The Rays introduced to members of the media, together with team broadcaster Neil Solondz, that they’ve acquired right-handed pitcher Josh Roberson because the participant to be named later within the commerce that despatched Louis Head to the Marlins.
Roberson, 26, was chosen by the Marlins within the twelfth spherical of the 2017 draft, regardless of having had Tommy John surgical procedure earlier than the draft. As he’s climbed up the minor league ladder, he’s racked up enormous strikeout numbers but additionally a justifiable share of walks. Final yr, throughout 4 totally different ranges of the minors, he threw 45 innings with a 6.40 ERA, 31.2% strikeout price and 13.2% stroll price. Thus far this yr, between A-ball and Double-A, he’s thrown 6 2/3 innings with a 6.75 ERA, ten Ks but additionally eight walks and a few wild pitches. A yr in the past, Eric Longenhagen of FanGraphs ranked Roberson the Thirty third-best prospect within the Miami system, highlighting his “very nasty” breaking ball. (FanGraphs hasn’t but launched their Marlins prospect checklist for this yr.) The Rays will attempt to sprinkle a few of their magic mud on him in an effort to attempt to enhance that management and switch him into one other weapon for his or her pitching employees.
As for Head, he’s had good outcomes for the Marlins to this point this yr, regardless of regarding peripherals. In a small pattern of ten innings on the yr, his ERA is a tidy 1.80. Final yr’s 23.9% strikeout price has dropped to 16.3% this yr, together with his stroll price leaping from 6.7% to 11.6%. He has been getting extra worm burners, although, together with his floor ball price leaping from 31.1% to 40%.
