Earlier this year I ran a similar article on Wirfin Obispo and Curtis Partch after they were performing well out of the bullpen. If there is one group of players who don’t get noticed nearly enough, it is relievers. That original article kind of spawned the idea that every now and again I would take a look at some of the guys who are performing well in the relief role and introduce them a little more in depth to you guys.
Drew Hayes
Drew Hayes was drafted by the Reds in the 11th round all the way back in 2010. That year he threw 22 innings with Billings with 25 strikeouts (good) and 16 walks (bad) to go with a 2.42 ERA. In 2011, despite absolutely dominating the Midwest League with a 1.35 ERA in 60 innings with 27 walks and 89 strikeouts, he was never promoted during the season. To begin 2012 Hayes was skipped over High A and sent to AA. At first go, he really struggled. In April he posted a 6.17 ERA with 8 walks and 15 strikeouts in 11.2 innings. Since then he has posted a 2.08 ERA in 26 innings with 29 strikeouts and 12 walks. The walks are still a bit of a concern, but he has seemingly made the adjustments. From a stuff standpoint, he features a fastball in the 91-93 range and can touch higher than that. The pitch doesn’t have much horizontal movement, but tends to work well down in the zone. Hayes go to pitch is a slider, that is an above-average pitch at times but is still a little inconsistent. Control will be the biggest question for him moving forward, as he has had a high end walk rate each season since being drafted, but if he can cut down on the walks his stuff will play at the next level.
Chris Manno
Manno was originally drafted and signed by the Nationals in the 26th round of the 2010 draft. He spent the first season in the GCL only throwing 18 innings, but was able to strike out 29 batters. In 2011 he went out and just dominated the South Atlantic League with a 1.04 ERA in 43.1 innings with 15 walks and 69 strikeouts before he was traded to the Reds. The Reds immediately sent him to High A Bakersfield where he continued his dominance with a 0.53 ERA in 17 innings with 6 walks and 31 strikeouts. He has jumped up to AA this season and has been less dominant than in the past, but is still having a strong season with a 3.34 ERA in 29.2 innings with 15 walks and 29 strikeouts. Like Hayes, the walk rate is a bit of a concern being so high. His fastball isn’t going to blow anyone away, working in the 89-91 range, but his mechanics give him plenty of deception and the pitch has good run to it. He also throws a fastball that works more like a sinker, though I prefer the other fastball he throws. His breaking ball has good bite to it and is an above-average pitch. While being a left hander leaves open the option to being used as a LOOGY, Manno may have the stuff to be able to get both righties and lefties out at the next level if he is able to cut down on the walks some.
Brian Pearl
The Reds drafted Pearl out of the University of Washington in 2009 after he completed his only season of being a pitcher. He was sent to Billings where he walked 10 and struck out 43 in 28.2 innings pitched for the Mustangs. The Reds attempted to move Pearl to the rotation in Dayton for 2010, but he was only able to make 5 starts before he headed to the DL where he wound up needing Tommy John surgery. In 2011 he found himself back int he bullpen, mostly for Dayton, where he walked 6 and struck out 30 in 22.1 innings. This season began in Bakersfields bullpen as the closer where he posted a 1.31 ERA in 34.1 innings with 8 walks and 41 strikeouts. He has since moved to Pensacola and has had a tough time through 5 games with 7 earned runs in 5.2 innings. His fastball is mostly average, working in the 89-92 range and he has a solid breaking ball that shows some potential to be better, but is mostly an average pitch right now. His fastball has been stronger than that in the past, but hasn’t been able to get back where it was pre-injury. The stuff is solid overall, but as he gets further away from the surgery if he is able to pick up another tick or two on his fastball and become more consistent with his breaking ball he could have a good future out of the bullpen.