UNC Sets Starting Rotation for Opening Weekend
Brandon Schaeffer tabbed as Opening Day starter vs. Seton Hall
Ever since North Carolina’s 2021 season ended in the Lubbock Regional eight months ago, questions have persisted about what the team’s weekend rotation might look like without Austin Love this spring.
Two days away from the start of the 2022 season, the Tar Heels finally have an answer.
During an upcoming interview for the Bosh to the Bigs podcast, pitching coach Bryant Gaines said WVU Potomac State transfer Brandon Schaeffer will be UNC’s Opening Day starter to begin a three-game home series against Seton Hall on Friday. Schaeffer will then be followed by sophomore Max Carlson on Saturday and Coastal Carolina transfer Shaddon Peavyhouse on Sunday.
A 6-foot-2, 195-pound left-hander from Auburn, Pennsylvania, Schaeffer spent the last three seasons at Potomac State, where he went 14-3 with a 1.68 ERA in 23 games (18 starts). He was especially good in 2021, recording a National Junior College Athletic Association-best 0.94 ERA with 79 strikeouts and only four walks in 47 2/3 innings.
Equipped with a strong three-pitch mix that includes an 88-92 mph fastball, an above average slider and a plus changeup, Schaeffer has done nothing but impress since he arrived on campus, so it comes as no surprise that he is opening the year as the Tar Heels’ Friday starter. Over three preseason starts, he surrendered one run on three hits and four walks in 13 innings, striking out 16.
“He’s just been so consistent over the course of the preseason,” Gaines said. “It’s not a matter of anybody doing anything poorly. He’s just been that good. I hope he continues that trend because every week he’s gotten a little bit better, and I’m hoping everybody gets a chance to see that when he rolls out there Friday.
“We left it really open to competition, just how we want it to be. We were hoping guys would settle into roles and earn some spots. It’s not to say it isn’t going to change, because it might. But it just kind of came about naturally, and that’s why we tell our pitching staff every year, ‘Every year is open season. You’ve got to go out and earn your job.’ Brandon has pitched really well, and I’m excited to see what he’s going to be able to do.”
Considered the No. 38 overall player and the No. 12 right-handed pitcher in the Class of 2020 by Perfect Game, Carlson opened last season as UNC’s Saturday starter. The freshman looked like a future ace in his first two games against James Madison and eventual College World Series participant Virginia, but an elbow injury ultimately brought his season to an end after just seven starts.
Fortunately for Carlson, he avoided Tommy John surgery and instead underwent an internal bracing procedure in May. After spending the summer and the fall rehabbing, he has been a full-go this preseason.
“I think if you asked him right now, he’s probably still not at full Max Carlson potential,” Gaines said. “But where he’s at right now compared to where I thought he was going to be at and based on where he was at last season, I couldn’t be more pleased with what he’s doing. That’s a credit to him. He’s worked really hard, he’s been extremely disciplined and I think he’s only going to continue getting better as we keep rolling him out there, which should be fun to watch.”
Peavyhouse started out as a two-way player at Coastal Carolina in 2018, but between the 2019 and 2020 seasons, he only pitched 11 innings due to Tommy John surgery and the pandemic. Finally able to play a full season again in 2021, the righty notched a 3.61 ERA in 47 1/3 innings over 20 games (four starts).
Working from a high three-quarters delivery, Peavyhouse pairs a fastball that tops out at 94 mph with a slider that’s capable of inducing lots of whiffs. He struggled with his command at times in the fall and preseason, but showed just how effective he can be in his final preseason start last Saturday, tossing 5 1/3 shutout innings to cement his spot in the opening weekend rotation.
Gaines said the coaches have yet to determine who will start the team’s first midweek game against Elon next Tuesday. That decision likely won’t be made until after the Seton Hall series, but options could include Connor Bovair, Connor Ollio and Will Sandy – all of whom could still factor into the weekend rotation.
Picked to finish fifth in the Coastal Division in the ACC preseason coaches poll, the Tar Heels need their starting rotation to stay healthy and improve significantly from last season to make any noise this spring.
As good as Love was en route to becoming a third-round draft pick by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2021, UNC struggled mightily to fill the two rotation spots behind him after losing Carlson and Joey Lancellotti to injuries. Eight pitchers not named Love ultimately combined for 25 weekend starts in the regular season. They logged a 7.85 ERA over 78 innings and got through the fifth inning only seven times.