University of Minnesota Athletics
Players Mentioned
Gophers Transfer Additions - Pitchers
10/25/2022 12:22:00 PM | Baseball
Minnesota added four position players and three pitchers in the transfer portal
MINNEAPOLIS - Part II of the 2023 Gopher Baseball roster reveal focuses on the new additions to the Minnesota pitching staff. Aside from the freshman additions of Sam Kennedy, Kristofer Hokenson, TJ Egan and Gilbert Saunders, the Gophers added three hurlers over the summer that will help fill key roles heading into the 2023 season.
Minnesota pitchers had considerable success over the summer with Tucker Novotny being named a Northwoods League Postseason All Star, Sam Malec being named to the All Star Game in the Northwoods League and Will Semb, George Klassen and Novotny all being selected to the Major League Baseball Dreams Showcase.
"We wanted to be very specific with the guys we brought in this summer. We feel like there's a very strong nucleus here, especially with the sophomore class, and that by adding some proven, athletic, strike-throwers with multiple pitches to the mix we'll be able to fill some very key roles on the staff," said Minnesota pitching coach Ty McDevitt. All three guys that we've brought in, we've brought them in for a very specific reason. Each of them have had considerable success at various levels and we've carefully identified a special trait each of them brings to our staff that matches the philosophy here. I'm excited for them to be here, and getting to work with our pitch development staff, making them into the best versions of what they can accomplish for Gopher baseball."
Position Player Additons: Cam Blazek | Ben Shepard | Connor Wietegrefe
| Position: RHP | Height: 6-3 | Weight: 210 | Bat/Throws: L/R Hometown: Fargo, N.D. | High School: Fargo North | Previous School: New Mexico State Scouting Report: Experienced right-handed pitcher with a low 90's fastball and 12-6 breaking ball that acts a plus out-pitch, especially against right-handed hitters. A proven strike-thrower at the Division I level who's seen extensive action as both starter and a reliever. |
The son of Steve and Gary Blazek, Cam Blazek grew up in Fargo, N.D., and attended Fargo North High School. Prior to Minnesota, Blazek spent two years at New Mexico State University, where he would see a variety of roles as both a weekend and midweek starter, as well as a relief pitcher. Over his two years, he compiled 70 innings pitched with 61 strikeouts, going 5-4 as a starter. After graduating in the spring of 2022, Blazek entered the transfer portal. Towards the end of the summer he had narrowed it down to two schools, Michigan State and Minnesota. His decision to come and play for the Golden Gophers was one that had been building since high school.
After graduating high school, Blazek attended Neosho County Community College in Chanute, Kan. His freshman year he was the leading starting pitcher, throwing 70 innings with a 3.71 ERA. In his playoff start, he went 7.1 shutout innings against Butler CC. His sophomore year was cut short in 2020 due to COVID-19 and he gained an additional year of eligibility, which allowed him to have this final year at Minnesota.
Before his time in high school, he participated in the 13 year old Babe Ruth world series in 2013 in Williston N.D., as well as the 2015, 15-year-old world series in Lawrenceberg, Tenn. During his time there, he was a three sport letter winner in football, basketball and baseball. He was a team captain in all three sports as a senior. Blazek was an all-conference honorable mention in football his senior year and was also the teams leading receiver. In baseball, he was a two-time all-state award winner, two-time all-conference award winner, and his senior year he was awarded both the conference player of the year and the North Dakota Senior Athlete of the Year. In his summer legion career for Fargo Post 2, he was a part of back-to-back state championship teams in 2016 and 2017. Following the 2017 season, he was awarded to the all-tournament team at state, and won the team's Cy Young Award. Over his three year career with the program, his teams were a combined 123-29. Blazek still holds the record for the best K/7(strikeouts per 7 innings) in a single season at 12.25.
Schools Recruited By: East Tennessee State, NDSU, Lamar, Michigan State, MSU-Mankato, Pittsburgh State.
Blazek on why he chose the University of Minnesota: "I grew up playing really good teams from the Twin Cities, and it seemed that all of them had their best guy going to the U of M. It was in the back of my head all those years that it was the standard of the Midwest. The best players got to wear the maroon and gold and that was a dream of mine. So when I was presented with the opportunity, it was almost impossible to turn it down. Being closer to home and getting to play for a program with such amazing history and community support is not something that a lot of people get to do. Coming here has already proven to be one of the best decisions of my life."
Ty McDevitt on Cam Blazek: "Cam comes to us from New Mexico State, where he started for two seasons. He's an experienced strike thrower who will look to add velocity this off-season. Blazek has always dreamed of playing at the University of Minnesota and is a great fit for our culture. Look for Cam to continue to develop as a pitcher and challenge for a spot in our starting rotation."
| Position: RHP | Height: 6-1 | Weight: 185 | Bat/Throws: R/R Hometown: Eden Prairie, Minn. | High School: Eden Prairie | Previous School: Minnesota-Duluth Scouting Report: Poised and experienced right-handed hurler who can work anywhere from the high 80's to low 90's. He has exceptional command of the strike-zone with three pitches. Features a plus changeup with good late, fading action to go along with a hard slider. |
Ben Shepard comes to Minnesota after spending the first four years of his career at Minnesota-Duluth. Shepard started in 10 games in 2022, posting a 5-4 record with a 5.67 ERA in 57.1 innings. He totaled a career-high 52 strikeouts, surrendering just 19 walks and went six-or-more innings six times in his 10 starts. His best performance of the season was on March 20 vs. Upper Iowa when he tossed 7.0 scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and striking out five. He also struck out six in 6.0 innings at Northern State on April 22, allowing just three hits and no earned runs.
