Bunz, two other Nebraska pitchers enter the transfer portal, Hawkins retires
Three Nebraska pitchers officially entered the transfer portal on Tuesday. HuskerOnline has learned of the departures of Jake Bunz, CJ Hood and Brandon Lundquist.
Bunz, a fifth-year senior with one year of eligibility remaining, made 15 appearances for the Huskers with 3.86 ERA in 14 innings of work. He missed the entirety of the 2022 campaign with a season-ending arm injury after recording a strikeout in Nebraska’s opener at Sam Houston State.
The left-hander was a key piece of Nebraska’s 2021 Big Ten Championship squad. He posted a team-high 20 appearances, three of which were starts. His 2.20 ERA in 32 2/3 innings with 42 strikeouts made him a prized arm out of the Husker bullpen. Bunz, an Elkhorn native, arrived at Nebraska after spending the prior two seasons at Hutchinson Community College.
Hood served as one of Nebraska’s top high-leverage arms in 2022. The sophomore from Hickman, Nebraska, posted a 4.26 ERA in 18 relief appearances during his freshman season. Hood dealt with an arm injury throughout the past season, bringing a premature end to his summer baseball in Alaska and sidelining him for the 2023 season.
Hood announced his decision in the midst of the Huskers’ extra-inning loss to Maryland on Thursday after being left off the postseason roster.
Lundquist joined Nebraska as a part of its 2022 class. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound right-hander is a product of Millard North high school. He did not pitch in his senior season due to injury.
More departures are possible as the Huskers complete exit meetings in the coming days. Nebraska baseball finished its season with a 4-2 loss to Maryland last Saturday. Will Bolt’s squad finished with a 33-23-1 record in the 2023 season.
Corbin Hawkins retires
Nebraska lost another key piece of its 2023 pitching staff on Tuesday afternoon.
Sophomore Corbin Hawkins announced his retirement via Twitter after two seasons in Lincoln. The submarine hurler was coming off an outstanding season in which he made 23 appearances and pitched 44 1/3 innings with a 2.23 ERA and 33 strikeouts.
