FORT MYERS, Fla. — When Alex Cora was requested pregame how he sees the competitors for the membership’s No. 5 starter job, the Pink Sox supervisor urged endurance. It’s nonetheless early in camp, he mentioned, and so they haven’t reached a degree the place one dangerous outing is essentially going to take anybody out of the working.
Even with that being the case, there’s no query that Johan Oviedo’s first impression may have been higher.
Acquired this previous fall from the Pittsburgh Pirates within the Jhostynxon Garcia commerce, Oviedo struggled along with his command in his spring debut. The 6-foot-6, 275-pound right-hander walked three batters over 1 2/3 scoreless innings in Wednesday’s sport in opposition to Minnesota Twins, touchdown 15 of his 33 pitches for strikes whereas permitting one hit with one strikeout.
“Not the worst however undoubtedly not the most effective,” Oviedo mentioned. “Obtained the primary one out however trying on the good issues about it. Obtained forward simply couldn’t end, bought to maintain engaged on the shapes and hold getting higher this spring.”
Oviedo shortly bumped into hassle within the backside of the primary when he hit Byron Buxton with a pitch and walked Trevor Larnach and Matt Wallner to load the bases, however he was in a position to attract an inning-ending double play from Ryan Jeffers to flee the jam unscathed.
Issues bought furry once more within the second when he issued a leadoff stroll and single, after which after drawing a lineout Oviedo allowed the 2 males to achieve scoring place on a wild pitch.
Oviedo completed his outing by placing out Gio Urshela, and having reached his pitch restrict he handed the ball off to minor leaguer Jay Allmer, who preserved his scoreless line by drawing an inning-ending foul out to strand the 2 runners on base.
Following the outing Oviedo mentioned his objective was to get forward within the depend and work on his breaking pitches, although he acknowledged he wasn’t as sharp as he felt throughout his final dwell batting apply.
“Not the best, my dwell was higher in comparison with at present,” Oviedo mentioned. “As we speak I used to be getting forward strike one, however after strike one I’d lose it a bit of bit.”
Oviedo entered camp because the presumed favourite to win the No. 5 job, however he’ll face stiff competitors from prime prospects Connelly Early and Payton Tolle, every of whom pitched nicely of their first spring outings. Kutter Crawford and Patrick Sandoval, who missed all of final season because of harm, entered spring as attainable choices however are behind the others of their development and might not be prepared in time for Opening Day.
