Calzones Bullpen Carries Heavy Burden

3/31/2016: San Antonio, TX – The Calzones have invested heavily in their bullpen, and they are hoping that the pricey pen can take the burden off the young and inexperienced starting staff. It’s quite the gamble, but if any bullpen is built for the job, it might be this one. With a pair of relievers transitioning to the rotation this season, the Calzones simply want to get five innings out of their starter on most days and turn the game over to their strength: the bullpen.

Rotation

Mauro Sánchez – Right – 21 – Signed as free agent (2-06-2016)

Signed in the off-season to a lucrative three-year deal, the hard-throwing Sánchez has an electric arm. Clocked on the radar gun at over 101 MPH, he will mix in a changeup or screwball to keep hitters off balance. Exclusively a reliever to this point in his career, the young Sánchez was converted to starting this spring and has been very effective, allowing just 1 ER in 16 IP. So impressive was Sánchez’s spring that he earned the Opening Day nod. The Calzones still have Sánchez on a short leash and his innings will be monitored carefully this season, but it’s clear the team is hoping to catch lightning in a bottle.

Chris Graves – Right – 27 – Acquired in trade with Aurora (11-06-2015)

The Calzones mortgaged the 2016 draft in order to bring in Graves as part of a big off-season deal with Aurora. A 6^th round pick back in 2010, Graves has steadily developed into a solid pitcher, though not solid enough to stay in Aurora’s future plans. He has just 74 innings of big league experience but has been a consistent performer at every level on his long journey to the PEBA. Despite his limited experience, at age 27, Graves is the eldest amongst the Calzones’ projected rotation. His velocity was up this spring – he is now hitting 92 MPH with regularity, and the additional oomph on his fastball could make his circle change all that much tougher for batters to adjust to. Graves has the stamina to work deep into games. Considering the makeup of the rest of the rotation, there could be days where he is asked to save the bullpen.

Ed Stanley – Left – 25 – Acquired in trade with Kentucky (6-29-2014)

The only southpaw in the rotation to start the season, Stanley tied for the team lead in wins last season with eight despite shifting back and forth between the bullpen and rotation all season long. Though he hits 94 MPH with his fastball, Stanley relies on a plus curveball as his out pitch. When his curveball is working well, it often fools not only the hitters but the umpires. Just 25 and with questionable stamina, the Calzones will likely monitor his innings closely. A stint or two in the bullpen at some point during the season to ease his workload is not out of the question. Popular with the fans, Stanley is also a very positive influence in the clubhouse.

Xavier “X-Factor” Gómes – Right – 23 – Drafted in the 2^nd round of the 2010 draft.

The only pitcher on the Opening Day roster actually drafted by the Calzones, Xavier suffered through some ups and downs in his first full PEBA season, going 5-10 with a 4.82 ERA in 123.1 innings. He suffered some awful luck early on while in the rotation, then did a stint in the bullpen before missing a couple of weeks on the disabled list in mid-August. He was a different pitcher over the final five weeks of last season, at times dominating teams as he finally showed a flash of the talent that the Calzones have been waiting to tap into. Scouts raved about the movement he got on his pitches this spring, and the team is hoping he can pick up where he left off. Much like his teammate Stanley, Xavier has become popular with the fans and makes his presence felt in the clubhouse.

Roberto Rosado – Right – 25 – Acquired in trade with Florida (6-08-2011)

After winning the 2015 IL Shutdown Reliever Award and setting the Calzones single-season saves record with 39, Rosado is making the transition to the rotation in 2016. He will open the season at the bottom of the rotation, as he has just 21 career starts in pro ball and only nine in the PEBA. The big question with Rosado is whether he can consistently give the team six quality innings. His innings will be monitored closely. An occasional trip to the bullpen to lighten the workload is very probable. Rosado tops 96 MPH and mixes in four pitches. The soft-spoken Rosado is a fan favorite in Laredo.

