Coming off a year where they led the league in strikeouts, finished second in ERA and collected the most wins across the Cape, the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox are looking for similar success on the bump as they defend their East Division crown in 2025.
Y-D is no stranger to producing top-end talent on the mound, including former players such as 2024 NL Cy Young Award winner Chris Sale, 2020 AL Cy Young Award winner Shane Bieber, Walker Buehler and David Robertson. Most recently, Trevor Moore (Stanford) won the Russ Ford Award for the Most Outstanding Reliever on the Cape last season. One thing all of these guys have in common? Manager Scott Pickler was at the helm when they took the hill for Y-D.
This summer, Pickler will have a familiar face rejoining his pitching staff, with Georgia Tech righty Carson Ballard coming back after pitching to a 3.63 ERA in four starts last summer. Another returner, UCLA reliever Justin Lee, is expected to join the team following the Bruins’ trip to Omaha for the College World Series. He recorded a 4.74 ERA in 10 appearances with Y-D last summer and moved into a late-inning role with the Bruins this season, recording five saves.
Lee shared closing duties at UCLA with freshman right-hander Easton Hawk, who currently leads the Bruins with seven saves and is also slated to join Y-D this summer. Hawk has racked up 11.81 K/9 in 21.1 innings this year and closed out both of UCLA’s victories in the Super Regional against UTSA.
A duo of Kennesaw State teammates, Ryan Renfroe and Bo Rhudy, will both be coming to Yarmouth this summer. Rhudy and Renfore displayed strong swing-and-miss stuff out of the bullpen, as each of them finished above 10 K/9. Rhudy led the Owls with five saves while pitching to a 3.16 ERA, 2.63 FIP (fielding independent pitching) and 0.92 WHIP in 37 innings. Following the season, Rhudy announced that he will be transferring to play at Tennessee next year.
One arm that comes into the summer with plenty of momentum is California Baptist lefty Cody New, who had a 1.86 ERA in his final five starts of the year. During this stretch, New had back-to-back 10-strikeout performances after striking out 11 batters in consecutive outings during early March. Overall, he completed his breakout sophomore season with a 3.49 ERA and 98 strikeouts across 80 innings.
Someone who brings big-game experience to Y-D is Oklahoma State right-hander Hunter Watkins, who made 11 starts with the Cowboys this year after transferring from Grand Canyon. Watkins toed the rubber in an elimination game of the NCAA Athens Regional against Binghamton, where he tossed 4.2 innings on the way to a 13-5 win.
A couple of other starters that Pickler can slot into his rotation are Toledo lefty Jacob Tabor and Wichita State sophomore Brady Hamilton. Hamilton finished his season on a high note when he collected a season-high nine strikeouts in his final regular season start before throwing 4.2 hitless innings in the American Athletic Conference Tournament. Tabor, who made 10 starts this year, can be relied on to keep the ball in the yard, allowing just four home runs in 96.1 career innings.
Georgia right-hander Zach Harris and Cincinnati righty Carson Marsh bring some versatility to Y-D, with both having experience starting games and coming out of the bullpen. Harris has made 19 starts across his collegiate career but transitioned mainly into a reliever this past season, where he recorded a 4.55 ERA and four saves in 27.2 innings. Marsh became a regular midweek starter for the Bearcats this year, making nine starts after starting only one game in his freshman year.
UC Irvine lefty Ricky Ojeda is heading to Y-D after being a workhorse for the Anteaters, pitching 66 innings across 29 appearances and finishing second in the NCAA with 13 wins. These efforts earned him Big West Conference Pitcher of the Year honors after receiving a spot on the All-Big West First Team in 2024. Throughout his two-year collegiate career, Ojeda has displayed the ability to miss a ton of bats with 12 K/9 in 118 innings.
Oklahoma right-hander Michael Catalano heads to Yarmouth coming off a standout debut season, where he struck out 11.67 batters per nine in 22 appearances out of the bullpen. Catalano finished his season with four consecutive scoreless outings, including two in the NCAA Chapel Hill Regional.
Another reliever coming to Y-D that finished his season strong is Nevada righty Dominic Desch, who allowed only three earned runs in 13.1 innings (2.06 ERA) during May. He capped off this stretch with a season-high nine strikeouts in his final outing of the year against Fresno State. Desch, who just completed his senior year, also provides plenty of experience to the pitching staff.
Xavier freshman Jack Nobe was a go-to option for the Musketeers this season, finishing third among relievers with 45 innings pitched. Nobe excelled at limiting hard contact, with just two home runs allowed this year.
Two Power Five relievers that will be at Pickler’s disposal are Virginia sophomore Drew Koenen and Arizona State sophomore Derek Schaefer. Koenen excelled at working out of trouble and limiting the long ball this season, allowing just one home run with a 2.70 ERA in 23.1 innings. Schaefer transferred to ASU after winning a national championship with Tennessee in 2024 and worked largely as a multi-inning option out of the bullpen for the Sun Devils.
Rounding out the bullpen is righty Tyler Pitzer, who has displayed explosive stuff in each of his two years with South Carolina, posting 11.1 K/9 in 72 career innings. While Pitzer will be playing for Y-D this summer, it’s still unknown where he will be playing next spring, as he announced he was entering the transfer portal following the season.
This high-powered Y-D pitching staff will be on display for the first time when it takes on the Brewster Whitecaps on Saturday at 5 p.m. for Opening Day.
