Alabama freshman pitcher Connor Prielipp

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Brad Bohannon didn’t have much of a choice.

In the season opener of his third year at the helms of the Alabama baseball program, the head coach will start a true freshman on the mound Friday afternoon against Northeastern.

Left-hander Connor Prielipp will be the Crimson Tide’s starting pitcher for Game 1.

“I really had no interest whatsoever in starting a freshman on Opening Day, but I think if I didn’t, I’d have 35 kids in the dugout looking at me funny,” Bohannon said. “He’s really just had a tremendous fall and preseason and has kind of separated himself from a stuff perspective and he’s really performed. He is a freshman, but he’s a really mature, confident young man.

“I think he’ll do a great job.”

The nation’s No. 27 left-handed pitcher in the 2019 class, according to Perfect Game USA, Prielipp will be one of several newcomers making their debut Friday and over the weekend. It will once again be a youthful team, as Bohannon continues to bring in his players.

Alabama’s roster features 22 freshmen and sophomores, and two of those freshmen will be starting pitchers this weekend in Prielipp and fellow southpaw Antoine Jean, who will get the start on Sunday. Sophomore right-hander Connor Shamblin will start on Saturday.

Since the first day of practice -- and even before -- Bohannon has said his pitching staff lacks experience, but it does have depth. He’s not married to this weekend rotation and isn’t ready to task his newcomers with throwing 80-90 pitches during their first few outings.

“I was really torn on what to do with the weekend rotation,” Bohannon said. “We’ve had several guys that have really pitched well. Not a lot of separation from two to eight or nine on the pitching staff but decided to kind of keep a couple of the older, experienced guys to pitch in the middle or later in the game. We certainly can change.”

While the pitching staff lacks experience, Alabama returns 6-of-10 starting position players from last season’s team, including Tyler Gentry, T.J. Reeves and Brett Auerbach. Facing a lineup like the one the Tide will be able to field this spring has helped the young arms.

“I think it’s been really good for them to face an experienced lineup like we have,” Auerbach said. “Most of the teams that we’re going to play have a lot of experience throughout their lineup, and so do we. I mean, what better way to prepare them than to face our guys?”

First pitch for Friday’s season-opening game is set for 3 p.m. CT at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. Saturday’s matchup will begin at noon, and weather permitting, Sunday will start at 1 p.m. All three games versus Northeastern will be available to watch via SEC Network+.

Like Alabama fans, Bohannon and company are eager to see the 2020 baseball team.

“Really excited to get started this Friday,” Bohannon said. “Kids have really prepared well. Kids are excited, they’re hungry. This group came back from the holiday break in really good shape, and they’ve really practiced well. I think we’re all excited to see what it looks like on Friday.”

INJURY UPDATE ON PRAYTOR

Alabama could start the season without one of its best overall players.

Redshirt sophomore catcher Sam Praytor jammed his thumb in a scrimmage this past weekend while sliding into a base. It remains to be seen if he will be able to play in the opener.

“It’s a little too early in the week for me to know exactly what that means in the short term,” Bohannon said Monday. “We’ll have to see how he responds to treatment this week. But over the long haul, he’ll be fine.”

Last season, Praytor suffered a season-ending arm injury in the first game of the series with Ball State. He played in six games with five starts prior to his injury and was able to redshirt.

Should Praytor miss Game 1 and Brett Auerbach has to catch, who fill in at third base?

“Zane Denton’s done a good job over at third base,” Bohannon said. “He’s going to play a lot over there, whether it’s Game 1 or Game 2 or Game 3 or whatever. He’s had a really good fall and preseason, and he’s going to play a lot this year and do really well.”

Contact Charlie Potter by personal message or on Twitter (@Charlie_Potter).