This summer, Florida State had two members of its vaunted pitching staff represent the United States. Specifically, sophomore pitchers Carson Montgomery and Wyatt Crowell pitched for the USA collegiate national team throughout their offseason. The Tallahassee roommates spent several weeks training and competing against each other via intrasquad scrimmages, ultimately leading to a 10-day trip abroad to the Netherlands.
“I’ve never been out of the country, so that was an awesome experience for me,” Crowell said. “Just seeing all the different restaurants and foods was really cool.”
Although the college kids absorbed all aspects of European culture, their journey’s mission was oriented around Honkbalweek Haarlem, an international baseball tournament first held back in 1961. There, Team USA played in seven games, but Crowell and Montgomery only appeared in two ball games each.
Montgomery finished three strong innings without allowing any runs and striking out four. Crowell pitched 1.1 innings, fanned three, and allowed just two base runners against the Netherlands and Curaçao. The latter of the two surprised the Seminoles’ southpaw because of a noticeable age difference.
“They were all like 30 to 40-year-old dudes, I was so confused when we showed up to the field, but it was really cool,” Crowell said. “I got to face Roger Bernadina, who played for the Nationals [MLB player 2008-14].”
In the end, Team USA walked away with a bronze medal and an experience of a lifetime. When Crowell returned to the States, he parted ways with baseball and enjoyed some much-needed rest at home. The Cumming, Georgia, native returned to the Atlanta suburb despite his family just recently moving to Pensacola. The 20-year-old, albeit only for a handful more weeks, soaked up the sun lakeside with old neighborhood friends.
The relaxing end to his summer was more than warranted due to the trying spring season that saw Crowell shove over 50 innings on the hill. Comparatively, as a freshman, Crowell impacted the game as both a hitter and pitcher. In 2021, he ended with just over 16 innings and a 3.86 ERA. In 2022, with the bat out of his hands, the left-handed pitcher finished with an extremely impressive 6-1 record and 2.12 ERA. Doing so earned him 2022 All-Regional Second Team honors and boosted his 2023 MLB Draft stock up to the first five rounds.
This significant transition away from hitting and onto a team-leading bullpen load is exactly what Crowell asked for. Pitching has always been his favorite, but he hopes for even more this year.
“I would like to be a starter,” Crowell said. “I’ve been working on my changeup a lot because I know having a three-pitch mix is very important.”
There is a lot of uncertainty surrounding this spring’s Seminole baseball season because of new head coach Link Jarrett. Crowell has appreciated Jarrett and new pitching coach Chuck Ristano’s attention to detail. Every Sunday, the team receives weekly schedules for practices, which, in turn, keeps the team organized and in unison on the daily goals and objectives.
Crowell and the Seminoles have had an extended delay to fall practices with the field renovations taking place at Dick Howser Stadium, including a new playing surface and updated turf in the batter's box and foul territory. If everything goes to plan, Florida State should begin official fall practices in mid-October; scrimmages and games will also be finalized and announced in October.