As a 21-year old, Jose Guzman spent the 2013 season in Billings. The right-hander was mostly used as a starter, but appeared out of the bullpen a few times.
Guzman pitched a good game to start his season. On June 6th in Helena, he threw 5 scoreless innings. In the win, he gave up only 3 hits and struck out 6 batters. He took the mound again on the 29th in Great Falls and went 4 innings. The only run he gave up was on a solo home run and he surrendered just 2 other hits plus 2 walks and 3 strikeouts but got the loss. In a short month, he totaled 9 innings with a 1.00 ERA and 0.89 WHIP. He was able to make 9 batters whiff and walk just 2.
July started like June but it soon imploded. On the 4th against Missoula, he gave the Mustangs 5.1 innings of scoreless ball. He got the win and gave up 3 hits, a walk, and stuck out 3. In Grand Junction, on the 10th, Guzman’s month took a nosedive. He would only get through 2.2 innings where he allowed 9 runs, 7 of them were earned, 8 hits, a walk, and 2 strikeouts. His game on the 15th in Orem was no better. He managed just 1.1 innings and conceded 6 earned runs. Orem totaled 7 hits, 2 walks, and stuck out just once against Guzman. On the 21st, he faced Orem again and made it through 3.2 innings. This time, he relinquished 5 earned runs, 6 hits, 4 walks, and struck out 3 batters. A terrible month ended on the 26th in Helena. He went 4 innings where gave up 6 earned runs off of 7 hits and no walks plus 2 strikeouts. In all, July consisted of 17 innings where Guzman produced a 12.71 ERA and 2.29 WHIP. He also struck out 11 batter while giving up 8 free passes.
Guzman pitched better in August but it was still a less then satisfactory month. On the 4th, he made a 0.1-inning appearance in Missoula and was able to get the batter out. He would throw again in Missoula on the 6th but he got in 3 innings of work. After a walk, he gave up a home run for the only hit he allowed in his appearance. He also struck out 2 guys. On the 11th, he made his longest start of the season. In 5.2 innings, he allowed an unearned run from 5 hits and totaled 5 strikeouts. He went another 5 innings on the 16th in Idaho Falls. In the win, he gave up 4 earned runs on 5 hits, 2 walks, and 4 strikeouts. On the 22nd, he struggled again. Against Idaho Falls, he managed just 0.2 innings and submitted to 5 earned runs from 3 hits and 3 walks. He started on the 31st in Helena and performed better. In 4 innings, he yield just 2 earned runs off of 7 hits, a walk, and 4 strikeouts. While still a down month, he improved his ERA to 6.27 and WHIP to 1.50 in 18.2 innings of action. He was able to strikeouts 15 batter in August and walked 7.
He finished his season with a start against Missoula on the 5th of September. In the loss, he gave up 6 earned runs in 3 innings of work. He allowed 3 hits and 3 walks and only struck out 2 batters.
Season Stats
| Team | W | L | ERA | IP | H | HR | BB | K | WHIP | K/BB |
| Billings | 3 | 5 | 8.49 | 46.2 | 61 | 10 | 20 | 37 | 1.74 | 1.85 |
Overall Thoughts
Guzman really struggled to find consistency during the 2013 season as he battled back and forth with a string of solid games and follow it up with a string of really poor ones. He was also a very different pitcher at home versus the road. At home, he kept the ball in the park as he allowed just 1 home run, but his control was concerning with 11 walks and 13 strikeouts in 18.1 innings. On the road he really struggled to keep the ball in the park as he allowed 9 home runs, but his control was much better as he walked just 9 and struck out 24 in 28.1 innings. His ERA and WHIP was pretty close in those splits, but how he got to them really wasn’t. Finding some sort of consistency will be key as he moves forward.
For more 2013 Season Review articles, click here.