By: Shannon Bickert

Out of high school, Tristan Aasland’s velocity was down after earning All-State Honors in Washington, causing him to choose the junior college route, attending Bellevue Community College in his home state.

“I had a lot of fun at JUCO, definitely an experience that I won’t take for granted,” Aasland said. “I learned a lot there about baseball, about myself.”

Aasland found much success at Bellevue, earning All-Region Pitcher accolades in both of his seasons with the Bulldogs.

During a showcase, Aasland got connected with Coach Josh MacDonald at UConn, where Aasland would later sign.

Before his first season at the Division I level, Aasland made a stop in Mystic last summer with the Schooners, preparing him for the upcoming season at UConn.

“I thought [coming to Mystic] would be a really good stepping stone, so I got in contact with Coach [Phil] Orbe. He’s been awesome,” Aasland said. “[Scott] Budner, our pitching coach, he’s helped me tremendously. He has played a pretty big role in getting me ready.”

After a summer gearing up to face some of the best hitters in the country, Aasland was ready to make the transition to play at UConn.

“This season at UConn, I got to face Division I hitters, basically just trying to trust your stuff, make sure you’re getting ahead in counts; that makes it a lot easier. The less guys you walk, the more likely you are to succeed,” said Aasland on learning in his first season at the DI level.

After a season with the Huskies, Aasland stayed in Connecticut for the summer for his second season with the Schooners.

“It was really cool [coming back]. Budnar has been really helpful, and being able to reunite with him was huge for me.”

In his time with the Schooners, Aasland has developed and improved his approach while on the mound.

“I think a big part of it is wanting to attack the hitter, be the aggressor to the opposition, not the other way around,” Aasland said. “Being able to get ahead in counts early is really gonna help.”

This summer, Aasland is focusing on developing a new pitch in his arsenal: a splitter.

“I recently added it last fall, and it was really new stepping into that. So, I’m excited to just get some consistency with that and be able to bring it back for next season.”

Aasland is forever grateful for his roots in JUCO, crediting them to his success today.

“Some people say the JUCO route is scary,” Aasland said. “If you see a JUCO route, don’t be afraid to take it. I feel really confident that that’s a big reason why I’m here today.”