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Oscar Regalado's Impending Role Change Could Unlock Elite Potential
The Cardinals are making an intriguing move with their Dominican fireballer Oscar Regalado, transitioning the 23-year-old from the rotation to the closer role for 2063. While role changes often spark debate, the underlying metrics suggest this could be a masterstroke for both player and team development.
Let's start with the obvious: Regalado's pure stuff is elite. With a fastball that sits 96-98 mph and a devastating slider (97 Stuff rating), he possesses the kind of power arsenal that traditionally plays up in short bursts. His 2062 campaign as a starter was solid if unspectacular: 3.88 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, and a promising 11.3 K/9 across 195 innings. But diving deeper into his profile reveals why the ninth inning might be his optimal landing spot.
The Control Factor
Regalado's main limitation as a starter has been his below-average control (42 rating), which led to a concerning 4.8 BB/9 in 2062. However, his extreme flyball tendency combined with an elite 93 fastball rating suggests his stuff could play up significantly in one-inning stints where he can air it out without worrying about pitch economy.
Two-Way Versatility
What makes Regalado particularly unique is his capability with the bat (.294/.319/.330 slash line across 207 career plate appearances) and defensive flexibility as a left fielder. The role change to closer could actually enhance his two-way value, as the reduced pitching workload could allow for more strategic offensive deployments.
Pitch Mix Optimization
With a 73 HRA rating and extreme flyball tendencies, Regalado's profile actually projects better in high-leverage situations where the ability to miss bats is paramount. His elite slider (97 rating) paired with upper-90s heat creates the kind of two-pitch combo that often dominates in the ninth inning.
The Cardinals' decision to move Regalado to closer appears driven by both necessity and optimization. His 10.8 HR/9 vulnerability as a starter should be mitigated by shorter outings where he can max out his elite stuff without having to pace himself through multiple times through the order.
Projection
ZiPS comparison factors suggest Regalado's new role could yield elite results. Players with similar stuff/control profiles who transitioned to high-leverage roles have historically seen their K/9 rates spike by 1.5-2.5 points while typically cutting their walk rates by 15-20% in single-inning appearances.
If Regalado can harness his elite two-pitch mix in the closer role while maintaining his unique two-way utility, the Cardinals might have just unlocked a truly unique weapon for 2063. The combination of 70-grade raw stuff with defensive flexibility and a serviceable bat makes him one of baseball's most intriguing players to watch this coming season.
The risk of transitioning a young arm with starter potential to relief is always present, but Regalado's specific skill set and development path suggest this could be the rare case where a move to the pen actually maximizes overall value. Factor in his ability to contribute with the bat and glove on his non-pitching days, and the Cardinals may have found their most efficient way to deploy one of baseball's most uniquely talented players.
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