Freshman RHP with Elite Control and Big-South Honors
Colby Putnam, a 6-0, 175-lb freshman RHP from Shelby, N.C., is Gardner-Webb’s most reliable pitcher with a 4.50 ERA (lowest among qualified pitchers) and a 4-2 record including one save over 50+ innings in the 2026 season. His differentiators include elite control (0 walks in 7.0 innings in one standout outing), 11 strikeouts in a single game, and a no-earned-run performance at Radford that earned him Big South Freshman of the Week honors. Beyond stats, Putnam displays intense focus, a calm demeanor under pressure, and a workhorse mentality—tossing 6.0 innings out of the bullpen with no earned runs. He’s a high-fit prospect for teams needing a steady, control-first RHP with freshman-level upside and proven conference impact.
