MLBbro.com has been very busy over the weekend focusing on the MLBbro pitchers no matter what the era. First the staff started with current events celebrating the comeback of Joe Ross winning his first game as a starter since 2021 with the Washington Nationals…
Joe Ross Completes Comeback Journey With First Win As A Starter Since 2021@SPORTWORLDORDER x @JoeRoss21
🔗: https://t.co/iUZDVZiMCE pic.twitter.com/DI2uroymBW
— MLBbro.com (@MLBbrodotcom) April 14, 2024
Then it was all hands-on deck to celebrate and honor MLBbro pitching icon Dwight “Doc” Gooden’s New York Mets jersey retirement. Gooden, fans and the Mets organization got to reminisce about not only one of the most dominant pitchers of all-time but the reuniting of the 86’ World Series championship team…
We ❤️ You Doc No.16 4 Ever ⚾️⚾️#Legend #MLBbro pic.twitter.com/fnVWTODOtR
— MLBbro.com (@MLBbrodotcom) April 14, 2024
But what about the future MLBbro pitchers to follow in Doc Gooden’s footsteps? Three young pitching prospects have caught the attention of MLBbro.com with two of them going the route of Joe Ross entering a new era as a starter. While one is still in the minors working on his craft, don’t be surprised if he is not called up in the next month or so.
MLBbro.com introduces the best kept secrets soon to explode on the mound like breaking balls…Jordan Hicks of the San Francisco Giants, Xzavion Curry of the Cleveland Guardians and finally Simeon Woods Richardson of the Minnesota Twins.
This MLBbro pitcher is all about betting himself and following a dream of being a starting pitcher in the majors. Something he pursued in free agency before signing a four year, $44 million contract with the Giants in the offseason…
“My whole life, this has been my dream,” Hicks said. “I’m fully embracing this. I’m letting go of it. I’m excited to keep working on it and keep learning from everybody that has the experience.”
Over Hicks’ first five years, he was only known as a flame throwing right handed reliever out of the pen with only a few chances as a starter with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2022. Despite the success in the bullpen, the Giants have already started Jordan’s transition from the bullpen to rotational starter which is not as easy as one would think.
The first step is changing speeds on his fastball. To pitch consistently late into starts, our MLBbro has been working on actually DIALING BACK on his fastball, something Giants manager Bob Melvin discussed via MLB.com…
“It’s relative pacing for him,” manager Bob Melvin said. “So maybe down from 105 to 99 or 100 or something like that. But I think he’s pretty aware, too, that he’s got a really good sinker. If he’s going to stay out there for a while, being economical in his pitches are going to be important and getting earlier-count outs.”
“Whereas when you come in as a reliever, a lot of times it’s all about missing bats and letting it all hang out for an inning or so. But I think he’s got the mindset right at this point.”
The foundation the Giants and our MLBbro started on is a work in process.
MLBbro.com’s Gary Sheffield Jr. provides more on our MLBbro budding star here…
San Francisco Saw Greatness In Jordan Hicks When Everyone Else Saw Risk@GarysheffieldJr x @Jhicks007
📺: https://t.co/YuEjPsuupx pic.twitter.com/jx4qGHYmbv
— MLBbro.com (@MLBbrodotcom) April 12, 2024
This MLBbro had his first start this week and showed up and out to the tune of going five innings while giving up only two hits. What’s even more impressive for Curry is that he recently just left the injured list for a viral illness and the game was scheduled in the morning. While most players would use these scenarios as an excuse, Xzavion Curry showed professionalism in being ready, something that impressed his manager Stephen Vogt…
In his first game of the season. MLBbro Xzavion Curry had complete control on the mound. Only allowing 2 hits in 5 innings. 😮💨 #MLBbro https://t.co/gnt69tRo7Z
— MLBbro.com (@MLBbrodotcom) April 15, 2024
“It’s tough to get the body going for an 11 a.m. game, Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. “These guys are incredible to be able to do it. But for Xza, he was hungry for this start. We could have started this at 6 this morning and he would have been ready to go.”
“He came out and attacked and put guys away,” Vogt said. “It was beautiful.”
The key pitch that is in our MLBbro’s bag is the sinker that kept the Red Sox hitters out in front…
https://twitter.com/DoublePlayDre/status/1779916227785187715
A pitch Xzavion Curry has worked on for quite a while as he shared after the game…
“That’s the pitch that throughout the Minors, throughout my career that I’ve been really trying to hone in with,” he said. “When that pitch is going, it can help me play-off other pitches. To have it working today and locate that today really helped me.
A 6-0 shutout while giving the bullpen rest after a long weekend helps his team as well.
The numbers game caught Simeon Woods Richardson as he was optioned back down to the Triple-A affiliate St. Paul Saints despite an impressive six inning start giving up only one run while striking out five in his first win as a pro dismissing the Detroit Tigers 4-1 on April 13.
