Joel Belk will start the season coming out of the ‘Panner ‘pen in 2014 where he’ll serve a versatile role as he transitions into a starting slot. But versatility is nothing new to Belk, who received high school accolades three different seasons at three different positions. Belk was named the team’s most valuable pitcher as a sophomore at Los Osos High. And he made the all-Baseline second team in his junior and senior seasons as a shortstop and first baseman, respectively.

Now at Azusa Pacific, where he studies Exercise Science, Belk serves exclusively on the mound. And he turned in a productive sophomore season in 2014. Belk went 5-3 for the Cougars, despite suffering from a 13 unearned runs throughout the course of the year. He posted a 3.46 ERA and walked just 25 in 67.2 innings. Opposing hitters had a tough time barreling up Belk, and mustered just nine extra-base hits against him all year.

Belk is also the son of Chuck Belk, who played for the Minnesota Twins. As did his uncle, Bob Veselic.