The Arizona Diamondbacks have several talented, young pitching prospects, including Trevor Bauer, their top pick in the 2011 draft. There has even been some talk of Bauer making the big league roster. One thing that is particular about Bauer is his regimented, lengthy warm-up process. This is something that he is almost religious about. However, part of making it in the big leagues is making adjustments, and this is something the team is asking Bauer to do to some extent.
He is scheduled to pitch on Wednesday in relief of Patrick Corbin, who will hopefully go three innings. If all goes as planned, Bauer will start his throwing early, but if Corbin gets into trouble, he may have to speed things up.
Manager Kirk Gibson said that the team is not going to ask him to do something he is uncomfortable with, but he expressed how Bauer will need to adjust.
If somebody on the big league roster goes down to injury and the team decides that it wants some help in the bullpen, the ability to be able to come out of the pen will be a factor. Tyler Skaggs, Patrick Corbin and Bauer all have good stuff. If Bauer wants a crack at the majors, he will need to be able to do more than one thing.
That's not to say that he will have to be a reliever to crack the ballclub. "We all see him as a starter," said Gibson. "But we also want to try and win a World Series."
That's the key. If he is unwilling or unable to be effective without modifying things for certain situations, he will limit himself to opportunities to pitch at the major league level.
Will he be able to do it, or will he be good enough as a starter to be able to come up and make an impact even as a reliever?
We may find out in some form on Wednesday.
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