RENO, Nev. – Nevada will enter its fifth season under head coach T.J. Bruce in 2020, with its season kicking off next Friday, Feb. 14 at Portland. The Wolf Pack has reached the Mountain West Tournament every year under Bruce.
In 2019, Nevada hosted the MW Tournament for the second time in four years. In the second round, it defeated defending 2018 Mountain West champion San Diego State for its first MW Tournament win since 2016.
Following the season, Nevada had three players selected in the 2019 MLB Draft. RHP Grant Ford went in the fifth round to the Pittsburgh Pirates and LHP Ryan Anderson was selected by the New York Yankees in round 12. Outfielder Jaylon McLaughlin was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 37th round, but the 2019 first-team All-MW selection opted to come back to the Wolf Pack. Ford also earned All-MW honors, being named to the second team along with former outfielder Weston Hatten and junior third baseman Joshua Zamora.
SCHEDULE
Four of Nevada's opponents this season made an NCAA Regional in 2019, including Michigan, Stanford, Sacramento State, and Fresno State. Michigan and Stanford each made it to a Super Regional, while the Wolverines came one win away against Vanderbilt from winning the College World Series.
"We are excited about the way our schedule has shaped out for the upcoming season," said Bruce. "We will play a lot of power five schools that will prepare us for our conference schedule, with a great slate of opponents coming to Don Weir Field at Peccole Park. We can't wait for the season to kick off next week."
NEWCOMERS
Nevada will welcome 19 newcomers this season including 13 junior college transfers. Six freshmen will join the Wolf Pack, with an even split of two pitchers, two outfielders and two playing the infield. All six hail from California.
Four of the junior college transfers coming in will be sophomores with the Pack, eight are juniors and the lone senior will be outfielder Kiambu Fentress from Vanderbilt.
PITCHING
Nevada lost its Friday starter to the 2019 MLB Draft in local product Ryan Anderson, but will return its two other weekend starters in Owen Sharts and Jake Jackson. One of its best arms last season, Shane Gustafson, will also return to the Pack and look for a spot in the starting rotation.
All three of Nevada's lefty arms will be newcomers this season, as Carson Snyder, Clayton Westrope and Tanner Cunha all transferred from California junior colleges to pitch for the Wolf Pack.
Also returning to the Pack's bullpen this season is senior RHP Ben Purcell, who proved to be a reliable arm for Nevada in his first year with the Pack. In 15 appearances, he tossed 18 innings with 11 strikeouts and a 2.50 ERA.
INFIELD
Nevada returns a stacked infield for the 2020 season, led by third baseman and multiple All-MW honoree Joshua Zamora who was second on the team last season with a .320 batting average. He is joined by first baseman Dillan Shrum, a senior who blasted 10 homeruns in an injury-shortened 2019 campaign.
The middle infield is loaded defensively, as Nevada has both Wyatt Tilley and Tyler Bosetti back as upperclassmen for the season. Joining the Pack is freshman Brady Hormel, who had an exceptional fall earning time at second base during Nevada's fall exhibitions against San Francisco and Cal.
OUTFIELD
Even after losing a few of its outfielders this offseason, Nevada returns its best player from the 2019 season in Jaylon McLaughlin, the only member of the Wolf Pack to earn first-team All-MW honors. The centerfielder slashed .339 last year to lead Nevada and stole 25 bases.
After losing Weston Hatten and Daniel Perry, Nevada added senior graduate transfer Kiambu Fentress from Vanderbilt to play the outfield for Nevada. Also adding speed along the base paths, Fentress and McLaughlin look do be a fierce combo at the top of the Pack's batting order.
Redshirt-junior Otis Statum Jr. also returns to Nevada, after showcasing his power last season with two mammoth home runs, one of which went for a grand slam. Junior Anthony Flores will look to see time in Nevada's outfield as well.
CATCHERS
Nevada will have a two-headed monster at catcher this season, with defensive specialist Marco Valenzuela looking to solidify his starting spot while sophomore Matt Clayton looks for continued success following his freshman campaign. In his first season, Clayton batted .292 with nine doubles and three homeruns with 17 RBI.
Joining the catchers will be Blake Dickman, a transfer from Delta College. Josh Prizina, who played a plethora of positions for Nevada, can also see time behind the dish for Nevada this season.
UTILITY
Returning for the Wolf Pack is redshirt junior Conor Allard, who enjoyed a breakout season with the Wolf Pack last season as its primary utility player. Seeing time all over the infield, including behind the dish and as the designated hitter, he appeared in 41 games while boasting a .284 batting average. He smacked two homers along with six doubles while driving in 20 runs.
Along with Allard, Josh Prizina saw time at first, third, catcher and DH last season and will look to keep playing wherever he is needed for the Pack. Transfers Isiah Lissade and Sam Burns will join the Wolf Pack from California junior colleges this season and both serve utility roles.
TICKETS
Season tickets are available for purchase online at NevadaWolfPack.com or by calling (775) 348-PACK. Season tickets start as low as $155 for the general public.
