Looking to continue adding arms to their much improved bullpen, the Diamondbacks signed right-hander Jensen Lewis to a minor league deal. Lewis will compete for a spot in the ‘pen during spring training and if he earns a roster spot, the righty will make $650,000 in 2012.
Drafted in the third round of the 2005 draft, Lewis has spent his entire career with the Indians organization. His best and most complete season came in 2008 where in 66 innings, Lewis put together a 3.82 ERA. He followed that up with a 4.61 ERA in 2009 and a 2.97 ERA in 2010.
2011 was much more of a struggle for Lewis. He had a very difficult spring training in which he surrendered 10 runs on 13 hits in 5 2/3 innings. Lewis was then outrighted to Triple-A Columbus in late March where he spent the rest of the year. The 27-year-old was then released on June 24 after he compiled a 5.14 in 22 outings at Columbus.
Lewis features a plus fastball and a slider and changeup. According to Inside Edge Scouting Services, he throws his fastball 74 percent of the time, his slider at 13 percent and changeup at 14 percent.
Where he fits into the Diamondbacks bullpen remains to be seen. Kevin Towers has said that he wants to adding veteran arms to the bullpen. Signing Lewis to a minor league deal is a good first step because of his track record of getting guys out in Cleveland, but don’t expect Towers to stand pat and continue to look at other options in the free agent market.
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