Top 5 greatest Nebraska pitchers of all-time ft. Brett Sears
Nebraska baseball won the Big Ten conference finals on Sunday and is on a historic uptick heading into the NCAA Tournament. Much of the talk around Nebraska centers around Big Ten Pitcher of the Year Brett Sears.
Sears is one of the great Nebraska pitchers, but he's far from the first. Here are the best five Nebraska hurlers of all time.
Top 5 greatest Nebraska pitchers of all-time
5. Spencer Schwellenbach (2021)
Schewllenbach is a funny story. He wasn't a pitcher-- he was a shortstop for most of his college career. In fact, he hit .282 with 12 homers over three seasons at Nebraska. But in his junior season, Schwellenbach also became the team's closer.
Schwellenbach was 3-1 with 10 saves and a microscopic 0.57 ERA. In 31 2/3 innings pitched, he struck out 34 hitters while surrendering just two runs. His hard work paid off. Schwellenbach was a second-round pick for the Atlanta Braves in 2021 and is still working his way up through the Atlanta farm system as a pitcher.
4. Brett Sears (2023-2024)
Sears was a JUCO transfer who had little impact on the 2023 Huskers. He had no decisions in 17 innings of work. But in 2024, he's had one of the most remarkable seasons imaginable. Sears is 9-0 with a 2.00 ERA on the year. He has fanned 97 batters in 99 innings pitched.
Now that Sears has won Big Ten pitcher of the year and helped the Huskers into the NCAA Tournament, he can etch his name even more significantly into the Nebraska record book over the next few weeks.
3. Johnny Dorn (2005-2008)
Dorn was a Nebraska workhorse. In his four seasons at Nebraska, he moved up to second in Husker history in wins (38), innings (386 2/3) and strikeouts (298). As a freshman in 2005, he helped Nebraska make its most recent College World Series appearance. Dorn was 12-2 with a 2.16 ERA.
Dorn also posted a 2.45 ERA as a senior. He was drafted in the 15th round of the 2008 MLB Draft by the Marlins. Dorn never rose above high-A baseball, compiling an 18-24 professional record. He's still a legend of Nebraska baseball.
2. Troy Brohawn (1992-1994)
Brohawn is here because of one remarkable season. In 1994, he went 13-0 with a 3.16 ERA and 123 strikeouts in 111 1/3 innings pitched. Brohawn also played first base that year and was honored with all-conference honors at both positions.
The Giants drafted the big lefty in the fourth round of the 1994 MLB Draft. He pitched in the big leagues for three seasons, compiling a 4-4 mark. Brohawn's memorable season ensured his spot in Nebraska baseball history.
1.Shane Komine (1999-2002)
Komine is the man who wrote the Nebraska pitching record book. Aside from helping Nebraska make a pair of College World Series appearances, Komine holds the program's records for wins (41), innings pitched (431) and strikeouts (510). As a sophomore in 2000, he went 11-4 with a 2.24 ERA and 159 strikeouts.
Komine was a ninth-round pick of the Oakland A's in the 2002 MLB draft. He pitched just four games in the major leagues but made his mark on Nebraska baseball history. In 2022, Komine was inducted into the University of Nebraska Athletics Hall of Fame.
Which Nebraska pitchers do you remember? Weigh in with your comments and thoughts below in the comments section!