Lanky Letsinger goes from IU-Kokomo to Ball State

By STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Lucas Letsinger has decided on a change of venue as part of his college baseball journey.

After two seasons at Indiana University-Kokomo (2022 and 2023), the right-handed pitcher has transferred to Ball State University and major in Sports Management and take his turn on the bump.

Rich Maloney is BSU head coach. 

At IUK, the 6-foot-3, 165-pounder made 27 mound appearances (22 starts) and was 10-4 with a 3.23 earned run average, 144 strikeouts and 38 walks in 136 2/3 innings. 

In 14 games (all starts), he was 7-3 with four complete games, a 2.28 ERA, 92 K’s and 19 walks in 86 2/3 frames in 2023. He was an honorable mention NAIA All-American and the River States Conference Pitcher of the Year.

Letsinger, who turns 21 in August, made one four-inning May 31 with the Northwoods League’s Kokomo (Ind.) Jackrabbits and gave up two hits and one run with four strikeouts and then gave his arm a rest.

Throwing from a lower three-quarter arm slot, Letsinger throws a four-seam fastball, sinker, slider, change-up and curveball.

His four-seamer sits at 88-91 mph and tops out at 92. It has slight arm-side run and good ride at the top of the strike zone.

Letsinger’s sinker sits at 88-91 and has plenty of arm-side run and sink.

“My best pitch is my slider,” says Letsinger. “It is about 77-80 mph and spins well over 3,000 rpm and gets a lot of horizontal sweep on it.”

He did not throw his change-up — then a true splitter — much as a freshmen. He now uses a “circle” change that is 81-84 mph with run and sink similar to his sinker.

The 12-to-6 curve travels at 72-75 and is used to get ahead in the count.

Letsinger has long been a New York Yankees fan. 

“I loved watching (CC) Sabathia and (Andy) Petttitte,” says Letsinger. “Now I really enjoying watching (right-handers) Luis Castillo and Dylan Cease pitch.”

Castillo hurls for the Seattle Mariners and Cease for the Chicago White Sox.

Letsinger is a 2021 graduate of Hamilton Heights High School in Arcadia, Ind.

Ryan VanOeveren is Huskies head coach.

“When I think of Coach VanO the first thing that comes to mind is character and leader,” says Letsinger. “Although I learned a lot about baseball, he taught me how to be a good person, leader and teammate. 

“He cared more about me as a person than as a baseball player. You can’t say that about many coaches.”

Letsinger was also a shooting guard on the varsity basketball team.

A lifelong Hamilton County resident, Letsinger has and spent most of his time in the Cicero area.

He played travel ball for the Indiana Nitro, Indiana Mustangs and 18U PRP Mambas.

Jeff Harris was his head coach with the 12U Nitro.

“He made baseball really fun and always knew how to have a good time,” says Letsinger. 

Later, he was on a Marcus Fredwell-coached Nitro team that sparked his love for the mound.

“I really knew pitching was something I wanted to continue,” says Letsinger, who then played on Hamilton Heights summer travel team coached by VanOeveren.

Adrian Bohland was Letsinger’s Indiana Mustangs coach from 15U to 17U. 

“Coach Bohland really knew how to shape us into great people and baseball players,” says Letsinger. “It was a low-stress/high-fun environment and I couldn’t have asked for a better coach to lead my team.

“Coach Bohland and Coach VanO really helped me through the recruiting process. They were helpful and insightful. I cannot thank those two coaches enough. 

With the Mambas and PRP Baseball in Noblesville, Ind., Letsinger has been helped by Greg Vogt, Anthony Gomez, Seth Story and former Ball State pitcher Luke Jaksich.

“The entire PRP organization has really helped me get to where I am,” says Letsinger.

Lucas is the son of Bob and Nikki Letsinger and the older brother of Ashlee Letsinger (16).

Bob Letsinger works at Star Financial Bank and Nikki Letsinger is a dental assistant at Hulen Family Dentistry.

