University of Tennessee Athletics
Beverlin Brings New Attitude for UT Pitchers
February 18, 2010 | Baseball
Feb. 18, 2010
BY AUSTIN BAIRD
UTSports.com
KNOXVILLE -- Little more than a year ago, Jason Beverlin was transitioning from a 13-year professional career to a new role as Georgia Southern's pitching coach.
After stints with the Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers and for teams in the Japanese Central League, the Eagles hired Beverlin to improve a struggling pitching staff that, he said, had the talent but not the focus to succeed.
Under just a year of Beverlin's instruction, Georgia Southern dropped its team earned run average from 7.04 to 5.11, which helped the Eagles win the Southern Conference championship.
Even though his first season as Tennessee's pitching coach officially begins with this weekend's series against Xavier, Beverlin has already made an impact on the Vols' pitching staff.
Poise, confidence and chemistry were some of the words that players and coaches used to describe what's different about the pitching staff this year as they prepare to kick off the season in the recently renovated Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
"The main focus is to improve the attitude and the approach and the rest will take care of itself," Beverlin said. "These guys have done a good job and they're on the right track so far."
"I've loved working with Coach Bev," said Stephen McCray, a senior right-hander who begins the season as Tennessee's No. 3 starter. "The mentality heading into the year is completely different. We've had the talent before, but you can tell we'll do a lot more with it this year."
Head coach Todd Raleigh agrees.
"This is the best staff of pitchers from top to bottom that I've ever had to work with, there's really no comparison," he said. "They're throwing the ball well, but it's more than that."
The starting rotation is highlighted by Bryan Morgado, who returned to Tennessee after being drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the third round of Major League Baseball's first-year player's draft.
Morgado, who enrolled at UT when he was just 17, has convinced Raleigh that he's become a complete pitcher with the ability to place himself among college baseball's elite.
"He's turned a corner," Raleigh said. "He's more of a pitcher now and not so much of a thrower."
Said Morgado: "Going to the Cape Cod League [in summer 2009] and working with Coach Beverlin has really helped me out a lot. I put a lot of pressure on myself last year that I didn't need to, but I've learned from it."
McCray also credits Beverlin for some of his offseason improvements. With Beverlin's help, he added a sinker and a cut fastball to his repertoire, which should help induce more ground balls -- and reduce extra-base hits -- than his two-seam fastball a year ago.
"Coach Bev is really good at working with mechanics," McCray said. "I'm excited to get back out there and use the new stuff I've learned."
Beverlin says there's a lot to be excited about the Vols' pitching staff this year.
"There's a lot of depth and talent in the starting rotation," Beverlin said. "Morgado and McCray should be fun to watch, but you have to remember that [Steven] Gruver has a great arm. You'll know his name very well before too long. [Rob] Catapano and [Steve] Crnkovich are throwing well and they'll help a lot, too."
The bullpen, which has been cause for concern in past seasons, will be bolstered by Will Locante and Matt Ramsey. The pair of sophomores gives Raleigh shutdown relievers in the eighth and ninth innings for the first time during his tenure in Knoxville.
"It's a really valuable tool to have," Raleigh said. "I wouldn't want our guys to face them in the eighth and ninth."
The new season gives the pitching staff and the team as a whole an opportunity to place Tennessee at the top tier of the Southeastern Conference and among the top teams in the country.
"The stadium matches our attitude heading into the season," Morgado said. "I've never felt this way starting a season before, and I've never been able to call a place like this my home field."
