In the eighth inning of Monday night's game, Brock Ketelsen (Stanford) was preparing for his at-bat when pitching coach Eric Beattie approached him near the dugout.
"You think you can give us an inning or two on the mound tomorrow?" Beattie asked.
Ketelsen quickly accepted. The 6-foot-4 California native isn't just an outfielder — he's a left-handed pitcher, too.
One day later, Ketelsen entered in the bottom of the eighth inning with a runner on first and induced an inning-ending double play. He returned for the ninth and earned his first save of the summer, striking out a Chatham batter on the final pitch of the game as Y-D secured a 4-1 victory.
"Usually [in the Cape League] you play like two or three games in the field, and then you get one day off," Ketelsen said. "I like the fact that my off day is also a day that I can play. It's the day I can pitch. It's super fun."
After only 26 at-bats at Stanford this spring, Ketelsen has wasted little time making an impact offensively for Y-D. He's 3-for-7 with a walk and a stolen base, including Monday's game-winning run after a clutch eighth-inning single.
Ketelsen admits he enjoys the batters box slightly more than the mound, though Tuesday's outing may have him reconsidering.
"It felt good to shut the door for the team," Ketelsen said. "I was in the bullpen the whole game, and it gets active out there, so I just wanted to do it for those guys down there. I was fortunate enough to get it done with a double-play ball, which was perfect."
The best-of-both-worlds role has also allowed Ketelsen to form relationships throughout the clubhouse.
"It's been awesome getting to know the hitters and the pitchers," Ketelsen said. "It's a lot of new names, new faces, but it's been a lot of fun."
Y-D's pitching staff currently features just two left-handers: Ketelsen and Andrew Wright (Cal State Fullerton). After Wright tossed 3.2 scoreless innings Monday, Ketelsen was the lone available southpaw Tuesday night.
He delivered exactly what Beattie needed, recording 1.2 scoreless innings on 22 pitches.
"You saw what he's capable of tonight," Beattie said. "He comes in throwing mid-90s and throwing a slider and breaking a couple bats. He was a big pickup."
The two-way lifestyle is nothing new for Ketelsen. During high school, he began to realize he could continue both pitching and hitting at the highest level. A setback early in his career temporarily pulled him away from the mound, but it also forced him to develop as a hitter. The experience helped shape the versatile player Y-D sees today.
Y-D is off to a perfect 4-0 start and remains the CCBL's lone undefeated team, with Ketelsen contributing on both sides of the ball. His scoreless outing added to a bullpen that leads the league with 25.2 innings pitched and owns a league-best 2.45 ERA.
"I think our guys are just all going out and doing their job," Beattie said. "We've got a lot of sinker guys coming out of the pen that really helps. We've gotten some big double plays, and we've got a lot of strike-throwers out of the pen too."
For Ketelsen, his goals on the Cape are clear.
"The biggest thing coming here was to get more at-bats. Really to get those at-bats under my belt against the best competition here, and I'm glad I'm doing that," Ketelsen said. "And then just staying in shape, pitching-wise, for the upcoming season. Just trying not to be too technical, go out there and compete to the best of my ability."
Ketelsen and the rest of the Red Sox are off Wednesday before returning to action Thursday against Wareham at 6 p.m.
