SE: Finding a New Home with K-State Baseball
Mar 02, 2020 | Baseball, Sports Extra
By: Scott Retzlaff
If Connor McCullough had any nerves entering his first collegiate appearances on the mound, he certainly hasn't shown it. The redshirt freshman has been brilliant through three starts for K-State.
The impressive start hasn't surprised Pete Hughes. After all, Hughes has known McCullough for years and recruited the righty years ago. When McCullough chose to transfer out of Arkansas, Hughes was right there waiting.
Hughes' message to McCullough was simple.
"This is the perfect spot for you," Hughes recalled. "It's all about people and relationships. You know me, how I run a program and the culture I develop."
It didn't take long for McCullough to make his decision.
"Coach Hughes sold me on it pretty quickly," McCullough admitted.
Through his first three appearances, it's easy to see why Hughes wanted him in Manhattan.
McCullough is 2-0 with a 0.95 ERA. He opened his career with a no decision against UTRGV after allowing just one run and four hits while striking out six in six innings of work. He was in control and deserved a better result in his first start, but he didn't get discouraged. It didn't take long for him to get in the win column.
His first career victory came against Missouri. With a similar line to his first outing, McCullough allowed just one run and four hits in six innings. He struck out eight against the Tigers.
On Friday night, McCullough got his first taste of pitching under the lights at Tointon Family Stadium. He didn't disappoint. McCullough didn't allow a hit until the sixth inning and struck out a season-best nine in seven impressive innings. He allowed only three hits, and the only run scored against him was unearned.
Three appearances, three quality starts for the native of Maumelle, Arkansas. Overall, McCullough has allowed just three runs and 11 hits with 23 strikeouts in 19 innings of work.
When the K-State coaches talked about bringing in some reinforcements for the 2020 season, McCullough was one of the key members of that group.
"He's been awesome," said Hughes. "He looks like a seasoned vet out there even with only a few collegiate starts under his belt."
When it comes to strategy on the mound, simplicity has been key.
"I'm just trying to throw strikes," McCullough stated. "With our defense and how well they've been playing, I'm just trying to let them work."
McCullough mentioned throwing strikes at least three times during Friday's postgame interview, and he's backed it up. He's walked just four through his first three starts. Across the board, the numbers have been impressive, but there's much more to the story. Coach Hughes points to the intangibles and maturity McCullough brings to the table.
"I've been impressed with his composure and ability to not let things speed up on him," noted Hughes. "That's usually where the growing pain and learning curve happens with new pitchers. Sometimes the game speeds up on them with runners on base, key counts and pitches, but it hasn't with him."
Part of that composure may come from McCullough's time last summer in the Cape Cod Baseball League. That experience may have been the springboard to success at K-State.
"He had a great experience and was dominant against the best players in the country," recalled Hughes. "I think his time there gave him a boost and gave him some confidence to start his Big 12 career."
McCullough was named a Cape Cod All-Star and made multiple appearances in the CCBL playoffs for the Harwich Mariners. He allowed just six runs in over 35 innings of work for the team. He also got to play for Steve Englert, who is now a volunteer coach for the Cats.
"That kid hit the ground running," acknowledged Englert. "He didn't have one bad outing the whole summer and made the all-star team. He was one of our staples."
Englert was immediately impressed with McCullough, not just the arm, but his approach to the game and coachability.
"He's a battle tested kid," added Englert. "You can't tell if he's allowed 20 hits or he's struck out 20. He's as even keeled as they come. He's a great kid who works really hard on the field and in between starts. I really enjoyed having him with us over the summer, and I'm not surprised at all with the success he's had so far."
The Cape Cod League success has carried over, and McCullough has turned the page to starting his K-State career in style. So far, so good. He got his feet wet on the road, but the excitement for things like his first home starts and conference play is hard to contain.
"It's definitely more fun pitching in front of a home crowd," McCullough said with a smile.
It's an exciting time for K-State baseball, something McCullough and his teammates don't take for granted. After sitting out last season following the transfer, McCullough is more than ready to settle in as a mainstay on the mound for the Cats.
"Just seeing what we've done with the facilities here is awesome," McCullough finished. "Our culture has changed. Pitching and defense have been phenomenal so far, and the offense is starting to click. We're ready to go."
