Wake Forest Athletics
Photo by: Brian Westerholt/Four Seam Images
Deacon Hurler Duo Ready to Complete "Unfinished Business"
2/13/2020 4:36:00 PM | Baseball, Les Johns
Bobby Hearn and Tyler Witt are both back for their fifth seasons in Old Gold & Black.
Wake Forest pitchers Bobby Hearn and Tyler Witt both went through the Senior Day ceremony a season ago, figuring that their college baseball careers were complete.
They're roommates who both started their career at Wake Forest in 2016, and both played a vital role in the Demon Deacon bullpen a year ago — a season that ended in disappointment, just a win or two away from likely securing a NCAA Regional postseason invite.
Through five years together, Witt and Hearn have grown a close bond. Hearn has endured Witt's late night Ben & Jerry's ice cream binges, while Witt has tolerated Hearn needlessly hoarding coffee mugs.
Another similarity for the left-handed hurlers? Neither really played in 2017. Witt never saw the field after struggling in seven outings as a freshman the previous year, while Hearn played in just three contests after breaking his wrist in a season-opening road trip.
It wasn't too long after the 2019 season wrapped that Wake Forest coach Tom Walter had determined both had the opportunity to return for one final season with the Deacs.
"It was such an incredible opportunity," Hearn said. "It's not a secret that I was kind of on my way out and that last year was going to be my last season. Then an opportunity presented itself in March for me to come back and play another year. I jumped at the opportunity. I was finally able to get healthy and wasn't ready to hang up the cleats yet.
"Coach Walter did an incredible job of making that goal a reality. I'm getting a world class education while getting a master's in accounting. To be here for five years and come away with two degrees from this school is something special and I'm thrilled to have that opportunity."
Though they didn't get a chance to do much on the field that season, both Hearn and Witt were part of the 2017 Wake Forest squad that marched all the way to the Gainesville Super Regional, where they were just a single win away from the College World Series.
"We always felt like there was some unfinished business," Hearn said. "We didn't want to have that 'what if' moment. We wanted to see that through. Having each other has been big. We've been roommates for the last four years. To have that opportunity together is really special."
Walter has boasted a pitching staff that he believes is at least 10-players strong, knowing that both Witt and Hearn will be valuable contributors this season.
"Getting Ty Witt and Bobby Hearn back for a grad school year is the difference," he said. "If we didn't have those two guys, we wouldn't have the depth or length that we have right now. Ty was so good for us at the end of last year. He put us in position to get to the ACC semifinals and into the NCAA Tournament. If we can get that out of Ty for most of this year, that's a huge add on.
"Bobby is one of our captains, and sets the standard in terms of work ethic and professionalism. He's a great role model in terms of being intentional in everything they do."
The work and professionalism Walter references started in the summer, as both Witt and Hearn stayed in Winston-Salem and worked through a rigorous program with pitching coach John Hendricks.
"We both started our programs in July, so we had the unique opportunity to be here through the summer and throw bullpens on Trackman," Witt said. "John and (pitching lab coordinator) Evan (Wise) laid out a good program for us. I think having more time with John, we realized how much he could help build our deliveries and help challenge the way we do things.
"Being here in the summer accelerated our development. We put our full trust in what John created for us."
Hearn said the early summer motion captures in the pitching lab helped develop a good starting point for the pitchers who were on campus.
"Then we took those results and implemented changes through drills and long toss," Hearn said. "We could go back later and see the changes. We've now had a full year-and-a-half to see the evolution of those motion captures.
"I just try to stress the value to everyone. Everyone is really bought in on all that stuff. We see what it can do for ourselves and our deliveries. It takes the guesswork out. That's not a hard pitch to sell to anybody."
The returning grad student duo serves as proverbial guinea pigs for the rest of the staff, Witt said.
"It was crazy to see the amount of progress we made," he said. "It was nice to be able to have a concrete summer of development. It was really successful."
And once the rest of the staff returned from summer league play, the program was implemented across the board.
"You see it now in their performance," Witt said. "They're looking better than ever. Obviously last year, by the numbers, we didn't have the greatest year on the mound. But I think this year will be different. Having John around for a full year, we were able to learn more about pitching and everyone's individual delivery. We're going to be a tough pitching staff, and one that will be able to bounce back quicker."
