SOUTH BEND

from South Bend Cubs Gameday Program - June 2023

RAWHIDE AND PIGSKIN

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different when a battery combination is as tight as those two.

“Having him is awesome especially that we have both him and (Ethan) Hearn, “Noland said. “You know that no matter who is behind the plate it’s going to be solid. But having Opi, it’s our fourth year working together. Having that familiarity with each other is huge and when he puts down a call for a pitch, I almost never shake it off. It makes it easy on me.”

Opitz is one of the best defensive catchers and game managers in the Midwest League. And his game calling has helped Noland excel early. His first pro start came in the home opener of 2022 versus the Beloit Sky Carp, where he did not walk a batter and struck out seven in four innings of one run baseball.

The command for the first year hurler is what stands out most. Noland did not pitch in an organized professional game after being selected last year. When he got to South Bend, the lights turned on and he took the hill. The end of May was especially elite, as over three starts from May 4 through May 16, Noland didn’t walk a batter over 12.2 combined innings. He added 12 strikeouts to that total as well.

“Being able to focus on our bullpen sessions and commanding the ball is huge,” Noland said. “Also working with Morty (pitching coach Clayton Mortensen) has been a big help in making little mental notes as you go along through the game. It’s an ultimate respect thing where he has been there and done everything being in the Big Leagues. He has an answer for pretty much everything and he makes it easy to apply things to our own game.”

The Chicago Cubs invested into the well of dominant college baseball arms with their selection of Noland. As he continues to get more-and-more comfortable on the mound in pro baseball, the more dominant he will get.

After all, starting the home opener of a baseball season for your first professional start can be a lot of pressure for some. But maybe the ease of relaxing in tense moments can be more manageable for a guy who put on a helmet and ran out of SEC football tunnels before leading the Arkansas Razorbacks under center.