Tyler Pitzer and Justin Parker unite for what could be special 2026

Justin Parker has always seen something special in Tyler Pitzer.

Dating back to when Parker was the pitching coach at Indiana, he had identified the Pennsylvania hurler as a target. He recruited him to the Hoosiers and then recruited him to South Carolina where he was set to coach him.

Pitzer’s eagerness to work under Parker’s tutelage was high, but Parker left for Mississippi State in 2024. The right hander was disappointed after Parker’s exit and went about his business in Columbia the last two years. After entering the transfer portal this summer, he immediately had Parker and the Bulldogs in mind.

I know what he can do with pitchers and he’s proven it,” Pitzer said of Parker. “Going into the portal, I had in the back of my head that he’s going to be a number one option for me because of our relationship and what he does with his pitchers. As soon as he reached out, it maybe took a week. Him and I talked about the process and came to the conclusion that State’s the place I need to be.”

Parker gets another talented pitcher he can mold

There’s been a mutual respect between both Pitzer and Parker because they know each one is beneficial to the other.

For Parker, he sees a gold mine of talent in the pitcher.  Pitzer showed flashes with the Gamecocks despite a stat sheet that didn’t make any headlines. A monster summer in the Cape Cod League would confirm that there’s plenty in the tank to be uncovered.

“He had a pretty good freshman year – a guy that made starts on the weekend in the SEC,” Parker said. “I didn’t think he was necessarily going to go out and be the Pitcher of the Year in the Cape, but I knew he was capable of doing those things. The work has been great. His transition has been seamless. He’s a guy that’s tasted the competitive nature of this level which gives us a comfort transition wise that he knows what it takes and knows what he’s up against.”

Pitzer had a 8-1 record with a 5.63 ERA in his 38 games at South Carolina. His freshman season saw good things come his way as he finished 4-1 with a 4.74 ERA in six starts and 19 appearances. This past season, the numbers dipped. In 19 games and two starts, Pitzer had a 6.99 ERA. He finished with 28 walks and 32 strikeouts in 28.1 innings as the Gamecocks struggled to a 28-29 season and six SEC wins.

After a transfer to State, Pitzer went to the Cape Cod League and earned the prestigious summer league’s Pitcher of the Year. Pitzer was 3-0 for Yarmouth-Dennis and threw in eight games with one start while allowing just one earned run in 26.1 innings, walking just nine batters and striking out 36 batters.  

“My sophomore year wasn’t great but I went up to the Cape to reset and get back to what I know I can do to build up my confidence for this upcoming year,” Pitzer said. “Being up in the summer I laid low and relaxed and it helped me find myself again.”

Pitzer won’t be handed anything in Starkville but that’s exactly how he likes it.

The talented pitcher joins a large group of other talented pitchers on this staff. His goals are to be a starter for the Diamond Dawgs and that’s something that he hoped to do in the Cape. However, Pitzer also showed the ability to be a major bullpen option as well.

Pitzer plays off spin with his pitches and carries a three-pitch arsenal that has sharpened. His fastball plays in the low 90s with movement and he has added a cutter to go along with his slider. Hitters inside the Cape couldn’t hit it and it stands to only grow as he steps under Parker’s tutelage. The best part – Pitzer knows just what to expect in the SEC.

“I think I have a plus side because I’ve been in the SEC for two years,” Pitzer said. “Everyone knows what the SEC is – it’s the hardest conference in the country. I think especially how the summer went, I have plenty of confidence in my ability to do whatever I need to do.”