If Connor McCullough had any nerves entering his first collegiate appearances on the mound, he certainly hasn't shown it. The redshirt freshman has been brilliant through three starts for K-State.
The impressive start hasn't surprised Pete Hughes. After all, Hughes has known McCullough for years and recruited the righty years ago. When McCullough chose to transfer out of Arkansas, Hughes was right there waiting.
Hughes' message to McCullough was simple.
"This is the perfect spot for you," Hughes recalled. "It's all about people and relationships. You know me, how I run a program and the culture I develop."
It didn't take long for McCullough to make his decision.
"Coach Hughes sold me on it pretty quickly," McCullough admitted.
Through his first three appearances, it's easy to see why Hughes wanted him in Manhattan.
McCullough is 2-0 with a 0.95 ERA. He opened his career with a no decision against UTRGV after allowing just one run and four hits while striking out six in six innings of work. He was in control and deserved a better result in his first start, but he didn't get discouraged. It didn't take long for him to get in the win column.
His first career victory came against Missouri. With a similar line to his first outing, McCullough allowed just one run and four hits in six innings. He struck out eight against the Tigers.
On Friday night, McCullough got his first taste of pitching under the lights at Tointon Family Stadium. He didn't disappoint. McCullough didn't allow a hit until the sixth inning and struck out a season-best nine in seven impressive innings. He allowed only three hits, and the only run scored against him was unearned.
Three appearances, three quality starts for the native of Maumelle, Arkansas. Overall, McCullough has allowed just three runs and 11 hits with 23 strikeouts in 19 innings of work.
When the K-State coaches talked about bringing in some reinforcements for the 2020 season, McCullough was one of the key members of that group.
"He's been awesome," said Hughes. "He looks like a seasoned vet out there even with only a few collegiate starts under his belt."
When it comes to strategy on the mound, simplicity has been key.
"I'm just trying to throw strikes," McCullough stated. "With our defense and how well they've been playing, I'm just trying to let them work."
McCullough mentioned throwing strikes at least three times during Friday's postgame interview, and he's backed it up. He's walked just four through his first three starts. Across the board, the numbers have been impressive, but there's much more to the story. Coach Hughes points to the intangibles and maturity McCullough brings to the table.
"I've been impressed with his composure and ability to not let things speed up on him," noted Hughes. "That's usually where the growing pain and learning curve happens with new pitchers. Sometimes the game speeds up on them with runners on base, key counts and pitches, but it hasn't with him."
Part of that composure may come from McCullough's time last summer in the Cape Cod Baseball League. That experience may have been the springboard to success at K-State.
"Just kept trying to throw strikes, let the defense work." #KStateBSB x @connormcc22 pic.twitter.com/5yyobq6JXR
— K-State Baseball (@KStateBSB) February 29, 2020
"He had a great experience and was dominant against the best players in the country," recalled Hughes. "I think his time there gave him a boost and gave him some confidence to start his Big 12 career."
McCullough was named a Cape Cod All-Star and made multiple appearances in the CCBL playoffs for the Harwich Mariners. He allowed just six runs in over 35 innings of work for the team. He also got to play for Steve Englert, who is now a volunteer coach for the Cats.
"That kid hit the ground running," acknowledged Englert. "He didn't have one bad outing the whole summer and made the all-star team. He was one of our staples."
Englert was immediately impressed with McCullough, not just the arm, but his approach to the game and coachability.
"He's a battle tested kid," added Englert. "You can't tell if he's allowed 20 hits or he's struck out 20. He's as even keeled as they come. He's a great kid who works really hard on the field and in between starts. I really enjoyed having him with us over the summer, and I'm not surprised at all with the success he's had so far."
The Cape Cod League success has carried over, and McCullough has turned the page to starting his K-State career in style. So far, so good. He got his feet wet on the road, but the excitement for things like his first home starts and conference play is hard to contain.
"It's definitely more fun pitching in front of a home crowd," McCullough said with a smile.
It's an exciting time for K-State baseball, something McCullough and his teammates don't take for granted. After sitting out last season following the transfer, McCullough is more than ready to settle in as a mainstay on the mound for the Cats.
"Just seeing what we've done with the facilities here is awesome," McCullough finished. "Our culture has changed. Pitching and defense have been phenomenal so far, and the offense is starting to click. We're ready to go."
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