Butler graduate Bryan closing collegiate baseball career as hopeful closer at Pitt
BUTLER TWP — Fate has created a strange path for Butler graduate Nash Bryan when it comes to his athletic career.
And he’s been happy to follow it.
A standout volleyball player in high school, Bryan figured he’d pursue a collegiate career in that sport. His size wouldn’t cooperate.
“I was pretty good in high school and thought I’d continue playing through college,” Bryan said. “But I was only 6-feet tall, didn’t have any libero training and that didn’t equate well with the college game.
“My summer baseball coach was Dan Abbanante and he took the head baseball coaching position at Wheeling Jesuit. He offered me a scholarship to pitch there, so that was the way to go for me.”
After appearing in only two league games as Wheeling won nine games his freshman season, Bryan wound up transferring to Seton Hill University — and became a standout closer. After strong junior and senior seasons with the Griffins, he decided to enter the transfer portal.
Now he’s at the University of Pittsburgh, bidding to become a major piece in the back of the Panthers’ bullpen. Pitt won 29 games last season and reached the Atlantic Coast Conference semifinals.
“Because of the COVID-19 year, everyone in my class got that extra year of eligibility,” Bryan said. “I graduated with a degree in biology from Seton Hill, but they don’t have a graduate program in my field of study.
“I decided to enter the transfer portal. My coach (Seton Hill’s Marc Marizzaldi) made me promise I couldn’t go someplace where I’d wind up pitching against his team. I was looking Division 1. This is going to be my last year and I wanted to face the best competition I could get.”
When Pitt coach Mike Bell saw Bryan’s name in the portal — and that he was pitching in the Coastal Plains League over the summer — he decided to check him out.
“He was a local kid who was dominant (at Division II),” Bell said. “He pitched well during the summer, too. We believe he’s someone we can work with, someone who can help us.”
He certainly did plenty for the Griffins.
Bryan fashioned a 1.13 earned run average and seven saves as a junior for Seton Hill in 2021. He struck out 36, walked only eight, and picked up five more saves in the postseason as the Griffins went on to win the regional championship.
“From nine wins at Wheeling to winning a region title — that was quite a jump,” Bryan said. “Now I’m hoping to win an ACC championship with Pitt, maybe even get to Omaha (College World Series). You never know what could happen.
“The culture at Seton Hill was unbelievable. It helped elevate me as a pitcher and as a person. They play off the term FUEGO: Fearless, Uncommon, Energy, Giving and Ownership. I learned a lot from that. I loved my time there.”
Bryan tallied 54 strikeouts and nine walks with a 2.73 ERA over 33 innings his senior year as the Griffins finished 33-19 this past spring.
“Nash could have decided to close his career anywhere, make it easy on himself,” Bell said. “Instead, he wanted to challenge himself,. He wants to pitch against the best. That attitude and competitiveness are some of the things we’re impressed about with him.”
Bryan is one of 24 new players on Pitt’s roster as the Panthers begin five weeks of fall workouts Monday. The team is bringing in 11 freshmen and Bryan is one of 13 transfers.
“We have a lot of open spots as we start camp, especially in the bullpen,” Bell said. “Those positions will play themselves out. The games will decide who belongs in what situations.
“Whether Nash becomes a late-inning reliever or a closer for us will be determined. We like his stuff. It’s up to him to earn his way from here.”
Bryan — who is taking research biology courses at Pitt this fall — hopes to do more than that.
“My goal is to become the best relief pitcher in Division 1 baseball next spring,” he said. “That’s what I’m working for.”
;
;
