Pirate Baseball 2025: Navigating a Season of Change and Opportunity

The buzz around East Carolina baseball is building as the new season approaches. Pirate Nation is ready to see how this revamped roster will rise to the occasion, setting the stage for another year of high expectations. With the extreme turnover from last year's squad, it’s going to be a different feeling for the first time in a while for Pirate Nation. It’s time for guys like Dixon Williams, Ethan Norby, and of course Ryley Johnson to step up and have big years.

Ryley Johnson is coming off surgeries over the offseason to help fix his shoulders. It’s pretty tough to tell who will join him in the outfield this coming year. Losing JJC to the draft, where he was a standout for his power and consistency at the plate, and Bristol Carter, who brought excellent defensive skills and speed to the lineup before transferring to Auburn, has made this a very open window for some younger guys to find the field. Jack Herring, a transfer from Rollins College where he showcased his strong defensive skills and solid batting average, is someone I expect to get some looks out there. Who really knows what Cliff Godwin might toss out there?

Dixon Williams will be a staple in the middle infield and the top of the lineup for East Carolina. The corners are pretty open, but D1 Baseball believes Braxton Tramel is on the fast track to be the starter at third base. I expect Alex Bouche, a transfer from ODU, to get some burn at shortstop. It’s pretty tough to predict a lineup with so many guys who could play right now for other programs. Braden Burress, who earned All-Conference honors during his time at Greene Central, is a guy I got to cover a lot while he was there. Burress fits the East Carolina way—he goes out and gets it every day. I truly believe Burress will play at some point for the Pirates.

The bullpen is pretty deep with Ethan Norby, who I expect to be the "finisher" due to his ability to consistently hit his spots and his poise in high-pressure situations, much like the Danny Beals of the world. Jaden Winter is back. Winter has all the talent in the world to be one of the best pitchers in this bullpen. Winter seems to struggle with command sometimes, but I expect him to take a jump in productivity. The starting rotation is pretty unknown for right now. Freshman Sean Jenkins, a flamethrower with a fastball clocked in the mid-90s and impressive strikeout numbers in high school, could sneak his way into a Friday night role. Saturday and Sunday are pretty unknown right now. I expect Brad Purett, an Oklahoma transfer with experience pitching in high-pressure games, to fill in for one of those days.

This team is full of unknowns but loaded with talent, particularly in its young core and transfers who bring significant potential to the roster. It will be a very interesting year for East Carolina, but playing in front of the jungle always gives the Pirates an advantage.

- Skyler Scott

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