If the staff makes the turnaround expected by Witt and Hearn, the Demon Deacons could have a special season. Wake is nationally ranked in five polls and returns one of the most powerful offensive lineups in the country.
It would be a special way for Witt and Hearn — teammates, roommates and friends for the last five years, to finish their career with the Deacs.
They're roommates who both started their career at Wake Forest in 2016, and both played a vital role in the Demon Deacon bullpen a year ago — a season that ended in disappointment, just a win or two away from likely securing a NCAA Regional postseason invite.
Through five years together, Witt and Hearn have grown a close bond. Hearn has endured Witt's late night Ben & Jerry's ice cream binges, while Witt has tolerated Hearn needlessly hoarding coffee mugs.
Another similarity for the left-handed hurlers? Neither really played in 2017. Witt never saw the field after struggling in seven outings as a freshman the previous year, while Hearn played in just three contests after breaking his wrist in a season-opening road trip.
It wasn't too long after the 2019 season wrapped that Wake Forest coach Tom Walter had determined both had the opportunity to return for one final season with the Deacs.
"It was such an incredible opportunity," Hearn said. "It's not a secret that I was kind of on my way out and that last year was going to be my last season. Then an opportunity presented itself in March for me to come back and play another year. I jumped at the opportunity. I was finally able to get healthy and wasn't ready to hang up the cleats yet.
"Coach Walter did an incredible job of making that goal a reality. I'm getting a world class education while getting a master's in accounting. To be here for five years and come away with two degrees from this school is something special and I'm thrilled to have that opportunity."
Though they didn't get a chance to do much on the field that season, both Hearn and Witt were part of the 2017 Wake Forest squad that marched all the way to the Gainesville Super Regional, where they were just a single win away from the College World Series.
"We always felt like there was some unfinished business," Hearn said. "We didn't want to have that 'what if' moment. We wanted to see that through. Having each other has been big. We've been roommates for the last four years. To have that opportunity together is really special."
Walter has boasted a pitching staff that he believes is at least 10-players strong, knowing that both Witt and Hearn will be valuable contributors this season.
"Getting Ty Witt and Bobby Hearn back for a grad school year is the difference," he said. "If we didn't have those two guys, we wouldn't have the depth or length that we have right now. Ty was so good for us at the end of last year. He put us in position to get to the ACC semifinals and into the NCAA Tournament. If we can get that out of Ty for most of this year, that's a huge add on.
"Bobby is one of our captains, and sets the standard in terms of work ethic and professionalism. He's a great role model in terms of being intentional in everything they do."
The work and professionalism Walter references started in the summer, as both Witt and Hearn stayed in Winston-Salem and worked through a rigorous program with pitching coach John Hendricks.
"We both started our programs in July, so we had the unique opportunity to be here through the summer and throw bullpens on Trackman," Witt said. "John and (pitching lab coordinator) Evan (Wise) laid out a good program for us. I think having more time with John, we realized how much he could help build our deliveries and help challenge the way we do things.
"Being here in the summer accelerated our development. We put our full trust in what John created for us."
Hearn said the early summer motion captures in the pitching lab helped develop a good starting point for the pitchers who were on campus.
"Then we took those results and implemented changes through drills and long toss," Hearn said. "We could go back later and see the changes. We've now had a full year-and-a-half to see the evolution of those motion captures.
"I just try to stress the value to everyone. Everyone is really bought in on all that stuff. We see what it can do for ourselves and our deliveries. It takes the guesswork out. That's not a hard pitch to sell to anybody."
The returning grad student duo serves as proverbial guinea pigs for the rest of the staff, Witt said.
"It was crazy to see the amount of progress we made," he said. "It was nice to be able to have a concrete summer of development. It was really successful."
And once the rest of the staff returned from summer league play, the program was implemented across the board.
"You see it now in their performance," Witt said. "They're looking better than ever. Obviously last year, by the numbers, we didn't have the greatest year on the mound. But I think this year will be different. Having John around for a full year, we were able to learn more about pitching and everyone's individual delivery. We're going to be a tough pitching staff, and one that will be able to bounce back quicker."
If the staff makes the turnaround expected by Witt and Hearn, the Demon Deacons could have a special season. Wake is nationally ranked in five polls and returns one of the most powerful offensive lineups in the country.
It would be a special way for Witt and Hearn — teammates, roommates and friends for the last five years, to finish their career with the Deacs.
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