LSU waiting to hear from junior-college pitchers

• By RANDY ROSETTA
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Jul 9, 2009

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As things stand now, the LSU baseball program remains the destination of choice for two junior-college pitchers who could provide a major boost to the starting rotation in 2010.

But that could change between now and Aug. 17 — the deadline for Mitch Mormann and Brett Bruening to decide whether to attend LSU or play professional baseball.

Mormann and Bruening are half of the unfinished pitching puzzle LSU will have to sweat out between a national championship campaign and a new season that could be just as promising.

“Those guys could add some pitching depth for sure,” said Tigers pitching coach and recruiting coordinator David Grewe. “Next year our pitching staff has a chance to be very deep and very good. Some development is going to be needed and may take some time with some of kids coming in, but those guys are two are big keys to the puzzle.

“They’re both power-arm kids who throw very good fastballs. In our system with the stuff we do, they’re both going to get better and have a chance to really blossom.”

The two junior-college hurlers are both tall (6-foot-6), hard-throwing (both have been clocked in the low to mid-90 mph range) right-handers who will be in the battle for starting roles right away.

Those two and Louisiana prep standouts Zack Von Rosenberg and Brody Colvin are four pitchers the Tigers coaches are cautiously counting on to fortify a pitching staff that will be anchored by Anthony Ranaudo, Austin Ross, Daniel Bradshaw, Matty Ott and Chris Matulis.

Von Rosenberg said Wednesday he is waiting to hear back for additional negotiating with the Pittsburgh Pirates, who drafted him in the sixth round of the draft.

Colvin, a seventh-round pick of the Philadelphia Phillies, hasn’t had contact with local media in several weeks.

Of that possible incoming quartet, Mormann and Bruening may both be ready for the pressure of the Southeastern Conference sooner rather than later.

Grewe said Bruening has a high three-quarters delivery over the top and throws from a down angle with rising action on his fastball. Mormann, meanwhile, has mastered the sinking motion on his fastball.

The challenge for both will be to learn how to set up SEC-caliber hitters for out pitches.

Before that work can begin, though, the LSU coaches will have to wait and wonder because Mormann and Bruening are also weighing pro offers.