Where Are They Now? Former Harvard Pitchers Take the Mound

As the snow begins to melt away and the first signs of spring touch the air, three former Harvard pitchers are busy training to compete at the next level.

Pitchers Brent Suter, Frank Herrmann, and Sean Poppen all share a background in a Crimson uniform. The three are, however, entering the 2017 spring at various stages of their careers beyond Harvard’s gates. As Suter find himself on a major league roster, Herrmann is transitioning out of MLB and Poppen is settling into minor league play.

After making his major league debut in August of 2016, Suter will be suiting up this season for the Milwaukee Brewers. The 27-year-old left-hander completed the 2016 season with an ERA of 3.32 over 14 games.

Suter, who was drafted in the 31st round of the 2012 Draft by the Brewers, is the only former Harvard baseball player listed as active on an MLB 40-man roster. He currently vying for a spot in the Milwaukee bullpen as the team undergoes spring training.

Right-handed pitcher Frank Herrmann will be on the mound in Japan this year, as he’ll be competing in Nippon Professional Baseball. Coming out of Harvard, Herrmann signed with the Cleveland Indians in 2006. The New Jersey native pitched in the minors for four years, before making his major league debut in June of 2010. While in the major leagues, he spent three seasons with the Indians and one with the Philadelphia Phillies.

Herrmann signed with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles in November of last year. This season will mark the first in the NPB for the 32-year-old Harvard alumnus.

Fresh off O’Donnell Field, Poppen will be furthering his baseball career in the minor leagues. After graduating from Harvard last year, the right-handed pitcher went in the 19th round of the 2016 MLB Draft to the Minnesota Twins. He is currently playing Single-A baseball with the Cedar Rapid Kernels in Iowa.

During his time with the Crimson, Poppen had an ERA of 4.39 in 39 appearances and recorded a total of 175 strikeouts.

As these three alumni take to mounds across the globe, a piece of Harvard will travel behind every pitch.