Bullpen

Clarence Flores – Right – 23 – Acquired in trade with Aurora (11-06-2015)

Flores was a key piece of the off-season trade with Aurora but hasn’t pitched above A-ball. Unfortunately, the major league contract he signed as a first round draft choice two years ago has Flores out of options, something the Calzones were well aware of when they dealt for him, but as a former first round pick with a lot of upside, the 23-year-old Flores was deemed worth the gamble. While Flores can bring the fastball at 93 MPH, it’s his changeup and screwball that really give hitters trouble. Flores has the stamina to be a workhorse in the rotation someday, and the team loves his mental makeup. For now, the young Flores will work in the mop-up role, but the Calzones fully expect him to be a key part of the rotation in two to three seasons.

Bob Harris – Right – 26 – Acquired in Rule 5 draft, round 1, pick 5 (12-01-2015)

Harris is a former 4^th round pick by Kalamazoo back in 2011. Similar to Graves, he has had to work hard and has taken the long road to the PEBA, arriving via the Rule 5 draft. Harris is a soft-tosser with five pitches, none of them much more than average at best. Harris instead relies on control and hitting his spot to have success. He is particularly adept at holding runners for a right-handed pitcher and has the stamina to carry a workload, but as the Calzones do with all young pitchers, they will have Harris get his feet wet in the bullpen before eventually letting him have some time in the rotation. He’ll likely get a spot start here and there in place of Rosado or Stanley. Harris is another good influence in the clubhouse. He will open the season in the middle of the bullpen.

Sheng Yep – Right – 26 – Acquired in trade with Aurora (12-13-2014)

A real workhorse who loves to take the ball, Yep had to fight his way onto the roster despite a very successful season last year in which he posted a 2.70 ERA in 70 innings. He only allowed two HR all season and is adept at inducing groundballs. Despite four mediocre pitches, Yep pitches intelligently and finds ways to get guys out consistently. Staring at a bullpen bolstered by off-season additions, Yep came into spring training determined to win a spot and did just that, posting a 1.27 ERA in 28.2 innings. Most days, he will be the first arm out of the bullpen in the middle innings.

Danny Williams – Left – 28 – Signed as free agent (2-11-2016)

Signed to a one-year deal, Williams really wants to start, but the Calzones envision him as a left-handed specialist. Whether Williams will be satisfied with his role remains to be seen, but the team feel his lack of control makes him best suited for short stints out of the bullpen, preferably against left-handed batters. Williams can hit 93 MPH and has five plus pitches, but his movement can be both a blessing and a curse. He won’t allow many long balls, but he will walk more than his share of batters.

Ricardo Díaz – Right – 33 – Signed as free agent (1-08-2016)

Signed to a reasonable three-year deal, the veteran right-hander has saved 93 games the last four seasons, including 44 back in 2013 with Tempe. Díaz still has well above-average control and can top 96 MPH. He pitches intelligently and mixes four pitches well to keep hitters off balance. Another strong presence in the clubhouse, Díaz will be the primary right-handed setup man.

Bernardo “Ox” Valle – Left – 29 – Signed as free agent (7-20-2015)

A pricey mid-season signing last year, Valle had some early struggles but quickly adjusted and was key in a late-season San Antonio surge. A soft tosser, “Ox” mixes his three-pitch repertoire very well. He has well above-average control and allowed just 1 HR in 39.1 innings last season. Yet another strong clubhouse presence, the Calzones like Valle as much for his character as for his arm. He’s the primary left-handed setup man in what should be a very good bullpen.

Shiro Shimizu – Right – 31 – Signed as free agent (1-21-2016)

Signed to a lucrative three-year deal, Shimizu has long been one of the top closers in Japan, posting 256 career saves and a 2.29 ERA over nine LRS seasons. He hasn’t allowed more than three HR in any of his last seven seasons, and he allowed none in 2014. While he barely cracks 90 MPH, Shimizu’s quirky delivery, exceptional movement, and head for pitching keep hitters off balance. While most LRS hitters are happy to have him gone, the Calzones are ecstatic to have him closing out games in Laredo.