The CBB continues our countdown to the 2009 College Baseball season with our Top 50 players to watch. We will be providing one player each day (Monday-Saturday) until we reach number 1.
We continue our list with junior closer Eric Pettis from UC-Irvine. The West Hills, California native had an outstanding high school career at El Camino Real. He ended up being named the All-West Valley League Co-MVP while picking up All-City and All-League honors in two seasons. He led his team in his junior season to the 2005 CIF State Championship.
He jumped into the national picture in 2008 by becoming one of the top closers in the nation. He ended up finishing the season with a 4-3 record including 17 saves with an ERA 2.62 while holding opponents to a batting average of .224. He struck out 50 batters in his 44.2 innings of work. After the season was over, the awards came flying in with Collegiate Baseball naming him as a second-team All-American. He was also a second team All-American by the NCBWA and Ping! Baseball. The ABCA selected him to their third team All-American team.
He spent the summer of 2008 as a member of the Bourne Braves in the Cape Cod Baseball League. He ended up serving as the team’s primary closer appearing in 19 games with a 2-0 record including eight saves with a 2.49 ERA. He struck out 24 batters in 25.1 innings while only allowing five walks.
Eric’s freshman campaign was successful as he appeared in 25 games with seven starts. He ended up finishing the season with a perfect 4-0 record with a 4.53 ERA in 59.2 innings. He spent the summer of 2007 with the Battle Creek Bombers of the Northwoods League where he went 2-2 with an ERA of 1.88 in 43 innings of action.
We spoke with Ted Silva who serves as the pitching coach for the UC-Irvine program who raves about Eric’s work ethic. Silva states “Eric is as competitive a player that I have ever coached. Not only closing a game but off the field in the weight room, conditioning, he doesn’t like to lose at anything.” I think that this type of work ethic really shows you how good Eric could be in the coming year and leading into his professional career eventually.
We also asked Ted about the reason why Eric continues to pitch out of the bullpen instead of starting games for the Anteaters. Silva states “Eric could be an All American as a starter if that is what we needed from him this year. We are very fortunate to have Eric at the end of the game and will ride him all the way to Omaha.”
We just love how much Pettis is competitive on and off the field while being one of the top pitchers in the Big West conference. He should continue to hone his skills hoping to lead the ‘Eaters back to Omaha after a one year hiatus.
You can check out the full top 50 by clicking here.
Special thanks to UC-Irvine Pitching coach Ted Silva for the quotes.
