Examining UCLA baseball's starting rotation options in 2022
The Bruins have boasted plenty of impressive top-tier pitchers throughout the John Savage era.
From New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole to NCAA champion Adam Plutko and the award-winning Ryan Garcia, the Bruins have always had a captivating Friday arm to watch under Savage, in addition to solid No. 2s and 3s.
In order for that to be the case again in 2022, coach Savage and his staff will have to get creative. Not only did No. 1 starter Zach Pettway get scooped up by the Cleveland Indians in the 16th round of the MLB Draft earlier in July, but the rest of UCLA baseball's starting rotation – right-handers Nick Nastrini, Jesse Bergin and Sean Mullen – got picked by the Los Angeles Dodgers, Miami Marlins and Tampa Bay Rays, respectively.
Right-handers Jared Karros and Jake Brooks are all that's left of the Bruins who made starts in 2021. Karros and Brooks each appeared in three games as starting pitchers, meaning there will be little experience available to Savage in 2022.
The Bruins will need to find not only their future ace, but also three more starters who will help round out the rest of a now-empty rotation. UCLA has a handful of options to fill those gaps, whether they've been there before or have yet to arrive in Westwood at all.
Jared Karros
Karros is likely at the top of the competition for the Friday rotation spot.
The rising junior right-hander features a high 80s to low 90s fastball that comes towards hitters from a high arm slot. He pairs his fastball with a changeup that offsets his fastball speed-wise, coming in at the high 70s to low 80s.
The 6-foot-7 right-hander started on Opening Day this past season after a preseason injury sidelined Zach Pettway. Before an injury derailed Karros' season in 2021, he was 2-1 with a 3.33 ERA over 27 innings, mostly starting on the weekends. His impressive 32-to-five strikeout-to-walk ratio is something he will look to ride into 2022. Penciling him into a weekend spot should be solid and a sweat-free decision for Savage, and the Friday gig is well within his grasp.
Karros is also the son of former Major League first baseman and UCLA alumnus Eric Karros, while his brother Kyle is a corner infielder on the Bruins' roster.
Max Rajcic
The rising sophomore right-hander is arguably the most impressive arm the Bruins have retained for this upcoming year, at least in terms of his stuff. His first year in the program, however, he served as the Bruins' closer.
Rajcic was awarded Freshman All-American and Pac-12 All-Conference honors as UCLA's bullpen anchor in 2021. Rajcic had a 1.65 ERA, seven saves and 36 strikeouts over 32.2 innings. Taking the reigns from former closer Holden Powell, Rajcic showcased a devastating slider as his putaway pitch.
Considering his experience as a starting pitcher in both high school and the Cape Cod Baseball League, Rajcic could build up to become the long-term, consistent weekend man the Bruins have been itching for. Friday could be his if he proves he can go six innings a game on a consistent basis. A tall task for a closer, to be sure, but far from an unprecedented one.
Rajcic could take a similar route to the rotation as Oakland Athletics rookie pitcher James Kaprielian, who was a key bullpen arm in 2013 with the Bruins. He then became the Friday starter by the start of the next season, posting a 2.29 ERA and 1.047 WHIP in the role, meaning Savage might not be afraid to throw a pitcher with little starting experience into the fire.
Whichever way the wind blows, both Karros and Rajcic seemed to be primed to hold the Friday and Saturday spots together.
Jake Brooks
Brooks seems to be an intriguing option for the Bruins based on his current summer performance with the Cotuit Kettleers on the Cape, making the league's West Division All-Star Team last week. The righty that has a solid fastball-slider-changeup combination was dominant in early summer league play.
Through seven games, Brooks holds a 3-3 record, 2.15 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 29.1 innings.
His success in a premier collegiate summer league has helped showcase his prospects as a starting pitching option despite his rocky freshman season in Westwood. In his debut season, he had a 5.31 ERA and .272 batting average against in 20.1 innings.
The right-hander was able to flash his starting potential in conference play, even if it wasn't in a start. In a May 21 loss to California, the freshman came out of the bullpen, stretching his appearance to a career-high three innings and four strikeouts while allowing zero runs. That wasn't a complete aberration either, as he had a 0.79 ERA and 0.71 WHIP when he went two-plus innings.
Thanks to his summer performance and overall development heading into year No. 2, his violent delivery should be jumping towards hitters in the first inning rather than out of the bullpen in 2022.
Kenji Pallares
One option that might come out of left field would be Pallares. The rising sophomore did not appear in 2021 but was seen as a Division I starting pitcher while in High School.
The Salesian High School product works from the high 80s to low 90s with consistency. Not the best for a Pac-12 starter, but good enough for a young Tuesday guy looking to add experience.
The right-hander could even find a way to face off against Loyola Marymount, the team he was originally committed to before jumping ship for UCLA.
Gage Jump
The 2021 MLB Draft took a lot away from the Bruins' current roster, but it didn't wind up robbing them of their key incoming freshmen. Several UCLA commits and possible draftees stated their intentions not to sign with an MLB team and go to Westwood this fall instead.
Jump is likely to be the best of the bunch – he was ranked as the No. 24 high school player and No. 6 high school pitcher in the MLB Draft. The southpaw dropped to the San Diego Padres in the 18th round, but previously hinted at his intentions to head to UCLA before the draft had even taken place.
The incoming freshman and JSerra High School graduate boasts a fastball that sits low-to-mid 90s, in addition to three breaking pitches.
His repertoire features a fastball, curveball, slider and changeup. His over-the-top release proves difficult to hit, according to scouts. Like Rajcic, Jump could start his college career out of the bullpen, but he might be a dark horse candidate to make some key starts in 2022.
Thatcher Hurd
Hurd is another incoming freshman who could do the same as Jump for the Bruins. The right-handed pitcher showcases a low 90s fastball and has multiple pitches that hit notably high spin rates.
The Orange Lutheran alumnus has spin rates on his fastball, slider and curveball that range from 2500 RPM to above 3000 RPM measurements, considered elite by most scouts.
Hurd can make an immediate impact after opting to go to UCLA, possibly as a midweek starter late in the regular season.
Conclusion
Savage will surely have his hands full after losing four of his rotation arms to the draft.
Experimentation might, therefore, be the key early on for the Bruins in 2022. Injuries happen, pitchers get tired and depth will be important to have in Pac-12 play.
Whether it is a known entity or incoming freshman who dusts the dirt off the mound in the first, the Bruins have a group of options to test and trust throughout the spring.
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