Holetz is an Edina, Minn., native that played three years at UNO
The Gopher Baseball program added 14 new players heading into the 2021 season, including nine freshman and five transfers. Today we'll get to know senior right-handed pitcher Richie Holetz, a transfer from Nebraska-Omaha.
An Edina, Minn., native, Holetz totaled 109 innings pitched with 94 strikeouts and a .256 batting average/against during his three years in Omaha. Holetz was the staff ace for the Mavericks in both 2020 and 2021, leading the team in games started, innings pitched, strikeouts and wins. During the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign, Holetz was off to a phenomenal start, posting a team-best 2.49 ERA in 21 innings pitched with 22 strikeouts and a miniscule .208 batting average/against.
He was a three-time Summit League Honor Roll selection and won the Summit League Breakout Pitcher of the Year award in 2020 (DIBaseball.com). Holetz was also named the Summit League Pitcher of the Week on April 4, 2021.
GS: What were your first memories of playing baseball? RH: "Me, my dad and my older brother would throw the ball around for hours in our backyard. I started playing organized baseball when I was five or six years old."
GS: Did you play other sports as a kid? RH: "I played hockey, football, golf and soccer. As I got older, I just played baseball and hockey. I stopped playing hockey my junior year of high school so I could travel more for baseball tournaments. I knew I wanted to go all in on baseball."
GS: When did you start getting recruiting interest for baseball? RH: It was my sophomore year that I started taking a few visits. The end of my sophomore year and beginning of my junior year I took several visits and was talking to schools about coming to play in college. I started throwing harder and gained height and weight while in high school and everything took off from there."
GS: You played baseball at Nebraska-Omaha for three seasons. What made you choose UNO and how was your experience there? RH: "I really liked the coaching staff and the culture that they were trying to build. They did a good job of bringing in guys that could really play and try to take the program to the next level. My freshman year we won the conference (Summit League) and got to play in a regional at UCLA. Being a young kid and having that experience is something I won't forget."
GS: You entered the transfer portal at the end of last season. What was your thought process behind that? RH: "I loved my time at UNO. I will always be appreciative of the opportunity the coaching staff provided to me. My teammates were great and my experience was positive. But for me, I felt I needed a change to continue my growth as a baseball player. The U of M program has a rich history and there's a great culture here, so it was just a good fit for me to come home. I've been a fan of the Gophers ever since I was a little kid."
GS: Do you have any family connections to the University of Minnesota? RH: "I do. My older brother, Anthony, went to school here. My grandpa [Roger Schnobrich] played basketball at the University of Minnesota for the Gophers as well."
Holetz' grandfather, Roger Schnobrich, is second in from the right in the top row. He played for the 'U' from 1949-51.GS: How did your recruitment process go when you entered the transfer portal? RH: "I spoke with a bunch of teams at first, but I quickly narrowed it down to three schools. I had good conversations with Coach McDevitt and Coach Casey regarding my development and their vision for the program. The process was pretty quick. I took some other visits and ultimately I chose the 'U.'"
GS: In terms of your development as a player, what are a couple things you worked on to get better as a pitcher during the offseason? RH: "A big focus has been continuing to strengthen my lower body. As I get stronger and improve my mechanics, that's going to make me a better player."
GS: How about goals for the team, what do you want to see the team accomplish? RH: "I think we have a great team with a lot of good leaders, which will help us with the long season. We have a lot of depth - I feel like we have a lot of really good players at every position. I think we are set to have a great season and one of our goals is to win the Big Ten Championship."
GS: What role do you see yourself in this season? RH: "It's to be determined right now. Whatever role I'm in, I'm going to try and help out in any way that I can. There's so many great pitchers on this team, I am confident whoever ends up in the game is going to give us a good chance to win."
GS: What are you most looking forward to this season? RH: "Stepping on the mound as a Gopher for the first time is going to be really cool for me and something that I will never forget. I'm excited to compete with my teammates for the opportunity to win a Big Ten Championship."
HIT & RUN WITH RICHIE
Major: Agriculture Food Business - Financial Analysis & Business Management Favorite class: Finance Favorite vacation spot: Sanibel Island, Fla. Place to eat on campus: Jimmy John's Netflix show: Breaking Bad Go-to pitch: Splitter Hobby: Fishing, Golfing and Spending Time on the Lake Fun Fact: Grandpa wore No. 43 for Gophers Basketball (Same #) Athlete: Tom Brady Professional team: Minnesota Vikings Musical artist: Hot Pastrami Hidden talent: I can do a handstand
