Freshman Nick Pogue will start Sunday's game against Dallas Baptist in Lubbock Regional. (Photo: Tim Casey/UAA Communications)
Pogue Gets A Texas-Sized Opportunity
Sunday, June 2, 2019 | Baseball, Scott Carter
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By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer
LUBBOCK, Texas – As one of seven freshmen pitchers who have been called into service for the Gators this season, Nick Pogue looked the part most of the time.
In his first career outing, Pogue allowed four runs in two innings. The next time out, Pogue allowed four runs in 1 1/3 innings. So it went for Pogue as he transitioned from Eau Gallie High in Melbourne, Fla., into a program that has produced seven pitchers selected in the first round of the MLB amateur draft this decade.
In fact, as Pogue considered his college options, names such as Alex Faedo, A.J. Puk and Brady Singer were prominent in his mind. When Gators coach Kevin O'Sullivan showed interest, Pogue jumped at the opportunity to play at UF.
"They've had so much success in the past 10 years and especially developing pitchers and having big-time arms come out of here,'' he said. "It was a dream come true when I got an offer."
O'Sullivan extended Pogue another great opportunity following Saturday's win over Army here in the Lubbock Regional: a start Sunday afternoon against Dallas Baptist University (3 p.m. ET) to keep the Gators' season alive.
Pogue spent most of the regular season stationed in the bullpen, making 12 relief appearances as O'Sullivan tinkered with roles on a staff that had the highest ERA in the Southeastern Conference. One of the buttons O'Sullivan decided to push was to give the 6-foot-5 Pogue a start on May 7 against USF. Pogue tossed five scoreless innings to lower his ERA by more than a run.
Pogue's performance earned him another start on May 12 against Tennessee. Once again, he got the job done by allowing only one hit and one run over 5 1/3 innings. Finally, in the regular-season finale at Missouri on May 18, Pogue made his third consecutive start and did not disappoint, striking out six and allowing just three hits in 5 1/3 scoreless innings.
Nick Pogue has limited opponents to six hits and one run over 15 2/3 innings in his three starts. (Photo: Tim Casey/UAA Communications)
In a season O'Sullivan has used 12 different pitchers to start games, Pogue's emergence has been one of the Gators' top discoveries. He is 1-0 with a 0.57 ERA (15 2/3 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 12 K) in his three starts, solidifying the spot in the rotation behind Tommy Mace and Jack Leftwich.
"He's added a third arm that we can rely on,'' said shortstop Brady McConnell, who was familiar with Pogue from their days as high school rivals. "His last couple of starts have been unbelievable. It's definitely someone we can rely on, someone we needed to step up, and it's going to be huge for us here in this run that we're going to make."
For that run to come to fruition, the Gators must defeat DBU on Sunday afternoon and then come back and defeat host Texas Tech on Sunday night and again on Monday afternoon to advance to a super regional.
Pogue gets the first pitch to make that happen.
"You never really know when you're getting in, but when you do, you have to make the most of your opportunities,'' Pogue said of his outlook as a freshman. "I think after my first start against USF, that really brought my confidence up a lot. And getting these last two starts in SEC play has really helped that."
Should the Gators defeat DBU, O'Sullivan has another decision to make in facing Texas Tech, which advanced with wins over Army and DBU in its first two games here. Junior Tyler Dyson, who opened the season as the No. 1 starter but has struggled with consistency, remains an option, as does Nolan Crisp, a freshman who has started six games and spent time as the team's closer.
When the final chapter is written about Florida's 2019 season, the team's uncharacteristic woes on the mound will be a major theme. That's why Pogue's emergence late in the season has been such a boost.
O'Sullivan has been impressed with the way Pogue competes on every pitch. He grew up in an athletic family – his father pitched in junior college and his cousin, former Florida State softball All-American Alex Powers, was the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year and is now a member of the USSSA Pride of the National Pro Fastpitch League.
"He's got a slider that he developed, he's got a change-up he's always throwing for strikes,'' O'Sullivan said. "He's kind of like Jack where he's got the ability to throw two different off-speed pitches to right-handed hitters. Not many guys can throw their change-up to right-handed hitters very often and have it be a weapon. And he's been able to do that. So you got to honor both off-speed pitches. He has the ability to pitch to both sides of the place with his fastball.
"He's been able to limit the damage, too, which some of the younger pitchers are still trying to figure out."
Still sweating after practice this week, an enthusiastic Pogue spoke of his late-season burst as you might expect. He is trying to soak up everything in his first trip to the NCAA Tournament and first time in Texas, where they say everything is bigger.
Sunday is definitely the biggest start of Pogue's young career. He knows what his family back in Melbourne will be doing.
