ASU redshirt sophomore Erik Tolman has hit and pitched ever since he started playing baseball. It didn't stop in high school and not when he started college ball in 2019.
However, the 2021 season will be the left-hander's first crack at approaching the game a different way; Tolman and the ASU coaching staff agreed to convert him into a pure pitcher.
"I'm a proponent of two-way guys, if you've got a two-way guy that can really do it, it's an asset," head coach Tracy Smith said. "The downside of that ... and particularly with the younger they are in their careers, it sometimes has a tendency to take away from something else."
Tolman's coaches expect him to be an integral part of the starting rotation, a "dude" as Smith said. Therefore, taking time away from that craft to participate in batting practice is no longer in the team’s best interest.
Last year, in a season cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Tolman stepped up to the plate 17 times in nine games and pitched 18 innings.
Tolman finished the season 1-for-14 as a batter, a rough start albeit a short sample size. However, he worked a stellar 2.5 ERA with 15 strikeouts per nine innings as a pitcher. He increased his strikeout rate and lowered his walk rate compared to his freshman year.
Tolman's performance on the mound clearly indicated what his baseball future held in store; it was time for him to set aside the lumber, a change he said that will take time adjusting to.
"Throughout my whole life, I've always been swinging the bat," Tolman said. "I think it was the best decision for me to take some time off and just focus on pitching. I think it's helped me dramatically on the mound, just focusing more on what I can do to help the team."
Pitching coach Jason Kelly and Smith noticed a jump in Tolman's velocity since last season. Kelly also said Tolman's slider is sharper and he has been throwing more strikes recently.
While Kelly said maturation as a pitcher is a reason for Tolman's improvement, he added Tolman's shift to working purely on pitching has him "as focused as I've ever seen him" and has allowed him to reach another level of skill.
"To not have that second thing pulling him away, I think, has really helped him on the physical end, obviously, and I think on the mental end," Kelly said. "Just having a real good idea of what he's doing every day; he's not going to be split. He's not going to have to take tough at-bats to the mound."
That isn't to say Tolman failed to balance the two.
He recorded a solid 3.38 ERA as a freshman in 2019 and showed signs of being a quality hitter. He slugged .455 with three home runs in 44 at-bats for ASU, then went to the Cape Cod Baseball League that summer and slugged .706 in 17 at-bats at the country’s premier collegiate summer ball league.
Hitting coach Michael Earley said his move away from the plate is partially due to the team's roster construction but more so "a testament to how big of a jump he's made on the mound."
"As much as I liked having him as a hitter, on the mound, you'll see, he's made a tremendous jump, and he's going to do really big things," Earley said.
Kelly said Tolman could possibly get a pinch-hitting appearance this season, but it is not guaranteed. He said the Tolman could still hit a ball over the fence from the left side of the plate if needed. But his role appears to be set as a vital pitcher for the team this season.
After losing several impactful bats from the 2020 roster, including MLB first-round draft picks Spencer Torkelson and Alika Williams, ASU has a lot of new faces to mix into the lineup. The Sun Devils may need to rely on pitching more heavily, especially early in the season.
ASU's staff and players agree it has the arms to do so, with redshirt freshman Cooper Benson likely taking the ace role on Friday nights. Tolman will likely be in the mix for the Sunday spot, giving him an opportunity to close a series and display his talent ahead of the 2021 MLB Draft.
Tolman is eager to take on the challenge and said he is ready to face some new hitters after months of scrimmaging against his own team.
Reach the reporter at alexjweiner@gmail.com and follow @alexjweiner on Twitter.
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