“My dad has always been the one to take me to workouts and will always be my favorite coach,” says Letsinger. “To this day he plays catch with men and helps me be the best player I can be. Without him none of this would be possible. 

“Mom is always doing whatever she can to help. She never misses a game. 

“My sister has been to so many games. I’m thankful for her support as well.”

Lucas Letsinger. (Indiana University-Kokomo Photo)

Lucas Letsinger. (River States Conference Image)

Lucas Letsinger. (Indiana University-Kokomo Image)

Lucas Letsinger. (Ball State University Image)

Determined moundsman Coil seeks consistent improvement

By STEVE KRAH
http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Nolan Coil grew up in Valparaiso, Ind., with his father and brother teaching him about baseball.
Now a right-handed pitcher with two years of eligibility left at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Mich., Nolan leans on what he’s learned from father Wayne Coil (who coached him on the traveling Valpo Crusaders and Valparaiso American Legion Post 94 and is junior varsity coach at Valparaiso High School) and brother Alex Coil (who played at Valparaiso High School and is now doing play-by-play for the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds) plus other lessons along the way.
“I use my knowledge to make up for other aspects that may lack in my game,” says Nolan, who recently turned 20. “My dad and brother have been huge in teaching me.
“I’m very determined. I want to get better consistently.”
Valparaiso-born Coil also played Valpo Americans Baseball (experiencing three years of all-stars in the state tournament) as well as for the Valpo Crusaders (coached by his father and Eric Jones), Indiana Breakers (coached by Scott Ellrich) and Todd Evans-led Valparaiso High School program. Nolan is a 2021 VHS graduate.
In two seasons at Calvin, Coil has pitched in 23 contests (14 out of the bullpen) with two wins, 37 strikeouts and 18 walks in 51 innings.
In 2023, he made 13 mound appearances (10 in relief) and went 1-2 with 14 strikeouts and seven walks in 23 innings while dealing with a hamstring issue.
“I definitely prefer to be a starter, but I’m definitely willing to go out there whenever the coach tells me to go out there,” says Coil. “I’m versatile in that way.”
The 6-foot-3, 215-pounder launches his pitches from a three-quarter overhand arm slot.
“I definitely get extended,” says Coil, who employs a four-seam fastball, two-seam fastball, cutter, knuckle curveball and change-up.
By the end of the spring season, Coil was sitting at 84-87 mph with his four-seamer.
Thrown in the low 80s, his cutter looks like a fastball then has late-breaking movement.
Coil watched video of big leaguers including Phil Hughes and Dylan Cease and studied their grips and arm actions and came up with the knuckle curve which travels in the low 70s.
It’s a “circle” change that Coil throws.
“The four-seam and cutter are the best pitches,” says Coil.
The Kevin Van Duyn-coached Calvin Knights are part of the NCAA Division III Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association, which also counts Trine University in Angola, Ind., as a member.
At the D-III level, teams practice for about a month in the fall then do not work with coaches again on a daily basis until the spring season gets closer.
“We’ll all work out together,” says Coil. “We make sure we’re bigger, faster and stronger than we were in the fall.”
In the classroom, Coil is a Sport Management major and Spanish/Data Analytics minor.
Coil’s last summer with Post 94 was 2021. He played for the New York Collegiate Baseball League’s Rochester (N.Y.) Ridgemen in 2022 and is with the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League’s Royal Oak (Mich.) Leprechauns in 2023.
“It’s a good experience,” says Coil of the squad based in the Detroit suburbs. “In this league there aren’t a lot of Division III kids.
“It’s an opportunity to show that my talents are here to stay and deserve to be here.”
Wayne Coil and his wife and mother to Nolan and Alex — Traci Coil — are both Valparaiso Community Schools teachers. Wayne is band director at Benjamin Franklin Middle School. Traci Coil is at Heavlin Elementary.

