With pitchers Cam Jones, Aiden Finateri, Logan Mcguire, and Camron Hill all leaving the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets baseball team, the team had a glaring needed headed into the offseason: starting pitching.
The day one starter, to me, should be an obvious choice, as sophomore Tate McKee returns to the Yellow Jackets after starting eight games last season, and although he had a 7.28 ERA, McKee remains to be the most experienced arm within head coach Danny Hall's system.
The second spot on the rotation could be swapped between graduate pitcher Sam Swygert, who has spent the last two seasons with The Citadel Bulldogs, putting up a 5.75 ERA last season while starting 12 games for the Bulldogs, and Carson Ballard, who posted a 4.41 ERA and started six games last season for the Yellow Jackets.
Mason Patel could be the best bet to be put into the fourth spot of the pitching rotation, as the graduate started five games for the Yellow Jackets, posting an 8.25 ERA. While he eventually moved into a bullpen role last season, he did start the season in the rotation, meaning that Hall sees something in Patel.
The last spot in the rotation is up in the air, and could be anyone's spot. Redshirt freshman Jake Lankie or graduate Jaylen Paden, who started 14 games for Georgia Southern two season ago would have the best chances of taking the spot.
With the Yellow Jackets having multiple questions heading into the season, the team will look to some of these players for team stability.