Four AL Rookie Pitchers Looking To Make Early Impact - Gary Armida's Blog

Arena Blog Dynasty Scores Sign Up ☰

Gary Armida's Blog

Four AL Rookie Pitchers Looking To Make Early Impact Stuck

Posted on January 28, 2013 at 08:55 AM.

(0)

There is nothing more exciting for a franchise than a prospect who is about to start his career. There are only possibilities. Last season saw a bunch of rookies make a significant impact on the season. Of course, Mike Trout and Bryce Harper got all of the headlines, but others such as Wade Miley, Jarrod Parker, Todd Frazier, and Wilin Rosario all had significant starts to their respective careers.

Most rookies will begin 2013 in the Minor Leagues until teams can call them up without losing a season of control. It is a common practice and one that most organizations employ. The Rays have done it quite often with players like Evan Longoria and David Price. Last season, the Nationals and Angels tried to do the same with Harper and Trout. But, some rookies break camp with their clubs. This season, four American League rookie pitchers have more than a decent chance to make their team out of spring training. At the moment, it looks like their clubs certainly have the opening.

Bruce Rondon- Detroit Tigers
The defending American League champions is never a team that pinches pennies. Owner Mike Ilitch may set a budget, but he has continuously shown that he will increase the budget if it makes sense for his club. It was widely assumed that the Tigers would be a heavy player in the free agent market as they were parting ways with their closer, Jose Valverde. Just a year removed from a perfect season, Valverde lost hold of his closer role in the playoffs after giving up nine runs in 2.2 innings. Rafael Soriano seemed to be the most logical choice.

Even as General Manager Dave Dombrowski said they would hand the closer job over to 22 year old Bruce Rondon, most thought it was more of a negotiating ploy. But, with two weeks left before pitchers and catchers report and Soriano a member of the Nationals, it looks like Rondon will really get first chance at closing duties.

Rondon is a 6�2� right hander who can reach triple digits with his fastball. But, his second pitch--a slider--is still very much a work in progress. He spent 2012 in the Minor Leagues between three levels, beginning the season in high A-Ball, progressing to double-A, and then finally pitching nine triple-A games. In total, he appeared in 52 games and posted a 1.53 ERA, 4.4 BB/9, 11.21 K/9, and a 3.20 FIP. While the control is a red flag, he did allow just 32 hits (three home runs) in 53 innings.

The Tigers are, obviously, a serious World Series contender. Entrusting an unproven rookie who has shown control problems should be a concern. But, this is an organization that does spend so they obviously believe Rondon can handle closing duties.

Trevor Bauer- Cleveland Indians
Bauer was the key piece in the three team deal that sent Shin-Soo Choo to the Cincinnati Reds. Bauer was the first of this winter�s �Great Arizona Purge� as the Diamondbacks began giving away talent that just didn�t quite fit the Kirk Gibson model. Although he was their first pick of the 2011 draft, the Diamondbacks didn�t like that Bauer had his own workout routine that included some extreme long tossing. That, incidentally, is ridiculous, as all studies show that long tossing is one of the best ways to stay healthy and that the longer a pitcher can stretch that toss, the better results he will have.

The Diamondbacks� loss is the Indians� gain as Cleveland now has a potential ace who is entering his age 22 season. The Diamondbacks called Bauer up last season in an effort to see if he could save their floundering playoff hopes. He wasn�t quite ready as he was pounded in his four starts, giving up 13 runs and 13 walks in 16.1 innings. Obviously, it goes without saying that sample size and age should be enough to neglect these limited numbers.

The best part of Bauer�s 2012 season was what he showed after being sent down. He immediately began to dominate in the Minor Leagues again. While many young pitchers will lose their way because of the first taste of failure, Bauer showed the type of resiliency that is rare in pitchers. In 22 Minor League starts, Bauer posted a 12-2 record along with a 2.42 ERA. In 130.1 innings, he allowed 107 hits, 61 walks, and struck out 161 batters.

And, his failure at the Major League level was really about his control. He elicited a swing and miss rate of 9.1 percent on pitches thrown for strikes, slightly worse than league average. He did strike out 17 batters in his 16.1 Major League innings.

Bauer isn�t assured a rotation spot because the Indians return Ubaldo Jimenez and Justin Masterson and have added Brett Myers through free agency. That leaves two spots to be filled between Bauer, Zach McAllister, Carlos Carrasco, and Corey Kluber. If Bauer puts a representative spring together, he will win one of the two rotation spots.

Dan Straily- Oakland A�s
Straily actually made seven pretty good starts for the Oakland A�s last season. In 39.1 innings, he allowed 36 hits, 16 walks, and struck out 32 batters. His 3.89 ERA looks impressive, but his 6.89 FIP does indicate quite a bit of help from his defense. It does look, however, that Straily will enter camp as the favorite to win the fifth starter spot for the A�s.

Straily�s track record shows a pitcher capable of posting high strikeout totals. In fact, he led the Minor Leagues with 190 strikeouts in 152 innings of work in 2012. His home runs allowed should be a red flag, but his four pitch arsenal that tops out with a 91 MPH fastball has shown the ability to miss bats.

The A�s are rich in pitching depth and do have Bartolo Colon coming back from drug suspension. The rope on Straily will be short. When Colon does come back, it will be AJ Griffin or Straily who gets sent down. Griffin had a more extensive run last season which gives him the advantage, but if Straily can somehow replicate his Minor League numbers, he could overtake Griffin. It also helps that Straily will enter the season with zero innings restrictions and can post a 200 inning season.

Kyle Gibson, Minnesota Twins
Gibson missed most of the 2012 season recovering from Tommy John Surgery, but has shown significant progress in the Arizona Fall League. Touching 92-93 MPH with his fastball again, Gibson will have an opportunity to win a rotation spot this spring. His last healthy season was in 2010 when he was a 22 year old, pitching at three levels: high A-ball, double-A, and triple-A. Making most of his starts at double-A, Gibson started 28 games and posted a 2.96 ERA and rates of 8.1 H/9, 0.4 HR/9, 2.3 BB/9, and 7.5 K/9. Since that season, he has missed time due to injuries and the aforementioned Tommy John Surgery. As a result, he has only pitched 123.2 innings since 2010.

But, the 6�6� right hander is a talented pitcher who has shown excellent command with his secondary pitches with the projection of being a solid third starter. If he continues to show better life on his fastball, he could be even more of an asset. Now healthy, Gibson enters camp as likely rotation member. But, the Twins will have to figure out how to maximize his innings this season. There is already talk of handling Gibson like the Braves handled Kris Medlen last year. Hopefully, the Twins follow that plan as it would keep Gibson�s innings down by having him work out of the bullpen for the first half of the season and then go into the rotation. This would allow him to complete a full season of work. It worked for Medlen and that method should become standard for teams with young pitchers facing innings limitations.