Nolan Coil. (Calvin College Photo)

Nolan Coil. (Mike Penn Photo)

Nolan Coil. (Mike Penn Photo)

Nolan Coil at center. (Joe Territo Photo)

Nolan Coil. (Kyle Griffin Photo)

Nolan Coil. (Kyle Griffin Photo)

Elkhart’s Tully gets called to the big leagues by Guardians

By STEVE KRAH
http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Nine years after he guided Elkhart (Ind.) Central High School to a state championship, Tanner Tully was called up to the big leagues.
The 27-year-old left-handed pitcher was promoted to the Cleveland Guardians Wednesday, April 20. He was one of three players added to Cleveland’s 40-man roster and 28-man active roster as replacements for pitchers Cal Quantrill and Anthony Castro and infielder Owen Miller, all of whom were placed on the 10-day COVID-19 injured list.
His last start with the Triple-A Columbus (Ohio) Clippers was April 15.
Tully, who was given jersey No. 56, did not pitch in Wednesday’s home doubleheader against the Chicago White Sox. Starting pitchers announced for the series finale at 1:10 p.m. Eastern today (April 21) were former Crown Point High School and Ball State University right-hander Zach Plesac for Cleveland and Dylan Cease for Chicago.
The Guardians were to begin weekend series at Yankee Stadium Friday through Sunday, April 22-24. As of Thursday morning, Cleveland had not announced its starting pitchers against New York.
As an Elkhart Central senior, Tully hit a home run to lead off the bottom of the first inning and struck out 13 batters while scattering five singles as the Steve Stutsman-coached Blue Blazers topped Indianapolis Cathedral 1-0 for the 2013 IHSAA Class 4A state championship at Victory Field in Indianapolis. Some of his high school teammates had played with him as a youngster with the Jimmy Malcom-coached Rip City Rebels. Jimmy’s son, Cory Malcom, went on to pitch at the University of Arkansas-Little Rock and in the St. Louis Cardinals organization.
Tully was Hoosier Diamond magazine’s Indiana Mr. Baseball award winner in 2013.
The southpaw pitched for three seasons at Ohio State University (2014-16). He was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year (2014). As a junior (2016), he was first team all-Big Ten, going 8-3 with a 2.34 earned run average and 76 strikeouts to 21 walks in 103 2/3 innings. For his OSU career, he was 18-10 with a 2.93 ERA in 46 games.
He competed for the Northwoods League’s Battle Creek (Mich.) Bombers (2014) and Cape Cod League’s Orleans Firebirds (2015) in summer collegiate ball and was selected by Cleveland in the 26th round of the 2016 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.
Tully has made minor league stops with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers (Niles, Ohio), Lake County Captains (Eastlake, Ohio), Lynchburg (Va.) Hillcats, Akron (Ohio) Rubber Ducks as well as Columbus.
Splitting his time between Double-A and Triple-A in 2021, Tully was 6-6 with a 3.50 ERA and finished second in the club’s minor league system in innings (113). The left-hander made six starts for the 2021 Arizona Fall League’s Scottsdale Scorpions.
At the time of his call-up, he had made 118 pro appearances (94 as starter) and was 32-40 with a 3.89 ERA. He had 428 strikeouts and 113 walks in 583 1/3 innings.
Tully is married to the former Taylor Hughes, who was a setter for the Ohio State volleyball team (2015-18).

Tanner Tully (Cleveland Guardians Photo)

Hasler breaks down pitching delivery, long toss

By STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

Chicago White Sox bullpen coach Curt Hasler was back at the place where he really got his professional baseball career going.

Back in 1988, Hasler was the starting pitcher for the first South Bend (Ind.) White Sox game at what was then known as Stanley Coveleski Regional Stadium. His battery mate that day was Mike Maksudian.

On Jan. 20, 2020 he was at Four Winds Field to talk about pitching with the South Bend Cubs Foundation Cubbies Coaches Club.

Hasler lives in South Bend, teaches youth players during the winter at the 1st Source Bank Performance Center and is the father of White Sox minor league hurler Drew Hasler.

The elder Hasler talked about the delivery and his belief in the power of long toss.

