a "Jack of all trades" pitcher, floating between bullpen stints and starts ranging from Friday nights to Sundays. He'd do whatever he could to get on the mound.
There's more certainty about Baragar's game this season, though he claims he's doing virtually nothing different mechanically. Even so, he's made the No. 2 spot in the Hoosiers' rotation his own, gaining confidence and earning notoriety as he continues through the Big Ten with a 1.48 ERA, second among all pitchers.
"I just feel really good right now," Baragar said. "That might have something to do with it."
Too much of last year was uncomfortable for Baragar to truly develop his identity on Indiana's staff like he has this season. He started 12 of 15 games, held opponents to a .232 batting averages and had a 3.47 ERA as he bounced between the bullpen and various parts of the rotation as needed.
This season has been different. Baragar (3-1) has staked his claim as IU's Saturday starter behind senior ace Kyle Hart, allowing just 33 hits of 54.2 innings of work. His 1.48 ERA is the product of holding opponents to a .168 batting average all while seemingly never getting rattled on the mound.
Teammates like sophomore Craig Dedelow say Baragar's gaining confidence. Pitching coach Kyle Bunn, time after time asked what the catalyst was for Baragar's improvement, said it boils down more to comfort.
"I'm a big believer in a guy that has a routine and knows what he's going to do day in and day out is going to be more productive," Bunn said. "He wasn't really allowed to get his feet wet. We kind of just kicked him into the deep end of the pool and said, 'Hey, go perform for us.' Those innings last year helped him become what he is doing right now…I think the growth and mentality and a year later, he's become a better guy for us. That comes down to experience."
Hart, who sees Baragar pitch as much as anyone, agreed with Bunn in saying Baragar was more confident. But he also revealed the other trick up Baragar's sleeve:
The invisi-ball.
Otherwise known as Baragar's fastball, his invisi-ball has been his go-to pitch this season after quickly realizing he had new-found movement early in the spring. Earlier this year when he took a perfect game into the seventh inning, about 70 percent of Baragar's pitches were invisi-balls opposing batters simply couldn't figure out.
They haven't been alone.
"Nobody can hit his fastball," Hart said. "We don't know what it is. It's got more life than probably anybody's on the staff. It's late, it's always doing something different and he's confident in it."
Pitches like the invisi-ball allow Baragar to be on constant attack on the mound.
Despite rarely jumping above 90 miles per hour, Baragar has kept opposing batters on their heels all season on craftiness. He'll attack his spots, stay out of trouble and let the defense do the rest of the work this weekend against Michigan State just as he has all season.
"I'm just trying to get out there and throw strikes, not do too much," Baragar said. "I guess last year I out-thought myself maybe on the mound where I don't know if it brought me down mentally or whatever. This year, I've just been able to focus."
It's a simple solution, maybe even boring solution to a not-so-simple game.
But it's working.
"I think Caleb's only gotten better as we've gone," Hart said. "I think he realizes in his second year what we expect from him, and I think he goes out and he lives up to that pretty much every week. It's very impressive. You love having guys like that on your staff."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Caleb Baragar never had a chance to ease into Indiana's pitching staff. He didn't have time.
The senior-left hander transferred to IU after two years at Jackson Community College before the start of last season with two years of eligibility remaining. He immediately became a "Jack of all trades" pitcher, floating between bullpen stints and starts ranging from Friday nights to Sundays. He'd do whatever he could to get on the mound.
There's more certainty about Baragar's game this season, though he claims he's doing virtually nothing different mechanically. Even so, he's made the No. 2 spot in the Hoosiers' rotation his own, gaining confidence and earning notoriety as he continues through the Big Ten with a 1.48 ERA, second among all pitchers.
"I just feel really good right now," Baragar said. "That might have something to do with it."
Too much of last year was uncomfortable for Baragar to truly develop his identity on Indiana's staff like he has this season. He started 12 of 15 games, held opponents to a .232 batting averages and had a 3.47 ERA as he bounced between the bullpen and various parts of the rotation as needed.
This season has been different. Baragar (3-1) has staked his claim as IU's Saturday starter behind senior ace Kyle Hart, allowing just 33 hits of 54.2 innings of work. His 1.48 ERA is the product of holding opponents to a .168 batting average all while seemingly never getting rattled on the mound.
Teammates like sophomore Craig Dedelow say Baragar's gaining confidence. Pitching coach Kyle Bunn, time after time asked what the catalyst was for Baragar's improvement, said it boils down more to comfort.
"I'm a big believer in a guy that has a routine and knows what he's going to do day in and day out is going to be more productive," Bunn said. "He wasn't really allowed to get his feet wet. We kind of just kicked him into the deep end of the pool and said, 'Hey, go perform for us.' Those innings last year helped him become what he is doing right now…I think the growth and mentality and a year later, he's become a better guy for us. That comes down to experience."
Hart, who sees Baragar pitch as much as anyone, agreed with Bunn in saying Baragar was more confident. But he also revealed the other trick up Baragar's sleeve:
The invisi-ball.
Otherwise known as Baragar's fastball, his invisi-ball has been his go-to pitch this season after quickly realizing he had new-found movement early in the spring. Earlier this year when he took a perfect game into the seventh inning, about 70 percent of Baragar's pitches were invisi-balls opposing batters simply couldn't figure out.
They haven't been alone.
"Nobody can hit his fastball," Hart said. "We don't know what it is. It's got more life than probably anybody's on the staff. It's late, it's always doing something different and he's confident in it."
Pitches like the invisi-ball allow Baragar to be on constant attack on the mound.
Despite rarely jumping above 90 miles per hour, Baragar has kept opposing batters on their heels all season on craftiness. He'll attack his spots, stay out of trouble and let the defense do the rest of the work this weekend against Michigan State just as he has all season.
"I'm just trying to get out there and throw strikes, not do too much," Baragar said. "I guess last year I out-thought myself maybe on the mound where I don't know if it brought me down mentally or whatever. This year, I've just been able to focus."
It's a simple solution, maybe even boring solution to a not-so-simple game.
But it's working.
"I think Caleb's only gotten better as we've gone," Hart said. "I think he realizes in his second year what we expect from him, and I think he goes out and he lives up to that pretty much every week. It's very impressive. You love having guys like that on your staff."
Players Mentioned
Jacksonville Baseball Classic - Notre Dame Press Conference
Sunday, February 22
Jacksonville Baseball Classic - UCF Press Conference
Saturday, February 21
Jacksonville Baseball Classic - LSU Press Conference
Friday, February 20
Big Ten Tournament Press Conference - vs. Rutgers
Wednesday, May 21