With opening day set for Friday, the theme of the Eastern baseball’s 2025 season is health. 

In a 2024 season where the Panthers lost many of their key pitchers to injury, including senior right hander Tyler Conklin, freshmen like right-handers Anthony Solis, Bryce Riggs and Slater Wilcox were all given an opportunity to contribute.

Now that the pitching staff is fully healed, those players have valuable experience going into their sophomore seasons, according to manager Jason Anderson.

“This year I think it’s a completely different story,” Anderson said. “We have a lot of experience.”

Riggs, who was 4-2 last season with a 7.35 earned run average, was primarily a starter while Wilcox was used both as a starter and in the bullpen. Solis pitched in high-leverage, critical situations on the back end of the Panthers’ bullpen. 

Junior Jack Potteiger, who worked through nearly 20 innings last season and had a 6.86 ERA, is a returning left-handed option out of the bullpen. 

The added experience isn’t just in the pitching staff. Anderson said the entire team has developed over the course of last season and the offseason. 

“We brought in 27 new guys last year,” Anderson said. “It takes some time to develop them. We’re hoping that we stay healthy, and it pays off this year.”

The Panthers lost some key hitters after last season, including All-Ohio Valley Conference first teamer Lucas Loos and utility player Cole Gober. Loos, who hit 23 home runs last season, broke the program record for home runs in a single season and was second in program history with 22 doubles. 

Loos and Gober combined for 68 extra base hits, which is over 40% of the entire team’s total, and 99 runs batted in, which is just over 30% of the team’s total. 

Despite the loss of production, hitting coach Mike Pugliese said he isn’t concerned. 

He said the offense is not going to have to rely on one or two guys, and that the Panthers will focus more heavily on manufacturing runs. 

“Last year, we may have been a little bit too heavy on the swingers,” Pugliese said. “We’re really trying to put the pressure on the defense and that’s going to be something that’s a little bit different stylistically than it was last year.” 

Outfielder Dylan Drumke, now a redshirt senior, has returned. Drumke drove in 51 runs last season and scored 50 runs, which ranks second-most on the team. 

Eastern lost catcher Grant Lashure, who started 116 games across three seasons behind home plate. The Panthers have four catchers on the roster. Redshirt sophomore Luke Melton, who was the backup to Lashure last season, will be in an open competition with three other new players. 

Junior Zak Goodwin– a transfer from Iowa Central Community College, sophomore Owen Anderson– a transfer from Lake Land College, Colin Horneman– a Lincoln Trail Community College transfer– and Melton will all get a chance to play, according to Anderson. 

Anderson said each catcher has different strengths and weaknesses, which he plans to use throughout the season. 

“It’s going to be a bit of a balance of all of them,” Anderson said. “I’m hoping that keeps them healthy instead of just having one guy out there every single game.”

The Panthers won’t have left-handed two-way player Joey Hagen available on the pitching mound this season. Hagen is working his way back from a labrum injury and will be available as a hitter. 

Eastern will still have a couple two-way players though. Freshmen right-handers Chase Bays and James Love are both infielders that may also get a chance to pitch this season. 

“We’re giving both of those guys the opportunity to do that and as time goes, we’ll see how it shakes out,” Pugliese said. “But they’re both doing great.”

Eastern’s first 19 games of the season are all away, which is typical for a team from the Midwest. The Panthers’ home opener is not until their OVC opener on March 21 against Lindenwood. 

“We’re not afraid to go play anybody anywhere,” Pugliese said. “There’s a little bit of pride that we take in going to play somebody on their field and giving it our best and seeing what happens.”

After a 20-33 overall record and a conference record of 13-14 last season, Eastern was predicted to finish in fifth this season in the OVC preseason poll. Conklin was named as a player to watch. 

The Panthers’ first game of the season Friday against the University of Louisiana Monroe is set for a first pitch of 4 p.m.

Gabe Newman can be reached at 581-2812 or at ghnewman@eiu.edu.