The Gopher pitching coach succeeds John Anderson as the Gophers skipper.
For the first time since 1981 the Minnesota Gophers will have a head coach not named John Anderson. Anderson retired after 42 seasons in charge of the Gophers and last week Minnesota named his pitching coach, Minnesota slum Ty McDevitt as the next head coach of the Gophers.
McDevitt graduated from the U in 2015 after playing five seasons for Anderson and was a workhorse out of the bullpen. McDevitt served as a volunteer assistant in 2017 and 2018 before being officially named the Gophers pitching coach in 2019. He missed the 2023 season after being diagnosed with Lyme Disease and needed to take the entire season off to recover.
I am deeply honored and humbled to accept the position of head baseball coach at the University of Minnesota,” said McDevitt. “This program is steeped in rich history and tradition, built on the hard work, dedication, and passion of countless players, coaches, and supporters who have come before me. As I step into this role, I am committed to upholding the values and excellence that define Gopher Baseball. Together, we will strive to build upon this storied legacy, fostering a culture of integrity, resilience, and success both on and off the field. I want to thank Mark Coyle and Peyton Owens for entrusting me with this incredible opportunity. Go Gophers!”
As the Gophers pitching coach McDevitt developed several Gophers arms into players that would be selected in the MLB Draft. They include Max Meyer (Miami Marlins), Brett Schulze (Philadelphia Phillies), Jake Stevenson (Cincinnati Reds), Nick Lackney (Philadelphia Phillies), Reggie Meyer (Texas Rangers), Jackson Rose (Miami Marlins), Tyler Hanson (Colorado Rockies), Brian Glowicki (Chicago Cubs), Lucas Gilbreath (Colorado Rockies), Dalton Sawyer (Oakland Athletics), J.P. Massey (Pittsburgh Pirates), Aidan Maldonado (Milwaukee Brewers) and George Klassen (Philadelphia Phillies).
This past season, Minnesota’s starting pitcher Connor Wietgrefe was named First Team All-Big Ten, becoming the first Gopher to earn that honor since 2019. The southpaw had an 8-4 record in 13 starts. His eight wins tied for first and his 2.77 ERA ranked second among Big Ten pitchers. He is likely to be a high selection in this summers MLB draft.
The Apple Valley native was given a three year contract and will look to revitalize the Gopher program and being them back to a competitive state in the Big Ten. Good luck to Ty as he steps into some large shoes.