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Trevor Bauer isn't your typical freshman.
The 18-year-old right-hander carries a deceptive delivery towards the plate, and combines that with a mound presence that is not often seen from freshmen hurlers. Following this rock-and-turn motion, Bauer releases a mid-90s fastball and a variety of overpowering breaking pitches. So far it's been working - Bauer has fanned 22 batters in just eight appearances this season.

If it seems that Bauer's tools are developed beyond his age, that's because they are.
Bauer signed a grant-in-aid and enrolled at UCLA in January after graduating early from Newhall's Hart High School, giving the Bruins a tandem of Bauer and fellow freshman right-hander Gerrit Cole.
After virtually experiencing the rigors of collegiate baseball as a high school senior, Bauer is now preparing for his first set of final exams. Though he hasn't missed a beat on the mound, the academic change is something he notices.
“These last few weeks, missing quite a bit of class (while on the road), I’ve realized that I have to stay current with the work,” he said. “I’m basically playing catch up a lot more than in high school.”
Away from the classroom, Bauer (1-3) touts a solid 2.45 ERA - but perhaps most notably, leads the Bruins in innings pitched with 22. Those are not typical numbers for a freshman, especially one that skipped his final season of high school ball.
Bauer, a starter in high school and a former first-team All-CIF Southern Section selection, made his first start of the season last week against San Diego State after beginning the season as UCLA's primary closer. He said he has no preference between taking the hill at the start of the game or as a reliever.
“I want to pitch, so whenever they give me the chance I’m going to take it,” Bauer said.
That's the mindset that coach John Savage wants in his relievers, and especially the type of attitude needed in a late-inning pitcher. But Bauer made a case for himself as a starter as well against the Aztecs last Wednesday, allowing a run on two hits and striking out four in six innings. Bauer does not know when his next start will be.
“I train myself to be a starter," he said. "But any way that I can help the team out is good with me. I just want to win, that’s all.”
Photo by Kimberly Lajcik/Bruin senior staff

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After missing his start on opening night last Friday due to what coach John Savage called "mechanical problems," junior left-hander Gavin Brooks got the starting nod Wednesday.

Perhaps the problems persist.
The Vista, Calif. native came in from the bullpen for an inning of relief Sunday, giving up four runs (two earned), two hits and walking three batters.
Brooks walked the second batter of Wednesday night's game but struck out UC Riverside's Michael Hur to leave the runner stranded at third base.
Things went downhill from there.
The southpaw hit the first three batters he faced to load the bases in the second inning. UCR first baseman Brian McConkey cleared them with a double to left-center field. Brooks walked the following batter and then hit the ensuing hitter, forcing Savage to summon junior right-hander Charles Brewer from the 'pen.
In all, the Highlanders posted six runs in the second inning on just two hits.
Photo by Kimberly Lajcik/Bruin senior staff

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Despite dropping the series finale Sunday, UCLA moved up to No. 9 in Baseball America's latest college Top 25 rankings.
The Bruins beat UC Davis 13-1 Friday and 5-2 Saturday before losing 8-7 in 11 innings Sunday.
UCLA travels up the coast to face UC Santa Barbara (2-1) Tuesday afternoon before heading back to Westwood for a Wednesday night contest against UC Riverside at Jackie Robinson Stadium.

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With Jackie Robinson Stadium located west of the 405 Freeway, students rarely make the trip to UCLA’s home baseball field.
That’s something head coach John Savage would like to see change this season.
“We’d love to get more students at our games,” he said. “The students, when they come out to the games, create excitement and seem to create a great atmosphere.”
The obstacle that most students face is a lack of transportation. Without a ride, JRS is a daunting 40 minutes by foot.
Savage feels that the pleasant southern California weather, mixed with an enjoyable atmosphere make for a good experience.
“We have the Saturday day game and the Sunday day game,” Savage said. “The weather is beautiful out here. It’s just a great environment.”
The fifth-year coach acknowledges that his Bruins must perform on the field in order to attract more fans. Yet, after winning the first two games of the series, Sunday’s finale drew a series-low 682 fans.
“In terms of marketing, I can’t tell you how we can get them over here,” Savage said. “But we’d love their support.”