Simeon Woods Richardson shined when the @Twins needed him most in his 2nd career @MLB start 🌟
6 IP / 2 H / 1 R / 1 BB / 5 K
He finished the game retiring 14 straight hitters and recorded his first ever major league win#MNTwins pic.twitter.com/ojrWOIlx58
— Twins Player Development (@TwinsPlayerDev) April 13, 2024
One reason for the move may be that our MLBbro is currently adjusting his pitching mechanics by working on his arm angle bringing his delivery down from the over the top style previously used. This adjustment increased his fastball velocity to the mid 90’s which makes the Twins very confident that Woods Richardson can contribute real soon despite being sent to the minors…
“It gives you a lot of confidence in him and therefore gives you a lot of confidence in the state of what we have to work with,” manager Rocco Baldelli said. “It’s a 6-month regular season. I’m virtually certain we’re going to need Simeon again, if not for a long stretch, at some point this year.”
MLBbro.com’s Charles Nyonga covered Simeon’s potential in this “Take That” segment last year.
It’s a long season that is just getting started. These MLBbro pitchers even though they are under the radar just starting out, watch out! They are coming with some professional stuff to help their teams become contenders.
Right-handed pitcher Xzavion Curry will look to pick up his first win of his career as a starter tomorrow as the Cleveland Guardians take on the Detroit Tigers.
This will be Curry’s sixth start of the season as the Guardians are looking to see how the 25-year-old does in the starting rotation and he has a 0-1 record with a 4.26 ERA in that capacity.
For a good portion of the season, Curry has made his value coming out of the bullpen. This season he’s made 25 appearances out of the bullpen and has a 3-0 record with a 3.06 ERA.
Our fellow staff member Dante Miles wrote about Curry’s move to the starting rotation earlier this month.
Curry is no stranger to being a starter. During his time in the minors, he made 40 starts between the 2021 and 2022 season.
And he knows what success looks like on the mound as well. He has a 17-5 record through 44 appearances during his time in the minors. Despite being moved to the bullpen when he was called up, Curry had no issue with the adjustment.
Earlier this season he talked about how he’s understanding he can be effective coming out of the bullpen and as a starter.
“I’m learning that I can be a versatile type pitcher,” Curry said in an article from cleveland.com. “That bullpen role is not something I’m scared of. It’s just more about embracing the role and just going out there and helping the team whenever my number’s called.”
When he got called up and was placed in the bullpen, he had to make some minor tweaks to his pitching routine.
“The warmup aspect is a little different,” said Curry. “But after doing it a little bit in spring training, and now having it done a couple times under my belt in the season, I’m getting used to it. Like I said, watching other guys, seeing how they keep they warm up and stay ready has helped. And once the phone rings, it’s my time. My body kind of switches into compete mode.”
Well now he’s back in the starting rotation and he’ll look to have a bounce back performance after giving up five runs on six hits and a home run in five innings of work against the Tampa Bay Rays on August 11.
Despite Cleveland’s below .500 record, they still have a chance to win the AL Central, and Curry could play a key role headed towards the end of the season.
Each game is crucial for the Guardians, and you better believe Curry understands that and he will look to give his team a fighting chance to win come Thursday. This could be a memorable night for Curry in his start against the boys from the Motor City.
The Cleveland Guardians were one of the teams with a decision to make before last week’s trade deadline; pursue more talent for a potential playoff push or begin to plan for 2024?
When the dust finally settled, it seems the Guardians chose the latter. First, they traded starting pitcher Aaron Civale to Tampa Bay for first-base prospect Kyle Manzardo. That move was followed by trading switch-hitting MLBbro Josh Bell (who was just acquired this offseason) to Miami for prospect Kahlil Watson.
Both moves made by Cleveland will give some younger players an opportunity to play more, but for relief pitcher Xzavion Curry this will facilitate his transition into a completely different role. With Civale gone, Guardians manager Terry Francona plans to move Curry from the bullpen and into the starting rotation.
“We’ve been bouncing him around so much and now that the deadline’s over, everything’s keep him in that spot,” said Francona. “Let him try to incrementally get stretched out and turn him loose”
Throughout his rookie season, Curry has appeared 25 times for the Guardians bullpen while making occasional spot starts. He is currently 3-1 with a 2.95 ERA and 1.16 WHIP over 64.0 IP with Cleveland.
Although his opportunities to start in the majors have come sparingly so far, he is no stranger to taking the mound to set the tone for his ball club. While at Georgia Tech, Curry recorded 40 career starts, three combined shutouts and one complete game shutout over 232.2 innings pitched.
In 38 appearances and 36 starts across the minors before being called up last August, he posted an impressive 16-5 record with a 2.90 ERA with 236 strikeouts in 198.2 innings.
Curry’s four pitch arsenal has relied heavily on the four-seam fastball and slider with tremendous results, as hitters are batting just .227 against Curry’s most used pitches. Sunday’s start saw more of the same as Curry recorded 12 swing and misses, good for a 38.5 whiff percent on his big two.
His start on Sunday against the Chicago White Sox gave Francona the opportunity to see a little more from his young right hander at this big league level.
“He’s a little more positioned, and if we’re going to do this, we don’t have to concern ourselves with, okay, let’s not pitch him too much because we might need him in relief in two days.”
Curry pitched well Sunday, giving up four hits and two earned runs over five innings pitched while striking out four. Unfortunately, run support never arrived and he would finish the game with a no-decision.
He didn’t factor into the final results but given the Guardians’ history of developing young arms we can expect to see plenty more of Curry in the future.
Charles Nyonga features Melanated Mound Marauder Xzavion Curry’s rise to the show and the culture shock of moving from the south to cold Cleveland.
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