NDSU’s durable strikeout arm is showing swing-and-miss upside despite a rocky 2026 finish
Puetz is a 6-foot-3, 215-pound right-hander who broke out in 2023 with a 2.51 ERA and 47 strikeouts in 61.0 innings, then earned Summit League weekly honors in 2026 before his season was cut short by injury. In 2026, he logged 45 strikeouts in 44.0 innings with a 5.93 ERA, showing bat-missing ability but also command and traffic issues. The appeal: he’s a proven starter with size, mound toughness, and prior all-conference form; the caution: the injury and inconsistency make him more “high-upside fix” than instant plug-and-play ace.