Hasler broke down pitching deliveries (some from the stretch and some from the wind-up).

“The best deliveries belong to starters in the big leagues,” says Hasler. “Relievers can get a little shaky.

“Relievers are only responsible for 15 to 30 pitches. Starters are responsible for 110 or 120. You’ve got to have good delivery to do that over and over again.”

From the stretch, White Sox right-handed reliever Jimmy Cordero begins with his feet shoulder width apart with most of his weight on his back leg.

“When he’s ready to go, all he’s going to have to do is transfer the rest of the 30 percent that’s on his front leg to his back leg and get to a balance position,” says Hasler. “This the simplest thing Jimmy can do. I can lift high. I can lift low. I can slide-step from this position.”

Hasler says that if a pitcher sets up too wide it takes an effort to get back over the rubber.

White Sox left-handed reliever Aaron Bummer’s delivery to very simple.

“He just lifts and goes,” says Hasler. “He comes set with feet and toes in line and slightly closed and more weight on the back leg.”

White Sox righty reliever Evan Marshall balances over the rubber and slightly rotates his hips while lifting his front leg.

“He’s in an athletic position,” says Hasler. “You’re not athletic with your feet and legs straight and your knees locked out.

“Eyes on target start-to-finish.”

The majority of major league pitchers do these things in their own way. Hasler says you can always find someone who’s different but those are the outliers.

“You want to make the guys that are good the rule,” says Hasler. “How high (Marshall) lifts (the front leg) is up to him. He has slide-step. He has a shorter one and has one with nobody on (the bases).

“Just as long as you get back to balance.”

Then Cordero was shown going toward the plate and in the process of separation.

“When your leg goes and your knees separate, your hands have to separate,” says Hasler. “They can’t be late. I’m not going to be on-time. My hand’s not going to catch up.

“He’s going to ride down the mound in a powerful position.”

Showing a photo of Max Scherzer, Hasler notes how the Washington National right-handed starter uses his lower half.

“He’s into his legs,” says Hasler. “The back leg is the vehicle to get you to where you want to go.

“I want all my energy, all my momentum, all my forces going (straight toward the plate).

“You’re using your glues and your hamstrings. You’re not really uses your quads.”

Houston Astros right-handed starter Justin Verlander is another pitcher who really gets into his legs and glutes and rides down the mound in a power position.

White Sox righty starter Lucas Giolito uses his hamstrings and glutes as does Los Angeles Dodgers left-handed starter Clayton Kershaw — the latter sitting lower than most.

Hasler says Giolito has one of the better riding four-seam fastballs and the correct way to grip it is across the four seams with the horseshoe pointing out (longer part of the finger over the longest part of the seams).

“It’s going to give you the most-efficient spin and the best ride,” says Hasler. “If that’s what you’re looking for.”

Righty closer Alex Colome gets into a powerful position with a slight tilt of the shoulders in his delivery.

Hasler says all pitchers, infielders and outfielders (catchers are a little different) have to step to where they throw.

“Being in-line is really important,” says Hasler.

Pitchers work back and front.

“I got over the rubber,” says Hasler. “Small turn. Upper half led. Lower half stayed back. I got into my legs. I’m going to the plate. I’m creating this power position. I’ve created created a little bit of tilt back with my shoulders.

“Now I’m going to work back to front, north to south, top top to bottom — anything you want to call it. I’m working (toward the plate).”

Hasler says pitchers who have a lower arm slot — like Boston Red Sox lefty starter Chris Sale — set their angle with their upper body.

In showing White Sox righty starter Dylan Cease and his “spike” curveball, Hasler noted that the wrist has to be a little bit stiff.

“You can’t be floppy over lazy with it,” says Hasler. “Dylan has spin the ball from 1-to-7 (o’clock). Nobody spins it 12-to-6. No one has an axis of 6 o’clock.”

For those without technology, Hasler says the best way to see if a player is spinning the ball the right way is play catch with them.

To learn to throw a curve, pitchers must learn to feel and spin the ball.

