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With the decade winding down in just a matter of weeks, we’ve done
our part in bringing you the best of the decade for several categories
in college baseball. It doesn’t stop now, though. In our latest best of
the decade feature, we take an inside look at the best starting pitchers of the decade.
10. Brian Matusz, San Diego
Matusz was unable to guide the Toreros to Omaha, but still had an
amazing career for coach Rich Hill and USD. Matusz didn’t waste any
time making a statement in the WCC. As a freshman, the talented
left-hander started 13 games and had a 4.25 ERA in 89 innings. He also
struck out 93 and walked 39. As a sophomore, Matusz took a step forward
with a 2.85 ERA in 123 innings. He struck out 163 and walked 37 and
struck out 11.9 batters per nine innings. He capped off his college
career in style as a junior by compiling a 12-2 record and a 1.71 ERA
in 105 innings. He struck out 141 and walked 22 and struck out 12.1
batters per nine innings. Matusz helped put the Toreros on the national
map for good.
9. Mike Pelfrey, Wichita State
Wichita State pitching coach Brent Kemnitz is one of the best in the
business and helped Pelfrey get where he is now in the big leagues.
Pelfrey had a fantastic career for the Shockers and is part of a huge
list of great former pitchers. As a freshman for the Shockers, Pelfrey
started 16 games and had a 2.49 ERA in 104 2/3 innings. He struck out
98 and walked 15. As a sophomore, he started 16 games and had a 2.19
ERA in 115 1/3 innings. He also struck out 125 and walked 25. In his
final season with WSU, Pelfrey compiled a 12-3 record and had a 1.93
ERA in 139 2/3 innings. He struck out 143 and walked 30.
8. Wade Townsend, Rice
Townsend was an incredible success story for the Owls. Few observers
felt he would ever be one of the nation’s best college pitchers when he
left high school. However, Townsend proved every doubter wrong with a
strong college career. Townsend appeared in 19 games as a freshman and
compiled a 2.29 ERA in 51 innings. He also struck out 51 and walked 22.
As a sophomore, Townsend assumed a starter role and had a 2.20 ERA in
118 2/3 innings. He struck out 164 and walked 46. His career was
finished off in style as a junior when he compiled a 1.80 ERA in 120
1/3 innings. He struck out 148 and walked 45. Townsend was part of the
Rice rotation that included big leaguers Philip Humber and Jeff
Niemann. He also helped Rice capture the ’03 national title.
7. Andrew Miller, North Carolina
Miller and a host of others deserve a wealth of credit for finally
guiding North Carolina to Omaha. The left-hander had a phenomenal
career for the Tar Heels and still is leaving his mark in the big
leagues. Miller didn’t waste any time while with UNC. As a freshman, he
started 15 games and compiled a 2.93 ERA in 89 innings. He also struck
out 88 and walked 48. As a sophomore, he started 16 games and had a
2.98 ERA in 96 2/3 innings. He struck out 104 and walked 52. He capped
off his UNC career in style as a junior by compiling a 2.48 ERA in 123
1/3 innings. He struck out 133 and walked 40 and struck out 9.7 batters
per nine innings. The Tar Heels always will remember Miller’s
contributions to the program.
6. Kip Bouknight, South Carolina
The talented right-hander sometimes goes unnoticed because his
accomplishments occurred the first year of the decade. However, South
Carolina always will remember what he brought to the table. Bouknight
had an amazing ’00 season that ended with National Player of the Year
honors. Bouknight finished that campaign with a 15-1 record and a 2.87
ERA. He also threw four complete games and recorded 129 strikeouts. He
also walked just 33 batters. Though he only played one season in this
decade, Bouknight left his mark on the Gamecocks throughout his career.
He definitely is a premier arm to remember.
5. David Price, Vanderbilt
Price had an outstanding career at Vandy and showed as a freshman that
he was going to be one of the nation’s best. The fabulous left-hander
started 10 games his first season with the Commodores and had a 2.86
ERA in 69 1/3 innings. As a sophomore, Price took another step forward
by compiling an impressive 1.92 ERA in 51 2/3 innings. He struck out 80
and walked 13. Then, as a junior, Price had his most impressive
campaign. He went 11-1 and had a 2.63 ERA in 133 1/3 innings. He also
struck out 194 and walked 31. Additionally, Price earned a wealth of
awards, including Rivals.com National Pitcher of the Year honors. Price
and teammate Pedro Alvarez put the Commodores on the national map.
4. Jered Weaver, Long Beach State
It’s a shame that Weaver never had the opportunity to pitch on the
biggest national stage in the College World Series. The right-hander
had a fantastic career with the Dirtbags and also is having success in
the big leagues. Weaver compiled an 8-4 record and a 4.40 ERA in 92
innings as a freshman. He also struck out 74 and walked 32. As a
sophomore, though, Weaver took a huge step forward. He compiled a 14-4
record and had a 1.96 ERA in 133 1/3 innings. He also struck out 144
and walked 20. In his final campaign with the Dirtbags, Weaver had a
15-1 record and a 1.63 ERA in 144 innings. He struck out 213 and walked
21. Weaver’s junior campaign alone puts him on the list.
3. Tim Lincecum, Washington
The most electrifying pitcher I’ve ever had the pleasure covering in
person, Lincecum was a sensational college pitcher and also is having
plenty of success at the Major League level. Lincecum had some control
issues while at Washington, but more than made up for it with other
great numbers and high strikeout totals. As a freshman, Lincecum went
10-3 with a 3.53 ERA in 112 1/3 innings. He struck out 161 and walked
82. As a sophomore, the righty went 8-6 with a 3.11 ERA in 104 1/3
innings. He also struck out 131 and walked 71. In his final season with
the Huskies, the righty compiled a 12-4 record and had a 1.94 ERA in
125 1/3 innings. He struck out 199 and walked 63 that season. Lincecum
was an unbelievable college pitcher.
2. Mark Prior, Southern California
Prior actually began his career at Vanderbilt and transferred to USC
after his freshman campaign with the Commodores. He was an average
pitcher as a freshman, but that was the previous decade. In his two
years in the 2000s, Prior was absolutely amazing. The outstanding
right-hander went 10-6 with a 3.49 ERA in 129 innings as a sophomore.
He also struck out 143 and walked 43 to lead the Trojans. Prior bested
that mark a season later as a junior. He went 15-1, threw six complete
games and three shutouts and had a 1.70 ERA in 138 innings. He also
struck out 202 and walked 18. Prior is part of a long list of great
former USC pitchers and players.
1. Stephen Strasburg, San Diego State
It’s now amazing to reflect on the fact that very few power programs in
Southern California wanted Strasburg out of high school. The
right-handed pitcher made a magical transformation during his time at
San Diego State. Strasburg is considered by some to be the greatest
college pitcher ever. He compiled a 2.43 ERA in 37 innings as a
freshman and took a huge step forward as a sophomore. The righty went
8-3 and had a 1.57 ERA in 97 1/3 innings. He also struck out 133 and
walked 16. Then, as a junior, Strasburg earned Rivals.com
National Pitcher of the Year honors by going 13-1 with a 1.32 ERA in
109 innings. He also struck out 195 and walked just 19. What an amazing
college career Strasburg had with the Aztecs.