ASU Baseball Season Preview: Trevor Williams Leads Talented but Inexperienced Starting Pitching Staff

Arizona State baseball fans who watched the team in 2012 were treated to one of the best starting pitching duos in the nation. Last season, Brady Rodgers and Trevor Williams combined to start 30 games, with a record of 22-4 and 138 strikeouts between them.

Both pitchers were named first team All-Pac-12 players, and both were named second team All-American by Louisville Slugger. Rodgers has since moved on, being selected in the third round in the MLB Amateur Draft by the Houston Astros.

However, Williams returns for his junior season as the ace of the Arizona State pitching staff. He enters the role of the Friday night starter with a career ERA of 2.17 and just 19 walks in 149.1 innings pitched.

House of Sparky recently talked to Trevor Williams for his analysis on the 2013 Sun Devil pitching staff. So without furter adue, here is your 2013 ASU baseball starting pitching preview.

The Returners

Trevor Williams - Junior (2012 season: 12-2, 2.05 ERA, 109.2 IP, 90 H, 13 BB, 59 K)

Even with Rodgers on the staff in 2012, Williams was the most consistant Sun Devil pitcher. He threw two complete games and finished with an ERA of just over 2 in 109.2 innings pitched. Williams has a great command for the strike zone, only walking 13 batters in 2012. The San Diego native was also a member of the 2012 USA Collegiate National Team.

Williams on his personal goals for 2013: "I always try to do better than the year before, so that would be 13 wins and an ERA under two. Aside from the numbers and stuff, I want to help the younger guys like Darin (Gillies) and Adam McCreery and even the younger guys coming up like Brett Lilek and Ryan Burr, take them under my wing like Brady (Rodgers) took me under his."

Darin Gillies - Sophomore (2012 season - 1-4, 5.04 ERA, 39.1 IP, 46 H, 15 BB, 29 K)

Gillies started 10 games and made 13 appearances as a freshman in 2012. He led all true freshman in innings pitched, appearances and strikeouts a season ago, and finished third among all pitchers in starts.

Williams on Gillies: "He's come a long way since last year, me and him hook up with throwing and our workouts, he has recognized on what he has to improve on. His fastball has gotten harder, his offspeed has gotten sharper, I'm really looking forward to his year this year and what he can do for us."

Adam McCreery - Sophomore (2012 season: 2-0, 1.32 ERA, 13.2 IP, 12 H, 6 BB, 14 K)

McCreery's freshman season at Arizona State was injury plagued. He started the season as the team's Sunday starter, but ended up throwing just 13.2 innings all season. He made his first start of the season last February 18, and did not pitch again until March 13. McCreery has the physical tools and the stuff to excel in the Pac-12 and may be the team's Saturday starter in 2013.

Williams on McCreery: "He can bring a lot to the table for us. He's 6'9 and throws 95 (MPH) from the left side, he's been staying healthy this whole fall, so he's ready to break out this year and I think move into that starting role and be a dominating force for us."

Matt Dunbar - Senior (2012 season: 1-0, 1:54 ERA, 35 IP, 28 H, 12 BB, 30 K)

Dunbar did everything for the Sun Devils in 2012. He led the team with a 1.54 ERA and was third on the team with 23 appearances. Dunbar was a spot starter for the Sun Devils in 2012, but was used mainly in the bullpen last season.

Williams on Dunbar: "I expect him to not only repeat what he did last year, but be better because we are going to rely on him as a veteran role in the bullpen, to be the go-to guy where if we need outs we go to him."

The Freshman

Bret Lilek - LHP (6'4, 190 lbs. South Holland, Ill)

Lilek was a four-time team captain for the Marian Cathlic HS baseball in Illinois and was selected by the Seattle Mariners in the 37th round of the 2012 MLB Amateur Draft.

Trey Kamachi - RHP (6'2, 207 lbs. Kapolei, HI)

Kamachi lettered four years in baseball and two in football at Kaoplei HS. Kamachi was named the 2011 OIA Red West Player of the Year.

Nick Diamond - LHP (5'10, 175 lbs. Scottsdale, AZ)

Diamond helped Arizona baseball power Chaparral with back-to-back state championships in 2011 and 2012 and is a communications major at Arizona State.

Ryan Bur - RHP (6'4, 215 lbs. Highland Ranch, CO)

Burr was a two-time All-Colorado selection and a Rawlings All-American in high school. He was drafted in the 33rd round of the 2012 MLB Amateur Draft by the Texas Rangers.

Eric Melboastad - RHP (6'4, 210 lbs. Scottsdale, AZ)

Melboastad lettered in both baseball and football at Pinnacle High School and was named 2012 Second Team All-State. He was also a member of the National Honor Society for four years.

Ryan Kellogg - LHP (6'5, 220 lbs. Whitby, Ontario, Canada)

Kellogg was named the Canadian Junior National Team MVP and the Ontario Prospects Athlete of the Year. Kellogg was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 12th round of the 2012 MLB Amateur Draft.

Williams on the freshman: "You can see the youngness in the pitchers, I can see it because I am an older guy and I know how I was when I was a freshman, but I think there will be a lot of big roles for the freshman, because there are a lot of spots to fill. They are ready for it, watching them in the fall, seeing them compete the way that they did. I think it's something for our fans to be excited about, watching them pitch."

Check out our entire season preview series with analysis from Sun Devil players

Infield | Outfield | Starting Pitching | Bullpen