2014: Enjoyed an impressive first season as Appalachian State’s closer … went 3-1 with a 1.98 ERA and team-best three saves … three wins ranked third on the team … 1.98 ERA was 3.30 lower than any other pitcher on the club (min. 3.0 IP) … did not allow any earned runs in 15-of-20 appearances … earned first save with a perfect inning to close out 4-1 win over Michigan (March 1) … notched second save with scoreless ninth inning against UNC Asheville (March 9) … suffered first loss in tough-luck fashion, as he surrendered four runs (all unearned) in an inning against Notre Dame (March 11) … picked up first win with two perfect innings in 7-6 walk-off win against ETSU (April 2) … beat ETSU again on May 13 with perhaps his finest performance of the season (3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 4 K) … four strikeouts in second win over ETSU were a season high … earned two-inning save against Furman (May 16) … moved to 3-1 with 1.2 innings of scoreless, hitless relief in 3-2 SoCon Tournament win over Georgia Southern (May 23) … 15 of his 24 strikeouts came in his final seven appearances of the season.

Previous College: Two-time all-region honoree at nearby Catawba Valley C.C. in Hickory, N.C. ... led Catawba Valley with seven wins (17th in nation), 77 innings pitched (14th in nation) and 56 strikeouts as a sophomore in 2013, while compiling a 2.34 ERA and four complete games (35th in nation) ... went 5-2 with seven saves, 78 strikeouts and a 1.73 ERA in 63 innings as a freshman, to help lead Catawba Valley C.C. to Region 10 championship and 2012 Junior College World Series in 2012 ... coached by Frank Pait.

High School: Two-time all-conference selection and four-year letterwinner at Hickory H.S. ... named team MVP as a senior ... coached by David Craft ... also lettered in football ... was a member of Dirtbags summer/fall program (coach Andy Partin).

Personal: Full name is Robert Hudson Whaley IV ... born Aug. 23, 1993 (21 years old) ... son of Amy and Bobby Whaley ... enjoys fishing ... majoring in communications with a psychology minor.