Timmerman pitching at home in June against the rival Chatham Anglers, a game where the righty out of Ohio State gave up just one hit in six strong scoreless innings. Photo credit: Sadie Parker
By Mark Rappaport
BREWSTER—On a warm summer day on Cape Cod in June, Whitecaps right-handed starting pitcher Josh Timmerman dominates the Chatham Anglers, giving up just one hit and one walk, alongside seven punchouts in six scoreless innings, leading the Whitecaps to a decisive and much needed 6-0 win.
Sunday’s performance is no outlier for Timmerman, who has shined all season for Brewster, plowing through opposing offenses like it is no work at all, even though he is facing some of the best competition across the country and worldwide.
“It’s been fun. All the guys are cool,” Timmerman said. “The coaches are great to play for. It makes it easier to go out there and compete every day.”
Timmerman began his college career at Wabash Valley College, a community college in Mount Carmel, Illinois, in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). In his second year in 2022, Timmerman had a strong season, posting a 3.41 ERA in 68.2 innings and 16 games for the Warriors.
In 2023, Timmerman transferred to Ohio State and struggled in the mere five appearances he made the Buckeyes, posting an ERA north of eight.
Timmerman’s rapid transformation from his struggles with the Buckeyes to his dominance with the Whitecaps has been remarkable given the talent he has faced in the Cape League, which includes some of the best players in the country and future major league stars in the making.
When Timmerman struggled in the spring, his control would falter, which he has mastered in three starts so far this summer. Timmerman’s control has been impeccable, giving him a solid baseline to work with beyond this summer.
“Kind of those big innings, give up a home run and stuff kind of spirals out,” Timmerman said about his struggles for Ohio State last spring. “It was a big problem that season last year and I think I proved today that I was able to stay under control and work through it.”
Timmerman reflecting on his impressive performance in the dugout after his dazzling start against Chatham. Photo credit: Sadie Parker
Of course, Timmerman’s successes this summer are only possible, in part, due to the persistence of Brewster head coach Jamie Shevchik who believed in Timmerman from the onset. Shevchik was originally referred to Timmerman by Ohio State head coach Bill Mosiello, who happened to be the Whitecaps head coach for a few years in the 1990s and is a friend of Shevchik.
“There were two people that reached out to me about Timmerman, his head coach, who I’ve known for awhile now, he was a former Brewster Whitecaps coach,” Shevchik said. “The second half of his college season, he kind of turned it up a little bit, so we reached back out to the coaches and the advisor to see if he was still available and he was.”
Timmerman did show promise, however, particularly regarding his strikeout ability, as he recorded 36 strikeouts in 23.2 innings, translating to an elite 13.7 strikeouts per nine innings.
Due in part to the positive signs, Shevchik and his coaching staff saw potential in the 20-year-old righty out of Blacklick, Ohio, hoping to help Timmerman course correct from his spring struggles.
Shevchik brought Timmerman to Brewster because of his impressive arsenal. He showcases four strong pitches, a four-seam fastball and three secondary pitches: a cutter, a slider, and a changeup.
“He just throws three pitches for strikes. Fastball, his slider, and then his cutter,” Shevchik said. “It’s almost like at times it’s an invisible [pitch].”
Timmerman’s fastball stays in the low 90s and tops out at 94 miles per hour with a solid spin rate over 2300 revolutions per minute, well above the average major league rate of 2200. Timmerman’s fastball is an excellent pitch that he can further polish as he makes his way up through the minors and into the majors.
Timmerman’s secondary pitches are also strong, allowing him to stifle opposing offenses. Timmerman’s cutter stays in the high 80s with an elite spin rate of 2700 RPM and his slider stays in the low 80s with a spin rate of 2800 RPM and horizontal movement of 11 inches, which can play well against opposing hitters.
“He throws three pitches for strikes.
Like most other pitchers, control is critical for Timmerman, which he struggled with in the spring at Ohio State. However, he has completely turned it around in the Cape thanks to his ability to locate his pitches.
“Josh has been great. I mean, he’s coming in and has really controlled the strike zone for the most part,” pitching coach Brian Del Rosso said. “It’s hard to say he has been anything shorter than impressive.”
Timmerman alongside fellow Buckeye pitcher Landon Beidelschies in a Cape League matchup Saturday evening. Photo credit: Sadie Parker
So far this summer, Timmerman has broken out in the Cape League. He was nearly perfect in his first two starts, pitching 11 innings in total while giving up only one hit and no runs, alongside 12 punchouts.
On Saturday evening, Timmerman battled in his recent start and did not have his best “stuff” against the first-place Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox, pitching four innings while giving up three earned runs, all in the first two innings. He was able to limit the damage and get through jams, which he struggled to do a few months ago.
Timmerman, a dazzling prospect, is eligible for the major league draft this upcoming weekend. The draft is a wildcard, and it is unclear where Timmerman falls in it, but he’s just honed in on the present.
“Just focusing on the moment right now. Whatever happens, happens,” Timmerman said. “Stay in the moment. Play for the team.”