Hasler is a long toss advocate.

“Long toss is one of the most underrated and underused things out there,” says Hasler. “It’s a huge tool for kids.

“It can help arm strength. It will help you attain the best velocity you can attain. I’m not going to tell that it’s going increase velocity. It’ll give you the best chance to throw as hard as you can.

“It’s going to help you stay healthy.”

A problem that Hasler observes when the White Sox select a college player in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft is their lack of throwing on non-game days.

“They tell me they were a Friday night starter in college,” says Hasler. “What did you do Saturday? Nothing. My arm’s sore. What did you do Sunday? Nothing. We didn’t have practice. What did you do Monday. Nothing. We had an off-day.

“He’s pitching Friday and not playing catch Saturday, Sunday or Monday. That’s a mistake.

“You need to play catch. You need to use it to keep it going.

“If you’re hurt then don’t (play catch). If you’re just a little sore then do (play catch). You have to understand the difference between soreness and being hurt.”

Hasler showed a long toss sessions between Giolito and White Sox righty starter Reynaldo Lopez.

“(Lopez) doesn’t start crow-hopping until he gets about 120 or 150 feet away,” says Hasler. Lopey long tosses at about 220 feet and he can do it because he’s strong.

“He’s on his front leg. There’s no exiting stage left or stage right. When we’re playing long toss, my misses can be up. But my misses can’t be side-to-side.

“When I miss right or left the ball is screaming at me that something’s wrong.”

Giolito crow-hops from 90 feet and back. But nothing comes “out of the hallway” (no throws would hit the imaginary walls).

“His first step is pretty aggressive and he’s going in the direction I want to go,” says Hasler. “If my first step is small, weak and little then what’s my second step going to be?”

The tone is set for long toss and as the thrower moves back, the tone and tempo picks up.

“Pitching and long toss are violent acts, but they’re done under control,” says Hasler.

Cubbies Coaches Club meets at 6 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month during the baseball preseason. To learn more, call (574) 404-3636 or email performancecenter@southbendcubs.com.

South Bend’s Curt Hasler is the bullpen coach for the Chicago White Sox. He spoke at the Jan. 20, 2020 South Bend Cubs Foundation Cubbies Coaches Club. (Chicago White Sox Photo)

 

Speedy, versatile South Bend Cubs ready to roll in 2017

By STEVE KRAH

http://www.IndianaRBI.com

South Bend is about to begin its third season as a Chicago Cubs affiliate.

Jimmy Gonzalez was the manager for the first two and he’s back for 2017.

The skipper has plenty of nice things to say about the community and the fans (the Cubs drew 350,803 during the 2016 Class-A Midwest League season and owner Andrew Berlin has set a goal of 400,000 for 2017).

“It’s a great town,” says Gonzalez. “There are things to do around here and good restaurants. It’s great to have a minor league affiliate called the Cubs and be so close to Chicago. The support is through the roof.”

Gonzalez leads the ’17 team (Notre Dame visits for a seven-inning exhibition at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 5 at Four Winds Field before plays two road games Thursday and Friday and the home opener at 7:05 p.m. Saturday, April 8) with a few returnees to South Bend and several who played for short-season Northwest League champion Eugene (Ore.).

The Emeralds, managed by former South Bend coach Jesus Feliciano, went 54-22 during the 2016 regular season.

While there was no pennant (that went to the Lansing Lugnuts), the ’16 campaign saw South Bend go 84-55 during the regular season, make the playoffs and Gonzalez earn MWL Manager of the Year honors.

“There’s a bunch of exciting guys,” says Gonzalez. “They’re coming off a great season last year in Eugene, guys that have won.”

Gonzalez surveys his ’17 South Bend roster and sees fleetness and versatility.

“Speed is going to be a huge factor with this club,” says Gonzalez. “Those speed guys create spark and excitement and a lot of good things happen.”

The swiftest of the Cubs are outfielders D.J. Wilson (21 stolen bases in 2016), Kevonte Mitchell (15) and Chris Pieters (20) and infielder Yeiler Peguero.

