As some winter sports are coming to a close, it’s time to look ahead to the spring season. Each week, the Blue Zone will highlight an athlete who has performed especially well in their sport. Up first is Fran Oschell III:
For whatever reason, spring is often the strongest all-around season for Blue Devil sports. The men’s lacrosse team made the NCAA championship game last year, both tennis teams often put together strong seasons and Duke women’s track has won each of the last two ACC titles.
This year, however, another group is looking to compete at a high level. The twelfth-ranked Blue Devil baseball team, despite losing some key talent in the offseason to the transfer portal and MLB draft, is looking to have another strong year after a surprisingly good 2023 season. In particular, the bullpen will be building on several breakout performers who helped the team to a 39-24 finish, including a 16-13 record in a stacked ACC.
Leading the way is junior RHP Fran Oschell III, who was recently named to D1Baseball’s preseason All-American first team. Oschell, who posted a 6-0 record out of the bullpen, is a skillful hurler with one of the best fastballs in his class. That fastball, along with a good low-speed breaking ball, helped Oschell throw for just a 0.69 ERA and 18 to 66 walk-to-strikeout ratio. While his role on the team this year is so far unknown, it is well within the realm of possibility that Oschell makes the jump from reliever to starting pitcher, using his talents earlier in games and for more innings. Regardless of where he ends up playing this year, it looks to be another excellent year for one of the more exciting pitchers in the college game.
Now in what will likely be his last year before heading to the MLB, Oschell is surrounded by top throwing talent. Teammate Jonathan Santucci, who was projected to be a star in 2023 before an injury ended his campaign, will be back on the mound as Duke’s ace. Closing things out is another strong supporting cast in the rest of the bullpen. Former ACC All-Freshman team member James Tallon is back for another year, and flamethrower Aidan Weaver is also looking to have a strong second season.
The ACC is arguably the strongest conference in college baseball, but Duke is looking to finish near the top. With one of the best pitching staffs in the league led by Oschell and Santucci along with a solid set of bats, the Blue Devils are going to be ready to go when their gauntlet of a regular season starts against Indiana Feb.16.
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Martin Heintzelman is a Trinity junior and Blue Zone editor of The Chronicle's 120th volume.