![]() ![]() Of course, Tekulve was also an effective pitcher, saving three games for the Pirates during the 1979 World Series. Tekulve once pitched on nine straight days to set a record and also retired with the most appearances in MLB history. He is one of two pitchers to make at least 90 appearances in three different seasons. Not only was Kent Tekulve a side-arm pitcher but he also had an incredible ability to bounce back quickly and throw as often as his team needed him. Even in his late 30s, O’Day continues to be a valuable commodity and a reliable pitcher, now spending well over a decade in the majors. He continued to be one of Baltimore’s best relievers for several years, earning an All-Star selection in 2015 and signing a four-year, $31 million deal the following year. But things finally turned around for him in 2012 when the Orioles gave him a chance, as O’Day was 7-1 with a 2.28 ERA that season. But Buddy and the other coaches were telling me that if I do pitch in high-leverage situations, I’m going to need that third pitch because teams are going to bring left-handers in off the bench to face me.He was a Rule 5 pick at one point and didn’t find any traction until he was in the big leagues with his fourth team. “A third pitch, the changeup, would really be beneficial to me, especially against left-handers,” Lawrence said. To that end, he’s been working on adding a reliable changeup to go with his fastball and slider. Lawrence’s aspires to be a “late-inning guy in high-leverage situations.” In order to get there, he needs a more consistent delivery, must cut down on walks and needs to add another pitch to his arsenal. It all depends on the deception of the delivery. I mean, I have hit pretty well against some sidearm pitchers, and others not so well. “We don’t see a lot of guys throwing 98 from the side. “I felt bad for (Michael) Tauchman, who got drilled in the shin,” Desmond said. Letters: Slumping Colorado Rockies need big change at the very top “It’s pretty rare that it happens, but it’s just a natural gift.”Ĭenter fielder Ian Desmond, a veteran right-handed hitter, watched Lawrence in live batting practice last week and came away impressed. “I guess you could say he was a little bit of a later bloomer, velocity-wise,” Black said. ![]() But slinging the ball from the side turbo-charged his fastball, its velocity rising steadily, year by year, from 92-94 mph to 95-96 and even touching 100. 20, a move that protected him from the Rule 5 draft, where he surely would have been selected by another team.īefore altering his delivery, Lawrence was throwing consistently at 85-86 mph and topping out at 90 mph. He was named an Arizona Fall League “rising star” last year and was added to Colorado’s 40-man roster Nov. At high-A Lancaster last season, he finished with a 2.65 ERA over 54⅓ innings, striking out 62 but walking 27. He put up a 1.65 ERA in 16 games at Asheville last season before being shut down in May because of a strained lat muscle. But as he perfected his new technique, his control improved, his velocity continued to rise and results emerged. He struggled early in the minors, posting a 7.18 ERA in 26 relief appearance at low-A Asheville in 2016. There are still some things to do as far as development, but you cannot deny the gift of that velocity, and the gift of being able to have velocity from that angle.” “He’s come on the scene here in the last year and a half, and with a chance to make some things happen in the future,” manager Bud Black said. “I was trying to show them what I’ve got.” “It was exciting to be the first game of spring and be able to pitch in front of the (big-league) coaching staff,” Lawrence said. Lawrence struck out two in his perfect ninth inning, ending the game by whiffing Arizona’s Kevin Cron looking at an 85 mph changeup. ![]() Saturday, his fastball reached 98 mph, waking up the sparse Cactus League crowd when the ball buried in the catcher’s mitt with an explosive pop. Lawrence, 24, pitches with an aggressive sidearm delivery that menaces right-handed batters. ![]() The 6-foot-4, 220-pound right-hander is on the fast track and bears watching during this spring training. Those who stuck around witnessed a pitcher with a unique style, raw heat and a promising future. The crowd at chilly Salt River Fields had thinned out considerably by the time Justin Lawrence took the mound in the ninth inning Saturday. Digital Replica Edition Home Page Close Menu ![]()
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