Previewing the 2009 Wake Forest Baseball Team - The Starting Rotation
Deacs must replace starters Ben Hunter and Charlie Mellies

Feb. 16, 2009

This is the fourth of a five-part series previewing the 2009 Wake Forest baseball team. Part four of the series examines the Wake Forest starting rotation. Part five of the series, scheduled for Wednesday, will take a look at the Demon Deacon bullpen. Wake Forest opens the regular season on Friday, February 20, at 6 p.m. (ET) against Akron at Wake Forest Baseball Park.

Wake Forest enters the 2009 season with several potential options in the starting rotation. With the departure of seniors Ben Hunter and Charlie Mellies and the continuing rehab of senior Garrett Bullock, the Deacs will have three new weekend starters when the 2009 season opens.

"Right now, there are several people who have potential to be in the starting rotation," head coach Rick Rembielak said. "It will all pan itself out as we enter the season. There will be opportunities for people to earn a spot in the rotation."

The leading candidate for a spot in the starting rotation is senior right hander Brad Kledzik. After making 15 starts in 2007, Kledzik moved to the bullpen for the 2008 season and made 28 total appearances, which ranked second on the team, with four starts. He finished the year with a 3-5 record and a 7.51 earned run average. Kledzik also led the team with four saves during 2008. He closed the year with a victory, throwing 7.2 innings, while allowing four runs on seven hits, in a win over Virginia at the ACC Tournament.

"Brad is a player that has been in the starting rotation before," Rembielak said. "He is a senior who has experience and has pitched in some very big games for us in the past."

The other two weekend spots are up in the air. A trio of freshmen hurlers are expected to vie for the spots. Austin Stadler, Michael Dimock and Gabriel Feldman all have an opportunity to be in the rotation entering the 2009 season.

Stadler, who will play first base when not on the mound, could jump into the weekend rotation right away. Named the Richmond Times Dispatch Player of the Year as a junior, Stadler finished his junior year with a 12-0 record and a 1.29 ERA. He also was named to the Preseason Virginia Dream Team. Stadler pitched well in the fall, tying for the team lead in strikeouts with 21, while walking only nine batters in 23 innings pitched.

"Austin threw very well in the fall, especially against left-handed batters," Rembielak said. "He has great presence on the mound and is mature beyond his years."

A native of Greensboro, N.C., Dimock also has a chance to crack the starting rotation as a freshman. A four-year starter at Wesleyan High School, Dimock was named an all-conference player four times and an all-state selection three times. Dimock was named the All-State Player of the Year during his senior season and was ranked as the 20th-best prospect in the state of North Carolina by Impact Baseball. Dimock showed exceptional control during the fall season, striking out 20 batters and allowing only four bases on balls in 18 innings of work.

"Michael has a pretty good demeanor about him," Rembielak said. "You can see a competitive fire in him and that's what we saw when we recruited him. That fire will earn some success for him during his time here."

Feldman is the third Wake Forest rookie that has a chance to see time in the starting rotation. A native of Cabin John, Md., Feldman is a two-time Under Armour Preseason All-American and was selected to the Perfect Game National Showcase in 2006 and 2007. He was ranked as one of the top right-handed pitchers in the nation and was ranked as the sixth-best prospect in Maryland by Perfect Game.