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UCLA baseball coach John Savage likes what he sees from his 2009 team.
"There seems to be a lot of unity within this team," Savage said. "The group has had tremendous work ethic."
With a few uncertainties at various defensive spots, Savage has noticed a high level of play during workouts and practice.
"You see a lot of competitiveness and toughness that you'd like to see as a coach going into a brand new year," he said.
Perhaps lighter rankings this season - as opposed to the top-ranking UCLA received from Baseball America last season - are having an effect on the team’s mindset. Savage didn’t necessarily rule that out.
"The fact that we were 12th in the preseason rankings as opposed to No. 1 last year is not going to have a major effect on how we approach things," he said.

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After being criticized for months, Gerrit Cole let his arm do the talking Saturday.
Much was made about Cole's decision to attend UCLA after his selection in the first round of last June's MLB Draft. Most of the scrutiny came from the New York Yankees, the team that took him with the 28th-overall pick, and their fans after the former AFLAC All-American hurler failed to sign without ever listening to offers.

Instead, the right-hander from Santa Ana, Calif. passed on the millions and decided college was a better option. And if his performance Saturday against UC Davis was any indication, he made the right choice.
Cole hurled six impressive innings, allowing an unearned run and giving up a hit to earn the victory in his collegiate debut. The 6-foot, 4-inch pitcher fanned seven batters – six of which went down swinging. The No. 12 Bruins edged the Aggies by a score of 5-2.
"I was a little nervous but I was pretty fired up and excited," Cole said. "A lot of the guys were rallying around me before the game. I was ready to go."
Cole seemed shaky at the start, walking the game's first batter on high fastballs. But he responded by retiring the next nine batters. Cole didn't allow a hit until the fourth inning – which turned out to be the only one Aggie hitters could muster. After surrendering that first hit, the 18-year-old retired nine of the next 10 hitters he faced.
"I felt good," he said. "I had command of two pitches and went out there and competed. The offense put some runs on the board and I held (UC Davis)."
Expectations were high before Cole even set foot on campus, and with a strong debut, Bruin fans hope Saturday was just a glimpse of things to come. For now UCLA head coach John Savage has sandwiched Cole, the highest 2008 draft selection to enroll in college, between juniors Gavin Brooks and Charles Brewer in the Bruins' weekend rotation.
But if Cole continues to dominate like he did Saturday, it won't be long until he works his way to the front of the pitching staff. Cole is slated to pitch next Saturday against Baylor in the Houston College Classic tournament at Minute Maid Park.
Photo by Maya Sugarman/Bruin senior staff

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It's no secret that pitching is at a premium in Westwood.
But if Friday and Saturday are any indication, UCLA may even boast one of the best staffs in the nation.
The No. 12 Bruins (2-1) received effective pitching from a pair of young hurlers Friday and Saturday. Sophomore left-hander Rob Rasmussen was effective on opening night in just his third collegiate start. The southpaw from Arcadia, Calif. threw five shutout innings, allowing two hits and walking a batter while striking out five.
Not to be outdone, highly touted freshman Gerrit Cole had a memorable collegiate debut. The hard-throwing right-hander gave up just one hit and struck out seven in six innings of work.
The additions of a healthy Rasmussen, who missed much of his freshman campaign after suffering a broken foot, Cole and fellow freshman Trevor Bauer strengthen a staff that lost only Tim Murphy from last season.
"We have as much depth as we've ever had," head coach John Savage said.
Those are rave reviews, seeing as Savage has had the likes of Murphy, David Huff, Tyson Brummett, Hector Ambriz, and Josh Roenicke on past staffs.
"Really, it's a culmination of strong recruiting and development," he said. "Every class we've had, there's two, three, or four legitimate Pac-10 pitchers."
A staff's depth is evident by looking towards the bullpen and noticing pitchers that failed to even make an appearance. Most notably, experienced hurlers Matt Drummond (junior left-hander) and Dan Klein (sophomore right-hander) did not take the mound over the weekend against UC Davis.
"The balance is the best we've had," Savage said referring to the amount of righties and lefties on the staff. "We have 10 right-handers and six left-handers. There's a lot of experience back... And you add the likes of Gerrit Cole and Trevor Bauer, that only adds to it."
Perhaps UCLA's most dynamic tandem, left-hander Gavin Brooks and right-hander Charles Brewer, struggled to find their control Sunday. Brooks relieved Brewer out of the bullpen after Brewer threw 68 pitches in just three frames. Brewer, who led UCLA with nine wins last season, gave up a run on three hits and walked three batters.
Brooks didn't fare any better. The Vista, Calif. native allowed four runs, walking three in just an inning of work.
After Sunday's loss, Savage was optimistic about their abilities to bounce back and fix any mechanical issues.
With the pair at their best, it's tough to pinpoint a team that can match up with UCLA's starters.

