Slepski, winning go together
Winning just seems to follow Tyler Slepski around.
The Butler BlueSox only hope that trend continues this summer. The left-hander and Butler graduate is in the team’s starting rotation and won his first start, 3-2, last weekend in Chillicothe.
“The guy is a competitor. He wants the ball and he’s all business when he gets it,” BlueSox manager Jason Radwan said.
Slepski allowed only two hits and no earned runs in 6.2 innings pitched against Chillicothe. The outing was of particular significance to him.
Slepski did not pitch for his college team, Mercyhurst, all spring.
“I suffered a strained muscle in my forearm early and they shut me down,” he said. “I’m OK now, though. I got cleared to pitch just before the (BlueSox) season started.
“I couldn’t wait to get out there. I want to use this summer to win a few games and prepare myself to secure a spot in the starting rotation at Mercyhurst next spring.”
Though he didn’t pitch for the Lakers this season, Slepski enjoyed being part of a team that won 40 of 50 games and reached the NCAA Division II World Series.
Last spring, Slepski was the No. 1 pitcher and workhorse for Mercyhurst North East, sporting a 1.95 earned run average while logging 60 innings. His team won a program-record 31 games and won its conference tournament.
Last summer, Slepski pitched for the Hornell Dodgers of the New York Collegiate Baseball League. He saw limited action because of his heavy spring workload, but Hornell put together a 38-8 record and won the NYCBL championship.
“I’m not on any pitch count this summer,” Slepski enthused. “My arm is fresh and I’m ready to go.”
He might have had trouble getting many innings in for Mercyhurst had he been healthy this past spring. The Lakers led the PSAC with a 3.16 team earned run average.
Colin McKee, a former Butler teammate of Slepski, had the lowest ERA in the conference at 1.78.
“That staff was just loaded,” Slepski said. “We only lose one guy — Jon Klein — but I see no reason why I can’t slide into the starting rotation next year.”
Klein had the third-lowest ERA in the PSAC this season.
Slepski signed a one-day contract to pitch the BlueSox’ final regular season game last year — allowing two hits in 6.2 innings pitched and getting the win.
He also got Radwan’s attention.
“He’s a bulldog. I loved his attitude on the mound,” Radwan said. “When Rabi (BlueSox director of personnel Anthony Rebyanski) asked me if I wanted him back for this year, I jumped at it.
“Pitchers like him are winners. They have the right attitude. They don’t just go out to the mound to pitch. They go out there to compete.”
Slepski does his work off the field as well. He did the scouting report on Chillicothe’s hitters the game before he faced the Paints — and scoured over that report afterward.
“Anything to get an edge,” Slepski said. “I pitch for one of the best pitching staffs in the country. I have to earn my innings and that starts now.”