Wilson expects to be in center field.

“I have first-step quickness,” says Wilson. “My angles are pretty good.”

Wilson is glad to be back with a group of friends that he played plenty of winning baseball with last summer.

“We had great chemistry last year with the Emeralds and it’s only gotten stronger throughout the spring,” says Wilson, who also looks forward to playing in South Bend since it is closer to his hometown of Canton, Ohio, which should allow friends and family to see him play in 2017.

Mitchell says he could see time in right and left and, possibly, center.

“My base running and my speed (are strengths),” says Mitchell. “I also have a nice arm from the outfield.

“I bring energy to the team.”

All the way up the big league team, the ability to play multiple positions is valued in the Cubs organization. South Bend reflects this philosophy.

“I love having that as an option,” says Gonzalez. “It gives rest to a bunch of guys. (Versatility is) also great for their development.”

The manager says it is likely that Peguero will see time at second base and shortstop with Wladimir Galindo at third base and first base, Isaac Parades at shortstop and third base and Zack Short at shortstop, second base and third base.

Including time in instructional league and spring training, Vimael Machin has played all four infield positions and has been used at catcher.

“That’s a good thing about Vimael,” says Gonzalez. “He is willing and able to do a lot of things.”

Machin, Paredes, catcher Alberto Mineo and right-handed pitchers Jared Cheek and Dakota Mekkes appeared with South Bend in 2016.

“I consider those guys leaders,” says Gonzalez. “Yes, they probably didn’t want to come back here (but move up in the Cubs system). That’s just part of the game. You can mope about it or you can just go out there and play.”

Machin models that team-oriented attitude.

“I’ll do whatever (Gonzalez) tells me to do,” says Machin. “Even if we’re not playing, we’re helping and supporting each other. That’s what it’s all about.”

With the grind of a long season, baseball is a game where slumps and bad days are inevitable.

“It’s important that (the players) know that adversity is going to come,” says Gonzalez. “How are they going to handle it? Are they going to get down and just not perform moving forward and understand that’s going to happen.

“Whether you’re 5-for-5 or 0-for-5, that sixth at-bat is another at-bat. You can’t change what you just did. It’s written down. You always have that moment to do something.”

Because it translates in games, Gonzalez says the concept of staying in the moment was an emphasis of the Cubs mental skills program during spring training.

Flame-throwing right-hander Dylan Cease has embraced the mentality and does not dwell on the future.

“It’s the process over the result,” says Cease. “I just expect to stay in my process and do as good as a I can.

“I feel really good about my mechanics. It just comes down to executing … I’m just focused on being the best ballplayer I can be and getting better.”

South Bend pitching coach Brian Lawrence has watched Cease progress well since having Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery in June 2015, but there will be a learning curve in 2017.

“He’s never thrown meaningful pitches in April before,” says Lawrence. “He’s going to have to get through his first full season. He has to learn what he has. What he’s shown from last year through spring training is tremendous. He has command of all his pitches.”

Cease is part of a starting rotation that right-handers Duncan Robinson, Kyle Miller, Tyson Miller, Erling Moreno and Matt Swarmer and left-hander Manuel Rondon. Lawrence says there will be a few “piggyback” situations where one pitcher will start and another starter will take over. Left-handers Bryan Hudson and Jose Paulino may join the team from extended spring training in the coming weeks.

“This is going to be a fun team to play with,” says Tyson Miller. “I’ve just got to execute pitches. I want to throw the most innings I can with the least amount of pitches.

“I just need to get better with my pitching I.Q. and knowing how to set up hitters.”

Lawrence says starters will be limited to 80 pitches to start the season.

The bullpen features 6-foot-7 righty Dakota Mekkes and 5-8 lefty Wyatt Short and several other arms who will get work.

“We won’t go back-to-back (days) for quite awhile (with relievers),” says Lawrence. “We do have a lot of guys who can pitch at the end of the game. We have a lot of options.”