Jose Arredondo won't pitch for the Reds this season yet his signing indicates the Reds strategy to develop pitching.
Arredondo, will be 26 when he fully recovers from the repair of his ulnar colateral ligament.
His power arm allowed the righthander to post a 10-2 record with a 1.62 ERA in 52 games in 2008 for the Angels. He led major league relievers in victories. Opponents batted only .190 against him.
The Reds invested in the future after the Angels developed the young Domincan. The Reds hope to cash in on his continued development after his recovery.
Arredondo will join newly signed Aroldis Chapman. A rare lefthander whose pitches have been clocked at over 100 mph, was the talk of last spring among the Reds players that saw him pitch for Cuba in the World Baseball Classic. Catcher Ramon Hernandez was a big believer in the 21-year old's ability.
He speaks no English but is expected to communicate with his live arm. His potential is huge but there is risk. A lot of hard throwers never master the art of pitching that is required to get major league hitters out. Velocity can overpower less talented batsmen but major league lumber toting players aren't easily phased. Still Champan has already competed with and against established Cuban pro that are respected greatly by baseball talent experts.
Homer Bailey, the Reds you power arm that is being culled from the Reds draft is beginning to catch on to this baseball fact of life. Bailey merely needed to throw hard power his way through Texas high school hitters. He has learned the hard way that more is needed to be succesful at the major league level.
The Cleveland Indians turned Bailey's power offerings into parking lot souvenirs his first spring in Sarasota as he stubbornly refused to use his change up. He now gets it.
The success he experienced the last half of the 2009 season, indicate his anticipated stardom may be realized this season.
Follow the progress of these power pitchers from Goodyear Arizona on this blog this spring.
Will the Reds strategy pay off in wins? Lets find out together.
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