Missouri junior closer Breckin Williams described a “three-headed monster” coming out of the Tiger bullpen. He’s not very far off.
Williams, along with junior Austin Tribby and senior Andrew Schwaab, have been untouchable to start the season. They’re quietly turning some heads around college baseball and are climbing up draft boards.
“You’ve got three pretty experienced guys that have all pitched in the bullpen their entire careers, and I think those three guys are leading it,” Missouri coach Tim Jamieson said.
With a 10-4 team record, the trio of Williams, Tribby, and Schwaab has allowed a combined two runs this season through 22 combined appearances and have been integral to Mizzou’s best start since 1985 (14-0).
Tribby attributed the early-season success to knowing the bullpen’s identity.
“We love what we’re doing and we take pride in what we’re doing,” he said. “We thrive in having passion for the game and being able to come into any situation and have the confidence to get the job done.”
Williams, on the other hand, mentioned confidence as the bullpen’s unifying quality.
“Between Tribby, Schwaab, and I, we have a lot of belief in each other,” he said. “To have that three-headed monster with belief in one another really brings things together at the end of games.”
Regardless, the trio has been lights-out thus far and is quickly becoming a steady power late in games. Williams is among the Southeastern Conference’s leaders in saves with five, and has recorded a decision in seven of his eight appearances (5 saves, 2 wins). He has held opposing batters to a .129 batting average at the plate. Williams is also well on his way to breaking former closer Keaton Steele’s saves mark (9) from last season.
Meanwhile, Tribby has been just as impressive. The lanky southpaw has surrendered just one run in nine innings and is averaging nine strikeouts per nine innings pitched. With nine appearances, he currently leads the Tigers’ pitching staff in appearances.
Schwaab has also been excellent in a setup role. The right-hander has yet to allow a run this season in 10.0 innings of work and has surrendered just two hits. He has also picked up a save in the process against Illinois-Chicago — the first of his career.
“We’ve got some really gifted guys and it’s a good group to become the pitching coach with,” said Jamieson, who took on the pitching coach role prior to this season. “They’re making me look pretty smart right now, but it’s really them.”
Although Williams, Tribby and Schwaab have been nearly unhittable, Jamieson said he would like to give other guys some opportunities to get game experience.
Fortunately, or unfortunately for the Tigers, they have been the beneficiary of solid starting pitching and have not gotten the chance to share the wealth in the bullpen. Schwaab and Williams both noted that they have complete confidence in the rest of the bullpen, despite the fact the younger pitchers haven’t gotten to the mound yet.
“It’s just a matter of time before we hand the ball to one of those guys,” Tribby said. “I see every one of those guys working their tails off each day because they want the ball in a big situation.”
Williams said that he has seen tremendous growth in some of the team’s mid-week scrimmages.
“A lot of the young guys have had their velocity go up and they’re getting more confident in one another,” Williams said.
Some of the notable members of the Tigers’ bullpen contingency that have not yet seen time on the mound include freshman Bryce Montes de Oca, a powerful right-hander who was the 14th-round selection of the Chicago White Sox, as well as freshman Liam Carter, a highly touted recruit from Illinois. Tribby said he has told Montes de Oca and Carter, among others, to keep their arms loose.
“I’ve told some of the younger guys on the team awaiting their first outing as a Tiger to stay ready,” Tribby said. “The one time you’re not ready is the one time you’re going to get the ball.”
