Right-handed pitcher Mike Dennhardt spent the entire 2013 season in Bakersfield. The 23-year old saw action as both a reliever and starter.
In April, Dennhardt was used exclusively in relief for the Bakersfield Blaze. He got his season going with a scoreless 2-inning appearance in Stockton where he allowed 2 hits and struck 2 batters out. Again, on the road, he threw 2 scoreless innings against Visalia. In that game on the 8th, he added 3 strikeouts and gave up only a hit. On the 12th, he faced Stockton again, but at home this time. Once again, he held Stockton scoreless. This time, he went 1.1 innings and walked and struck out a batter each. The next day, he threw another 1.1 innings against Stockton but gave up his first earned run of the season plus a hit, 2 walks, and a strikeout. On the 17th, Dennhardt faced off against Inland Empire and held them scoreless over 1.1 innings. He allowed a hit and a walk, and struck out one. Dennhardt got hit around on the 20th in Lancaster. He surrendered 4 runs, 3 earned, off of 4 hits, 2 walks, and a strikeout in 1.2 innings of work. On the 24th in High Desert, he gave up an earned run in 1.1 innings, plus a hit and 2 walks. April came to a close on a sour note. On the 27th against Visalia, he yielded 2 more earned runs, 3 hits, a walk, and added a strikeout in 1.2 innings. For the month, Dennhardt threw 12.2 innings over 8 appearances where he recorded a 4.97 ERA and 1.74 WHIP. He posted a disappointing 9 walks to 10 strikeouts.
Dennhardt struggled to start May, but he would get moved into the rotation and see improvements. On the 1st, he gave up 2 runs, one earned, in just an inning of work. San Jose was able to get 2 hits, a walk, and strikeout just once. On the 3rd, Dennhardt allowed just a hit in a 0.2-inning showing at Modesto. Then, in Modesto still, he gave up just a hit and added 2 strikeouts during a 1-inning appearance on the 6th. Against San Jose on the 8th, he was stretched out to 2.1 innings and allowed an unearned run along with 2 hits and grabbed 2 more strikeouts. Two days later, he went 3.1 innings against Modesto. In that game, he relinquished 2 runs, one earned, 4 hits, a walk, and 3 strikeouts. On the 15th, he got in 2 innings of work in Stockton. He allowed another earned run from a solo shot and struck out 2 batters. Dennhardt got his first start of the season on the 19th against High Desert. He got the win in a 5-inning performance where he permitted an unearned run from 4 hits and gained just one strikeout. On the 25th, he faced Stockton and shut them out for 5.1 innings while giving up 6 hits, a walk, and striking out 3. He finished the month against Rancho Cucamonga on the 30th. In 5 innings, he gave up 3 runs, 2 earned, 7 hits, a walk, and collected 5 strikeouts. May proved to be a better month as he pitched 25.2 innings over 9 games and posted a 1.75 ERA and 1.25 WHIP. He improved to 19 strikeouts for the month with just 4 walks.
After a strong month, Dennhardt stumbled mightily in June. Starting on the 5th in High Desert, he only managed to make it thorough one inning. He gave up 6 earned runs from 6 hits, a walk, and 3 strikeouts. Back home on the 10th, he was able to go 6 innings against Visalia. Adding a win, he allowed 3 runs, 2 earned, 7 hits, 2 walks, and gained 3 more strikeouts. On the 15th in Modesto, he recorded a loss in 7.1 innings. This time, he relinquished 6 runs, 4 earned, from 7 hits, and 5 strikeouts. Dennhardt didn’t get back onto the mound until the 23rd. The results were not any better against High Desert. He surrendered 5 earned runs off of 8 hits and recorded 7 strikeouts in 6 innings. Dennhardt finished the month with a win Visalia on the 28th. He completed 5 scoreless innings but allowed 2 hits and 4 walks and threw 4 strikeouts. In 5 starts and 25.1 innings, Dennhardt produced a 6.04 ERA and 1.46 WHIP. He totaled 22 strikeouts and 7 walks in June.
Dennhardt was able to start 5 games in July before ending his season with an injury. On the 3rd, he gave up 4 earned runs in Lancaster. He added 8 hits, a walk, and 4 strikeouts to his season totals in 5.2 innings. On the 8th, he went 6 innings and allowed 3 earned runs, 7 hits, and 8 strikeouts against Modesto. In his start on the 13th in Rancho Cucamonga, he was only able to face one batter before exiting the game with an injury. After a stint on the 7-day DL, he got the win on 21st against Lancaster. He went 5.1 innings but surrendered 4 earned runs from 6 hits, 2 walks, and struck out 4 batters. On the 26th, he finished his season with a loss at Lake Elsinore. He managed just 4.1 innings and allowed 5 earned runs, 6 hits, a walk, and struck out 3 more. In July, Dennhardt constructed a 6.75 ERA and 1.5o WHIP through 21.1 innings. He amassed 19 strikeouts and 4 walks for the month.
Season Stats
| Team | W | L | SV | ERA | IP | H | HR | BB | K | WHIP | K/BB |
| Bakersfield | 6 | 8 | 0 | 4.92 | 82.1 | 99 | 9 | 24 | 70 | 1.49 | 2.9 |
Overall Thoughts
Dennhardt was on his way to a good season before coming down with an injury in late July. While his ERA and WHIP aren’t good on the surface, his peripheral stats were quite strong with a good walk rate that coupled with a good strikeout rate. He split his time between the bullpen in the first half and the rotation in the second half. His future likely lies in the bullpen and out of that role he posted a better ERA, but his control wasn’t nearly as strong (perhaps a sign that he was overthrowing slightly out of the bullpen versus pacing himself from the rotation), but the biggest difference was how his home run rate played out. He allowed just one in 23 innings as a reliever, but allowed eight over 62 innings as a starter. His stuff improved in 2013 and should be able to get more out of his peripheral stats as he gets out of the California League.
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