TCU pitcher Traver returns with strong outing

Senior right-hander Mitchell Traver, making his season debut Sunday with two innings at Penn State, appeared to be as strong as he was at the end of last season, coach Jim Schlossnagle said.

“His pure stuff, it looked like it did — actually better than — to end the season last year,” he said. “His command wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t as good as it will be the more repetitions he gets on the mound.”

Traver threw 37 pitches, allowed a hit to the first batter he faced, then got two fly balls and a called strikeout. In the second inning, he got a groundout, a strikeout, hit a batter, walked a batter and got a called strikeout.

“He didn’t just get through his outing, but really pitched well,” Schlossnagle said. “He had to make some really good pitches, especially in the second inning. He threw some offspeed pitches when he was behind in the count and a 3-2 breaking ball to end his second inning.”

Traver had been sidelined with a muscle strain in his back suffered a week before the season opener. He is the team’s most experienced pitcher and was scheduled to be the Friday night starter.

Schlossnagle said if Traver has a good week of throwing, he will start Saturday at Baylor with a goal to throw 45 to 60 pitches.

“Mitchell’s the one who deserves all the credit, because he’s the one that’s been through this multiple times,” Schlossnagle said. “The strength of his faith really shows through. We can all learn a lot from him.”

This story was originally published May 9, 2016 at 11:30 AM with the headline "TCU pitcher Traver returns with strong outing."