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Fans making their way to Jackie Robinson Stadium to catch a baseball game this season should expect to be there for a while.
And then some.
No. 12 UCLA (2-1) and UC Davis played a five-hour game Sunday, with the Aggies winning 8-7 in 11 innings. But maybe 60 percent of the 682 paid attendance were there to witness the end of it.
Last season, the Bruins played Big West foe UC Santa Barbara in a 13-inning game that lasted nearly six hours.
UCLA also played four-hour home games against Oklahoma (2/23), Long Beach State (3/21), UNLV (4/22), and Arizona State (5/4).
Only 10 of the Bruins' 60 games last season were played in under three hours.

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The No. 12 UCLA baseball team can't wait to hit the field at Jackie Robinson Stadium Friday.
Several key positions - including all infield spots and catcher - have been up for grabs since school began. Coach John Savage, who is entering his fifth season at the helm of the Bruins, has liked what he has seen out of this group of players.
"The group has had tremendous work ethic," Savage said. "You see a lot of competitiveness and toughness that you'd like to see as a coach going into a brand new year."
Baseball America tabbed the Bruins at No. 1 in its preseason rankings last season and at No. 12 this year. Players might have felt added pressure to live up to that and it's something Savage is not concerned with this season.
"The bottom line is that we didn't play up to our expectations last season," he said. "Preseason rankings are exactly what they mean - they're preseason."
Junior right-hander Charles Brewer, who opens the season as the Sunday starting pitcher, noted that the team needs to play well throughout in order to accomplish the ultimate goal.
"The difference-maker will be consistency," Brewer said. "Consistency will get us to Omaha."
UCLA players have had to deal with the rainy weather in recent days. At Tuesday's practice, a group of about 15 worked on getting water off the tarp covering the infield. Though all three games against UC Davis are expected to be played, the weekend forecast calls for a few showers Sunday.

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The UCLA baseball team revealed its new Jack and Rhodine Gifford Hitting Facility on Saturday. The hitting facility marks the latest in a series of renovations made to Jackie Robinson Stadium.
Coach John Savage was thrilled with the state-of-the-art practice facility dedicated to the late Jack Gifford. Construction on the hitting facility began two months ago and features artificial turf, five hitting cages with retractable netting, a tee area, and enough space to conduct fielding drills.
Savage, athletic director Dan Guerrero and former head coach Gary Adams, among others, spoke during the dedication ceremony. Rhodine Gifford and her three daughters capped the day with a cutting of the ribbon.
Current major leaguers Garrett Atkins, an infielder with the Colorado Rockies, and pitcher Casey Janssen of the Toronto Blue Jays, were amongst the alumni present. A crop of young alums from last year's team were also in attendance, including Texas Rangers pitching prospect Tim Murphy, San Francisco Giants infield prospect Brandon Crawford, Arizona Diamondbacks catching prospect Ryan Babineau, and Detroit Tigers infield prospect Alden Carrithers.

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