The Hoptown Hoppers have announced a pair of Murray State left-handed pitchers will be on their 2018 roster, including one with local ties.
In a media release, the Hoppers announced the addition of Caldwell County senior Shane Burns and Racer Nate Pianto to their roster.
“Shane will be our lone incoming college player on the team,” said Hoppers Coach Brock Moss. “I think this speaks volumes to the amount of talent that he has. Shane has a power arm from the left side and will push to find time on the mound at Murray State as a freshman. He’s arguably one of the better high school pitchers in Western Kentucky and he will be a good addition to the Hoppers.”
Burns was 8-1 with a miniscule 0.56 ERA in 62 innings pitched. He struck out 103 batters, while walking just 11. He has been instrumental in leading the Tigers to back-to-back Second Region titles and a trip to the All-A State Tournament in 2017.
Burns was also a standout quarterback for Caldwell County, throwing for over 3,000 yards and 37 touchdowns as a junior before opting to sit out his senior season to concentrate on baseball. Since baseball ended in the spring, Burns has dropped 25 pounds in an effort to get into better playing shape.
Pianto is from Hendersonville, TN and attended Pope John Paul II High School where he helped lead his team to the Tennessee final four in each of his last three seasons. He was also a standout swimmer in high school. His brother Dominic is considered a top prospect in Tennessee in the Class of 2019.
“Nate is a rarity in college baseball because of how he throws. He’s a left-hander who throws from down-under. The submariner will be a very tough arm out of the bullpen, especially on left-handed hitters. The arm angle from the left side is unique, and he will provide quality innings for us,” Moss said.
Last week, the Hoppers made their first roster announcements – infielders Tyler Graham and Dixon Craft.
The Hoppers will have a “Meet and Greet” for host families and perspective host families at the Carnegie Library on Sunday, February 11 from 3-5 PM. If you are interested in being a host family for the summer, contact Host Family Coordinator Jamie Folz at 270-889-7909.
