2/16/2023 baseball Edit

Three Campbell Camels to watch versus Rutgers Baseball

Hector Rodriguez • TheKnightReport

Baseball Analyst

The Rutgers Baseball program will be back in full swing this season as they’ll hit the road to take on the Campbell Camels.

The Camels are coming off a strong 2022 season where they lost their best player in Zach Neto to the MLB Draft, but return one of the best pitchers in the nation in Cade Kuehler.

Here are three Campbell Camels to watch this weekend versus Rutgers.

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RHP CADE KUEHLER

Junior right-handed pitcher Cade Kuehler is one of the top pitchers in the country coming into the season. He had a strong sophomore season and is the preseason favorite to be named the Big South Pitcher of the Year.

During the 2022 season, Kuehler made 16 appearances and 15 starts. He also posted a 4-6 record with a 4.07 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, had a .184 opponent batting average, and struck out 111 batters in 84 innings pitched.

On MLB Pipeline, Kuehler is ranked the 46th overall prospect for the 2023 MLB Draft. He posseses a four-pitch mix with a plus fastball and slider. His fastball is in the mid-90s with a great spin rate and touches 98 mph. His slider has some depth and sits in the mid-80s.

1B DRAKE PIERSON

Redshirt senior first baseman Drake Pierson is coming off an electric season in which he was one of the top power hitters in the nation. He might be the most dangerous hitter on Campbell’s lineup with Neto being selected in the first round last draft.

During the 2022 season, Pierson was a force to be reckoned with as the former JUCO transfer had a .333/.449/.703 slash line and led the Big South in home runs (19), runs batted in (63), and triples (four).

Pierson was named to the 2022 All-Big South First-Team. The California native is looking to continue his success after breaking out last season.

RHP ERNIE DAY

Another junior college transfer that’s expected to make an impact for Campbell this season is right-handed pitcher Ernie Day. The Iowa Western CC transfer is expected to get a lot of innings this season for the Camels.

In his final season at Iowa Western, Day made 13 appearances and seven starts. He also posted a 5-0 record with a 2.74 ERA, 10.6 K/9, 15 walks, 23 strikeouts, and a .133 opposing batting average.

Day could be a weekend starter for the Camels this season, but could also be a backend bullpen arm as well. Either way, I think Rutgers will see Ernie Day on the mound in their weekend series starting this Friday.