Senior pitcher hopes to improve upon his co-MVP performance of
last year
When Live Oak opens its baseball season, it will be joined by senior right-hander Ryan Muller, who recently signed a letter of intent full-ride scholarship to play for the University of San Francisco.
Muller was the Acorns’ top pitcher last year. He has been working out extensively in the offseason and will be virtually unhittable in the Tri-County Athletic League with a fastball in the mid 90’s.
Muller, at 6-foot-1 165 pounds, is also a stellar third baseman and the Acorns top power hitter. But he will focus primarily on pitching this year. Last year with Live Oak, Muller was named as the Monterey Bay League co-MVP.
Starting off the season as a closer, Muller made the jump over to starter because of an injury. Overall he was 3-2 with four saves and a 1.29 ERA. He had a 3.79 batting average with 17 RBIs.
Muller was recruited by 112 schools, but chose USF because of the opportunity to make an immediate impact.
“Ryan has electric stuff. Not only his fastball, but he possesses a two-plane breaking ball,” said pitching coach Greg Moore. “He’ll have the opportunity to make an impact right away. There are two things that really separate Muller from the rest. He’s got a really strong arm and he’s ultra-competitive. Here, he’ll be able to learn and grow as a pitcher.”
Muller ranks as number 60 on the Team One High School Top-100 list and is one of only 38 players named to the 11th Annual Team One National Showcase (and one of only 10 right-handed pitchers to have made the list).
During its tenure, the Team One Showcase has attracted a large number of future major league players, a good percentage of them first-round draft picks.
This year’s West Coast Top Prospect Showcase in San Diego highlighted Muller as a Top-20 player (No. 13) and described his offensive capabilities, saying he showed good hitting and outfielding ability.
They added that he pitched out of tough counts and showed excellent athletic ability.
“He’s competitive and he fears nothing,” Moore said. “His attitude is ‘Here it comes. I dare you to hit.’ That aggressiveness on the mound can’t be taught. You either have that warrior mentality or you don’t. Ryan does.”
One of the reseasons for the success of the young pitcher is his family, Moore said.
“Aside from the obvious, the intangibles and physical ability, we were also impressed with his family,” Moore said. “They really see the big picture in this whole process of deciding on a school. Ego was never a factor for anyone in the house. Ryan’s family wants what’s best for Ryan. When the player and the family match you know you have the right guy.”
Although USF has struggled with an 18-38 overall record last year, the Diamond Dons hope to turn it around. And to do that, the coaches are looking for young players to help.
“USF seemed to be a perfect fit for a lot of the right reasons,” Moore said. “It’s close to home, a great academic fit and a place where players are coached on and off the field, and not just asked to perform with what they bring in. Ryan, like all of us, has a lot to learn. We thought then and think now that this is where he will flourish.”
Muller will continue to improve and develop his control and mechanics through his senior year, Moore said.
“We will ask Ryan to do two things – compete and improve,” Moore said. “For every freshman there is an adjustment period. We won’t ask Ryan to shoulder the burden of the staff, although he might be ready, willing and able. That said, he’s going to given the opportunity to contribute right away.”
