Cowboy Baseball 2018 - The Righties - Oklahoma State University Athletics

Oklahoma State opens the 2018 season Friday with a three-game road series against Texas State in San Marcos, Texas.

OSU is coming off a season in which it captured the 2017 Big 12 Championship title, which crowned the Cowboys as conference champions for the 32^nd time in their storied history. The Pokes went 4-0 at the Big 12 Championship to become the first team to ever win the Big 12 tourney as a No. 8 seed.

The 2018 season will mark OSU's sixth under the direction of head coach Josh Holiday, who has led his alma mater to five NCAA Regional appearances and a top-two finish in the Big 12 standings four times.

With the season just a day away, we've been taking a look at the Cowboys' roster heading into 2018, and we conclude the breakdown with a look at OSU's right-handed pitchers.

The Righties
Jacob Ruder, Junior, 6-7, 217, R/R

Spent 2017 season at Cowley County CC and went 4-1 with a 5.33 ERA in 14 starts.
Recorded 69 strikeouts in 54 innings at Cowley and helped lead team to JUCO World Series.
Began collegiate career at Kansas State; pitched in 12 games for the Wildcats as a freshman, starting three of those.

Ben Leeper, Sophomore, 6-0, 190, R/R

Missed the 2017 season with injury.
Made two appearances in 2016, both starts, before injury ended his season. Was awarded a redshirt year after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

Jensen Elliott, Junior, 6-6, 217, R/R

Had Tommy John surgery last April and status for 2018 is uncertain, though he is hopeful to pitch late in the season.
Made four starts in 2017 and went 3-0 before being lost for the season with an injury.
Named to a pair of Freshman All-American teams in 2016, earning a spot on the Louisville Slugger/Collegiate Baseball team as well as a berth on the Baseball America second team.
Went 9-3 with a 3.50 ERA in 17 starts on OSU's 2016 College World Series team.

C.J. Varela, Sophomore, 5-10, 167, R/R

Made 13 appearances in 2017, including four as a starter.
Went 2-1 with a save and 23 strikeouts in 24 2/3 innings.
Starter in Big 12 Championship title game against Texas.

Jake Purl, Junior, 6-3, 234, R/R

Went 17-6 in two seasons at Kansas City Kansas Community College.
Racked up 135 strikeouts in 152 2/3 innings.
Went 8-3 with a 4.81 ERA in 14 starts as a sophomore.
In 15 appearances as a freshman, including 14 starts, went 9-3.

Reza Aleaziz, Junior, 6-5, 218, R/R

Made 23 appearances, including 11 starts, as a sophomore at Yavapai College in 2017 and went 9-1 with a save and a 4.57 ERA.
Recorded 74 strikeouts in 86 2/3 innings.
As a freshman was 6-4 with a 3.29 ERA in 13 starts and had 49 strikeouts in 63 innings.

Jonathan Heasley, Sophomore, 6-3, 218, R/R

Will start OSU's season opener at Texas State.
Made 22 appearances as a freshman in 2017, five as a starter.
Tied for the team lead with three saves.

Joe Lienhard, Junior, 6-5, 229, R/R

Third on team with 22 appearances in 2017; 10 of those were as a starter.
Also ranked third on Cowboys a year ago with 60 strikeouts and 65.2 innings pitched.
Dad, Steve Lienhard, pitched for four OSU College World Series teams from 1984-87.

Peyton Battenfield, Sophomore, 6-4, 220, R/R

Made five appearances as a freshman last season, all in relief.
Helped OSU to the Big 12 Championship title by tossing a scoreless inning against Texas in the final.
Younger brother of Blake Battenfield, who pitched for the Cowboys from 2014-17.

Tanner Sparks, Freshman, 6-0, 182, R/R

Will redshirt the 2018 season.
2017 MaxPreps High School All-American after going 10-0 with a 0.82 ERA as a senior; also hit .504 with 12 home runs and 81 RBIs.
Helped lead Shawnee High School to three consecutive Class 5A state championships.
Was named The Oklahoman's 2017 All-State and Big All-City Player of the Year.

Chase Burgess, Junior, 6-1,163, R/R

Was a two-way player for two seasons at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M.
Named an All-Region II Second Team performer as a sophomore after hitting .345 with four home runs and 34 RBIs.
Was also 3-2 with a save on the mound and recorded a 4.91 ERA.
Made nine appearances and struck out 20 in 29 1/3 innings.