Today, we continue our Coach’s Insight series by looking at one of the New York Yankees non-drafted free agents, Tulane right-handed pitcher Connor Pellerin. Pellerin appeared in 6 games for the Green Wave this past season before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pellerin had a 2.25 ERA, struck out 10 batters, and walked 4 over 4 innings of work (.143 batting average). While Pellerin had a 8.44 ERA the year before, he did hold opponents to a .170 batting average and only allowed 4 extra-base hits (38 strikeouts to 31 walks in 21 appearances).
For more insight on Pellerin, we spoke with Tulane head coach Travis Jewett. Jewett has been at Tulane for 4 season and he talked about how Pellerin is as a person, the progression of his offspeed pitches, what he took away from the Cape Cod League, and much more:
Ricky: When you first saw Connor on campus and recruited him, what were your first impressions of him?
Coach Jewett: My first summer when I got the job at Tulane, I coached at Vanderbilt for a handful of years before I took the job here. When you come in, you try to fill maybe a couple of holes that are in your deal. So, we needed another arm or two, you know, maybe 10. At this point, Connor was uncommitted, playing for the Louisiana Knights, and Ricky, it was like 85-87 miles-per-hour, but he had a little scowl on his face, he competed well, he threw the fastball in and away, body was good.
A lot of projection in there you’re thinking like, hmm, you know, this one might work. Great student that helps Tulane’s profile. We were kind of in a need and he really didn’t have a place and he was literally thinking about going to Georgia and just kind of probably going to school/ We were able to kind of change gears, so to speak, and got him to come here. The one thing I’ll tell you and I know you guys have a great organization. Tanner Swanson, the catching guy with you guys in the big leagues, is a great friend of mine. Gersh, your catching coordinator, is another great friend of mine. I know how you guys operate. He’s a great kid, a great young man. He will only help the Yankee mantra that way. I’m happy for him.
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