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Georgia Tech Baseball Notes: Captains, Weekend Rotation, and Derek Dietrich

By Dylan Callaghan-Croley

LAKELAND, FL - FEBRUARY 17: A detailed view of a group of Rawlings official Major League baseballs sitting on the field during the Detroit Tigers Spring Training workouts at the TigerTown Facility on February 17, 2020 in Lakeland, Florida. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
LAKELAND, FL - FEBRUARY 17: A detailed view of a group of Rawlings official Major League baseballs sitting on the field during the Detroit Tigers Spring Training workouts at the TigerTown Facility on February 17, 2020 in Lakeland, Florida. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /
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Georgia Tech baseball’s 2021 season is just over 48 hours away as they prepare to take on Eastern Kentucky starting on Friday night.  With that, the Jackets have named their captains for the season and starting rotation  for the open series. Additionally, one former Yellow Jacket and MLB veteran has found himself a potential new home.

Jackets name four captains

With the season just days away from starting, the Yellow Jackets on Tuesday announced their captains for the 2021 season. The players selected were junior pitchers Hugh Chapman and Brant Hurter, Chapman expected to be a major part of the Jackets bullpen success and Hurter likewise but for the starting rotation. Additionally, junior outfielder Colin Hall and junior third baseman Luke Waddell have also been named captains, both players return are expected to be big parts of the Jackets lineup this upcoming season.

Jackets opening weekend rotation set:

Per Eastern Kentucky’s game notes, the Yellow Jackets rotation for this upcoming weekend’s series is junior LHP Brant Hurter on Friday, redshirt junior RHP Andy Archer on Saturday, and redshirt sophomore LHP Sam Crawford will wrap up the series on Sunday.

Hurter missed last year’s shortened season as he recovered from Tommy John surgery but was dynamite in 2019. In 10 games and nine starts, the Jackets top draft prospect for this year posted a 2.42 ERA over 48.1 innings pitched while striking out 58 and walking just 14. Archer will be making his career start on Saturday, he’s appeared in 37 games so far over his career in Atlanta with a career 3.90 ERA in 67 innings pitched. On Sunday, Crawford will also be making his first career start after making his debut last season. In eight games last year, Crawford pitched 9.2 innings, allowing just two runs and striking out 14.

Dietrich signs with Yankees

Former Yellow Jacket Derek Dietrich has signed a deal with the Yankees and is a non-roster invitee to the Yankees Major League camp in Tampa, Florida. The 31-year old Dietrich has amassed eight years in the Majors since making his debut in 2013 with the Miami Marlins. In those eight years and 746 career games, Dietrich has played with the Marlins, Cincinnati Reds, and Texas Rangers. In 2020, the former Jacket player in 25 games with the Rangers, hitting .197/.347/.459 with five home runs and eight RBI. He’ll have an up hill climb to make the Yankees opening day roster.