Perrotto: Roansy Contreras Wants to Be Known For Rare Attribute (+)
BRADENTON, Fla – It is almost easier to find a payphone than a workhorse starting pitcher.
Just eight major leaguers threw 200 innings last season. The grand total of pitchers who tossed more than one complete game was four.
The idea of pitchers going nine innings has become almost an abstract idea. Few starters are permitted to go through a lineup more than twice before managers bring on a brigade of relievers.
For better or worse, that is part of baseball in the 2020s. It is no exception with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
In 2022, just five Pirates pitchers had more than 100 innings pitched. Mitch Keller led the team with 159.
Manager Derek Shelton never gave any of his starters an opportunity to even finish a game.
Roansy Contreras isn’t totally on board with the whole five-and-dive thing. Contreras not only wants to be a top-flight starter but someone who reliably provides innings.
Contreras was limited to 95 innings as a rookie last season in 18 starts and three relief appearances. He pitched an additional 34.1 innings in nine starts for Triple-A Indianapolis while the Pirates carefully monitored his workload.
The 23-year-old is hoping the Pirates give him more leeway this season when it comes to going deeper into games. In fact, that was the primary focus during his winter workouts in his native Dominican Republic.
“That was part of my routine and preparation in the offseason, to make sure I can do that this year, go from the beginning to the end healthy,” Contreras said earlier this week through a translator at the Pirates’ spring training camp. “Preparation (is key to) getting better. The stuff I’m doing every day, just continue to be my best self. Preparation is the most important thing.”
Roansy Contreras is generally considered to be the most talented of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ young pitchers in the major leagues and the upper levels of the minors. He had a 5-5 record with a 3.79 ERA last season, notching 86 strikeouts in 95 innings.
Contreras believes he can do better than that now that he has some big-league experience.
| [bet-promo id=”2769″ ] |
He spent a lot of time in the offseason trying to improve his changeup and make the pitch a larger part of an arsenal that includes a fastball that averaged 95.6 mph last season and a slider. Contreras also hopes to throw some more curveballs in 2023.
“The main thing right now is to just throw those pitches around the strike zone,” Contreras said of the change and curve. “Just work on that because there’s proof that the more strikes you throw, the more chances you have to be successful.
“My changeup has the same action as my fastball, so I can see the surprise effect on (the hitters’) faces when I throw a really good changeup.”
Shelton has yet to say who will start when the Pirates open the season on March 30 against the Reds in Cincinnati.
Keller would seem to be the likely choice for that honor after having a breakout season last year. However, a case can be made that Contreras is already the Pirates’ best starter, at least based on his pure stuff and potential.
Contreras, who will pitch for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic next month, makes no secret of his desire to eventually become the Pirates’ No. 1 starter.
“That will be an honor to be in the top of that rotation,” Contreras said. “I’m working hard for that.”
The next step is letting Contreras stay on the mound long enough to allow him to develop into an ace. That is out of control and in Shelton’s hands.
More about:Opinion PBN+ Pirates Spring Training