Spin doctor Lugo relishes return to rotation
PEORIA, Ariz. — Seth Lugo may need the curviest curve in baseball. It has led him straight into the Padres’ six-man beginning rotation.
The spin fee of Lugo’s pet curveball final season was 3,253 revolutions per minute, per Statcast — third-highest within the Majors. The pitch was arduous to hit — a 30.8% whiff fee — and arduous to overlook.
What did supervisor Bob Melvin discover about Lugo final season?
“His curveball,” Melvin stated succinctly.
Lugo sorted by free agent presents over the winter earlier than selecting the Padres, not just for the chance to affix a rotation after a five-year run within the Mets’ bullpen but in addition due to the expertise within the room.
“What they have been able to do the last few years, it’s exciting to be a part of,” Lugo stated. “It’s only a good ballclub.”
Lugo broke in with the Mets as a starter and excelled whereas pitching for Puerto Rico within the 2017 World Baseball Classic. He tied for the WBC lead with two victories and pitched Puerto Rico into the championship sport, the place he began in an 8-0 loss to the U.S.
His repertoire suits. Lugo leaned most on his curve final season, throwing it one-third of the time, whereas additionally utilizing two- and four-seam fastballs and a slider.
“I love starting,” Lugo stated. “I love challenging myself, having a good routine and being able to prepare as a starter. It’s one of the things I’ve been wanting to do for a long time.”
If the bullpen is checkers, the rotation is chess.
“Figuring out how to work through lineups, using your pitch count to be able to pitch deep into games,” Lugo stated. “Playing longer, really. Instead of going one or two innings, a chance of six, seven, eight, nine innings. I want to be out there as long as I can in a critical game.”
Any frustration he felt within the bullpen was tempered by the assumption he was doing what was finest for the Mets.
“Where I was in my career and the teams I’ve been on, that was the need,” Lugo stated. “If that’s what a team needs to win, I’ll gladly do my part in any role. If the need is for me to start, that’s where I’d like to be.”
Pomeranz replace
Left-handed reliever Drew Pomeranz has thrown six bullpen classes this spring, the newest Friday. He stated he’s inspired by his progress from a left flexor tendon surgical procedure that triggered him to overlook the 2022 season.
“Now, I’m just building up,” Pomeranz stated. “I have hit all my marks. Even though I’m behind a lot of these guys, I feel like everyone is ready earlier every year. We have a plan. I should be able to pitch in plenty of games.”
Pomeranz had 59 strikeouts and a 1.62 ERA in 44 1/3 inning throughout 47 appearances from 2020-21.
“He’s hell-bent on pitching for us this year,” Melvin stated, “and if he is anywhere near the form he was before, that’s another lefty in the bullpen, another guy who has pitched late in games, has closed at times. Power arm that gets righties out. Hope we get him back.”
The video games can’t begin quickly sufficient for Pomeranz.
“I’m so tired of sitting around and watching,” he stated. “It’s brutal.”
Notable
• Jake Cronenworth has missed two days with an sickness. “He was contagious, so we didn’t want him in the clubhouse,” Melvin stated.
• Left-hander Adrian Morejon might be requested to acclimate to a bullpen function early, Melvin stated, however the long-term plan is to stretch him out in case one other starter is required.
“We have a good six here that we like,” Melvin said of the starting pitchers. “He’s one of those depth pieces. Whether he is up or down, whatever it looks like, try to get some more innings out of him this year so when he is thrust into that role, he is more comfortable.”