This past summer, he played for the Eau Claire Express of the Northwoods League. In five games, he tallied a 3-1 record with a 2.93 ERA. Shepard tossed 27.1 innings, striking out 21 and walking just seven. His top outing was on June 10 against Mankato, where he went 7.0 innings, striking out six and allowing just one earned run and four hits.
Prior to that, he appeared and started in nine games during the 2021 season, recording 41.2 innings pitched. He surrendered 66 hits while striking out 37 opposing pitchers, carrying a 6.26 earned run average. Shepard made two appearances in a shortened 2020 campaign, including one start. He amassed 6.1 innings pitched and notched a record of 1-1.
As a freshman, he started six games and made an appearance in 10 games. He recorded his first collegiate win in a conference game against Winona State University on Apr 7, 2019. Shepared finished the season with a 2-2 overall record and struck out 21 on the year while only walking 14.
A 2018 graduate of Eden Prairie High School, Ben is the son of Mike and Melissa Shepard. He has two younger brothers, Jonathan and Jake, and is majoring in mechanical engineering.
Schools Recruited By: Lee University, Western Illinois
Shepard on why he chose Minnesota: "Growing up in Minnesota, I have been watching Gopher baseball for a long time. I was even in the Siebert Fall League in high school for a year. After graduating from UMD and entering the transfer portal, the only place I really wanted to go was Minnesota. I knew that if I was able to come here then I wouldn't need to think about any other schools. Once I got the opportunity to visit and connect with the coaches, it was a no brainer for me."
Ty McDevitt on Shepard: "Ben comes to us after a four-year stretch at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. He has improved each season and was their ace for the last few years. This past summer, Ben pitched exceptionally in the Northwoods League, which solidified our interest in him. A proven strike-thrower with three-pitch command, look for Ben to be a swiss-army knife for us, pitching in many different roles."
| Position: LHP | Height: 6-2 | Weight: 200 | Bat/Throws: R/L Hometown: Prior Lake, Minn. | High School: Prior Lake | Previous School: North Iowa Area CC Scouting Report: Athletic left-handed hurler who works in the low 90's with a deceptive angle, slight cross body action and plenty of movement. Slider has 2-8 shape with sharp late movement. Changeup is firm, but very deceptive, with late fading action. Will most likely see time out of the backend of the bullpen, could be an option for late in games. Will especially be used as a weapon against left-handed hitters. |
Connor Wietegrefe comes to Minnesota after spending the 2022 season with North Iowa Area Community College. He made 13 appearances, including seven starts, going 5-1 with a 5.05 ERA. Wietegrefe tallied 59 strikeouts in 46.1 innings, giving up 26 earned runs. He averaged 11.46 strikeouts per nine innings and also picked up one save and tossed one complete game. His best performance came when he threw a complete game shutout on April 27 vs. Ellsworth CC, striking out nine and allowing just four hits.
NIACC, he played for four years at Prior Lake H.S. in Prior Lake, Minn. He ranked as the No. 6 left-handed pitcher in the state of Minnesota by Perfect Game and played club ball for Minnesota Mash.
A 2021 graduate of Prior Lake, Wietegrefe was three-year varsity pitcher. In his senior year he received South Suburban All-Conference and All-Section honors in addition to being an All-Star Series selection. He tossed 49.1 innings (nine starts), posting a 4-4 record. He struck out 73 hitters with a 1.14 ERA with an opponent batting average of .170.
The son of Dee and Todd Wietgrefe, he has one younger sister who plays softball at University of Minnesota Duluth. Wietegrefe is majoring in marketing.
Schools Recruited By: Illinois, Creighton, Mankato State, Bradley, St. Thomas, North Dakota State, South Dakota State.
Wietegrefe on why he chose Minnesota: "I chose Minnesota because I have been a huge Gopher fan my whole life, going to many different sporting events. Playing for the Gopher baseball team has been a lifelong dream. After attending my first prospect camp sophomore year of high school where I got to meet the coaches, get a tour of campus, and see how the program operated is the day that confirmed my dream that this is where I wanted to be."
Ty McDevitt on Wietegrefe: "I really liked Connor in high school when he was at Prior Lake. He has a long track-record of dominating his competition and seems to pitch best in big games. Needing to add velocity, he spent a season at NIACC developing and is ready to come in and make an immediate impact on our staff. His low 3/4 crossfire delivery makes for uncomfortable at-bats, especially for left-handed hitters."
The new look Gophers have finished competition for the fall and will focus on strength training and development for the rest of the fall and winter until training camp starts in January.