Bellevue (Wash.) College baseball coach Mark Yoshino knew right-handed pitcher Calvin Turchin had the right stuff — a biting sinker and slider, a high baseball intellect and a team-first attitude.

Yoshino also knew Turchin did not belong. At Yoshino’s strong recommendation, Hawaii coach Mike Trapasso made a partial-scholarship offer to Turchin. Turchin, who already was enrolled in classes at Belleveue, accepted a few days before the start of UH’s fall semester.

Now Turchin, a sophomore, is among the candidates for a spot in the starting rotation.

“In reality, it was more than getting (Yoshino’s) blessing,” Trapasso said. “It was his idea. I was talking to him about recruiting for the signing period coming up in November for the 2020 season, for next year. He brought up this year. He said ‘it probably would be better for (Turchin), if you have the room and the scholarship, I’d recommend to him that he goes now (to Division I). He would benefit more by playing Division I now than playing another year of junior college.’”

Turchin, who was projected to be Bellevue’s ace, will have four years to play three UH seasons.

“I thought he was a great addition because of the fact he had another year at the junior college,” Trapasso said. “It goes to the maturity he has to take the leap of faith, and also the type of person his junior college coach is to recommend him and understand this is a great opportunity even though he would have been (Bellevue’s) No. 1 pitcher.”

Turchin is 6 feet 4 and 220 pounds. This past season, he was 5-2 with a 4.27 earned-run average. He struck out 40 in 522⁄3 innings.

Turchin joins a staff that has two other Bellevue alumni — left-handers Dominic DeMiero and Kash Koltermann. The Rainbow Warriors added five freshman pitchers.

“We have so many new guys we’re not even looking at roles,” Trapasso said. “We’ll have everybody throw the same amount in the fall, and go from there.”

The ’Bows are participating in individual workouts this month. The pitchers and position players work out separately, except on days when the ’Bows work on defense.

Trapasso said full team workouts begin on Oct. 2.