On Thursday, two of the Pirates' pitching staff's wild cards squared off in an intrasquad game. Mitch Keller took the bump for the Black team. After being roughed up in his first taste of the major-leagues last year, the Pirates are relying on their top prospect to make a leap in 2020.
For the Gold team, Chris Stratton went two shutout innings, allowing just two base runners on bloop singles. Keller has the far higher ceiling of the two, but Stratton's a wild card for a different reason: His role on the staff is unknown.
Stratton is a former starter, so he can potentially be a piggyback option that Derek Shelton has been openly considering doing. Bullpen coach Justin Meccage listed him as a middle relief option. Last year, he made some multi-inning appearances, and even a few as a late inning reliever.
"I’ll be comfortable with anything," Stratton said during a Zoom call from PNC Park. "I’ve pretty much done everything so far, besides close, and I don’t think I’m quite qualified for that one."
Ok, so scratch out closer, even if Keone Kela has yet to reach the field this summer camp. Stratton could potentially fit in just about anywhere else.
It's not just because of his experience in those different roles, but because his pitches get more spin and movement than just about anyone else in the majors. As an added bonus, those pitches tunnel and play off each other.
"This guy's got pitch characteristics that not many people have in terms of spin on the fastball, spin on the curveball spin on the slider," Meccage said. "Very elite type pitches that I'm really excited about to see. See how that execution works out for him. It's something he's worked hard on and it's something that has improved."
Stratton has always had those tools, but started to channel them effectively last year.
During spring training in Bradenton, Fla., Stratton and I talked about his execution. He spent spring training 2019 in Giants camp before being traded to the Angels days before the start of the regular season. When he finally joined the Angels, his new pitching coach, Doug White, told him he was coming off the rubber too soon during his delivery. He was getting on his toe too quick when pushing off the rubber rather than staying on the inside part of his foot.
Stratton worked on adopting a new delivery, but was hit hard in the process, causing the Angels to trade him to the Pirates.
There, he continued to work on his drive and started to find some success. His fastball velocity and spin rates started to climb as the months progressed, and that was translating into results. Following his stint on the injured list in May and part of June, he recorded a 3.29 ERA over the rest of the season, striking out over a batter an inning (39 K/38.1 IP).
He has continued to work on his delivery during the shutdown and into camp, both driving off the rubber and making sure his shoulders were even.
"That was the main thing I actually focused on during this whole quarantine thing," Stratton said. "Just being able to stay in my deal and basically not come up too quick."
As for what innings he might be pitching, Stratton is ready for whatever Shelton and Meccage throw his way.
"Whenever the phone rings, doesn’t matter when it is, it always gets your heart jumping," Stratton said. "If it’s in the second inning, if it’s in the fifth inning, if it’s later on in the game, whenever that is, I’ll be ready to go."
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