DUNEDIN, Fla. – Many teams carrying 22-year-old relievers do so with a fair bit of trepidation. For the Toronto Blue Jays, it’s just the opposite.
Roberto Osuna begins his age-22 season with 56 career saves — more than anyone in baseball history through the same age. So he’s an understandably integral piece of the Blue Jays’ 2017 bullpen.
“I think he looks good, I really do,” manager John Gibbons said. “And he’s got to. He’ll have a big workload this year.”
Osuna appeared in 72 games last year, posting a 2.68 ERA with 36 saves, 82 strikeouts and just 14 walks in 74 innings. Used heavily down the stretch, he left the Wild Card game with shoulder soreness, but returned to make six scoreless appearances later in the post-season.
If the Blue Jays could get another season like that from their hard-throwing closer, they’d sign up without hesitation.
“I look at it this way: you hope he’s able to do what he’s done the last couple of years for the next ten years,” Gibbons said. “That would be good enough.”
Osuna, who will pitch for Mexico at the WBC, made his spring debut Monday, pitching a scoreless inning against the Pirates.
“He should be good for a long, long time,” Gibbons continued. “I think he’s put himself into an elite class, anyway, at a very young age. No reason he can’t maintain that.”
Aside from a fastball that averaged 95.8 mph last year, Osuna relies on a change-up and slider. Having already shown the ability to keep hitters off balance with all three offerings, Osuna has the arsenal needed to adjust even on days that he doesn’t have his best fastball.
“Over time, naturally he’s going to lose something on his fastball the longer he’s in this game, but he’s got a great feel for pitching,” Gibbons said. “He’ll be able to adjust off of that. A lot of guys can’t do that necessarily, but he’ll be able to do that.”
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LEADOFF QUESTION:
The Blue Jays have an opening atop their batting order, and Kevin Pillar believes he could fill it.
“I still think I’d like to be a guy who could lead off and do a good job,” Pillar said. “The work I’m putting in this spring training will hopefully give me an opportunity to do that whether it’s opening day or some point during the season or filling in.”
Pillar started 20 games atop the Blue Jays’ batting order early on last year, but he hit just .198 with a .231 on-base percentage from the top spot and was bumped down in the order in mid-April. Pillar’s performance picked up after the slow start, and he ended up batting .266 with a .303 on-base percentage and 14 stolen bases.
The Blue Jays ultimately used a rotating cast of players in the leadoff role, with Devon Travis, Jose Bautista, Ezequiel Carrera and Michael Saunders getting at least 18 games apiece. One year later, they still don’t have a traditional leadoff hitter.
“Someone’s got to do it, and I feel like my ability to run the bases can ultimately help this team whether it’s the top of the order or the bottom of the order,” Pillar said. “I’m not worried about it. I wasn’t worried about it last year, it’s just unfortunate that I didn’t get off to the start that I wanted to.”
Gibbons didn’t seem particularly close to reaching a decision on who will bat leadoff when the topic came up Monday, simply saying “we don’t know what we’re going to do.” Health permitting, Travis figures to be among the players getting serious consideration.
Pillar has been hitting leadoff this spring as a way to ensure he gets as many reps as possible before exiting for a defensive replacement. Asked about the upcoming season he spoke at length about team wins over individual accomplishments. In his view, though, he could help the Blue Jays win from atop the order.
“That’s why we pay Gibby the big bucks,” he said. “He’s the one who writes the lineup, and obviously everyone respects his authority. More than anything guys want to win. I don’t think anyone cares where they hit in the order.”
Kevin Pillar could see some time in the leadoff spot if Devon Travis is not ready for opening day. (Duane Burleson/AP)
PITCHING CHANGE:
Ryan Tepera starts for the Blue Jays Wednesday, instead of Ryan Borucki, who had initially been announced as the starter. The thinking: as a more realistic candidate for the opening day bullpen, Tepera would benefit more from having Russell Martin behind the plate. Borucki’s still expected to pitch, but it may be after Martin exits the game.
From here on, the Blue Jays will mix in the rest of their starting rotation. J.A. Happ and Francisco Liriano will make their spring debuts Thursday and Friday, respectively.