The Kansas City Royals’ improbable run to a World Series berth in 2014 gave UNC Wilmington baseball head coach Mark Scalf an idea for the Seahawks upcoming season.

The Royals had a dominant group of relievers who propelled Kansas City to the Fall Classic. This prompted coach Scalf to find a way to improve his own bullpen.

The coach called upon three-year starting pitcher and senior Jordan Ramsey. Coach Scalf notified Ramsey of the switch during last season’s end of the year meetings.

Very close to Opening Day, Ramsey is now motivated and excited to start the 2015 season in the bullpen.

“It was kind of a shock at first,” Ramsey said. “But then I told them I wouldn’t be opposed to it actually. I’ve been working all spring on it and I feel like it has been a good switch.”

After a successful freshman and sophomore season, Ramsey struggled as the games wore on in 2014. Ramsey won’t have to worry about conserving his energy for the later innings coming out of the bullpen this year.

Ramsey was unable to follow up his sophomore season, one in which he earned Third-Team All-CAA honors while leading the league in ERA at 3.24, with another strong season, as he ended last year with a 2-4 record and 5.80 ERA.

“It’s definitely a different mindset,” Ramsey said. “You can’t be passive. I come into the game and they’re telling me to throw it as hard as I want for as long as I can go. The mindset is to attack hitters.”

A critical adjustment for Ramsey is leaving behind the routine of a starting pitcher. He is accustomed to knowing exactly what day on the weekend he will pitch and how to prepare himself before hand.

“It’s not going to be set in stone,” Ramsey said. “You’re throwing one or two innings every Friday or a couple innings on Saturday. You got to communicate and adapt in any way you need to.”

The UNCW coaching staff hasn’t set a defined bullpen role for Ramsey coming into the season. Coach Scalf hopes the senior can be ready when called upon no matter the game situation.

“It all depends,” Scalf said. “We may have a lead in the seventh, day one, we may give the ball to him and let him finish it. If we feel better about a matchup with one o four left-handers in the eighth then maybe Jordan just goes the ninth.”

Ramsey, Corey Dick, and Luke Dunlap are the only seniors on this year’s team. Ramsey is confident that the three can provide enough experience and leadership to guide a young Seahawk squad.

He believes the key is to lead by example, and Ramsey is off to a terrific start. The senior pitcher could have easily been disappointed by his move to the bullpen. Instead, he is eager for the opportunity to help the Seahawks in his new role.

“I think everybody has to be willing to do whatever it takes to help the team win,” Ramsey said. “Winning the conference championship is the ultimate goal and if me coming out of the bullpen is best for that goal, then I’m one-hundred percent in favor of that decision.”