ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - Every time UCF junior Jason Bahr walks from the dugout to the pitching mound, it's a reminder of the long journey he took to become a key member of the team.
Bahr was raised in Lake Mary, Florida and grew up playing Little League. As a sophomore at Lake Mary High School, he joined the Rams' baseball team and played until he graduated in 2014.
When he attended UCF the following fall, Bahr didn't want to give up his love for the game. With the encouragement from former high school teammate and then-UCF pitcher Vinnie Rosace, he took part in walk-on tryouts.
"Vinnie thought I was good enough," said Bahr. "I still liked playing, so I figured I'd at least try (to make the team)."
Bahr worked hard during the fall and spring of his freshman year and earned a spot on the UCF roster. He notched a strikeout in his one and only appearance as a Knight that season.
His passion for baseball led him to the Florida Collegiate Summer League.
After playing all summer and despite all his efforts with the Knights during fall and through preseason practice, he was cut from the team just two weeks prior to the 2016 season.
Bahr spent the spring as a student and also worked as a lifeguard at SeaWorld. When summer rolled around, Bahr still had the passion for baseball. Once again, he played in the summer league.
In July, new head coach Greg Lovelady and assistant coach Justin Parker joined the Knights baseball family. While looking over previous statistics and assessing the team's needs, assistant coach Ryan Klosterman, who was on the previous staff, suggested they take a look at Bahr.
"We had been originally discussing what Parker and I traditionally have looked for and what we're looking for out of players and pitchers," said Lovelady. "Klosterman was getting a feel of what we were looking for and what kind of players and skillsets that we were looking for. He saw that Bahr matched up to that."
When Parker saw Bahr pitch, he saw the speed of his fastball and his command of the strike zone. He also saw his length and flexibility. To Parker, it was a "no brainer."
"I went to go see him pitch at Lake Brantley High School, while he was in the Collegiate Summer League," said Parker. "I showed up, took video, took notes and he was good. He was throwing upper 80's with all the stuff that you look for in a prototypical frontline guy. And he was just sitting here as a student."
Bahr was quickly added to the roster, this time without going through the walk-on process.
"He hasn't had a bad outing yet," said Parker. "He's been good all fall and all spring, and his starts so far have given us what we need."
The experience of regular playing time at the collegiate level is new for Bahr, but he continues to work hard in an effort to improve every day.
"Everything for him is new. Everything is fresh," said Parker. "Every time out, you've got coaching points to help him mature in certain moments and be a better game manager. Hopefully these innings can be a learning curve for him and I see improvements with him every time he gets on the mound. He's just scratching the surface on what he could be."
Bahr, who sports a 3.07 earned-run average, is currently the third pitcher in the Knights' weekend rotation.
"I like the feeling of the whole team being behind me," said Bahr. "They are relying on me and have my back. I know they trust me, because they've chosen me to be one of the starters. It's a good feeling."
Bahr is set to make his fourth start of the season on Sunday at 1 p.m. against Central Michigan.
