Ariel Pena Could Become 2015′s Jeremy Jefress For Milwaukee Brewers
By Pete Schwichtenberg
@schwick26_pete
Getty Images
This past week, Milwaukee Brewers prospect Ariel Pena was taken off of the 40-man roster. Generally, when a move like this is made the future looks very bleak. But with a dynamite fastball, Pena could become this year’s version of Jeremy Jefferess if he gets a chance on the major league roster.
By being removed from the 40-man roster, there is a chance that Pena could be nabbed in the upcoming Rule-five draft, but the Brewers are gambling that is late season elbow injury will keep possible suitors away.
Since coming over as the third piece of the Zack Greinke trade, Pena has showed a tremendous ability to strike batters out. This past season as a starter in AAA Nashville, he struck out 140 batters in just 128.1 innings (an average of 9.8 strikeouts per every nine innings of work). His only down fall has been his walk rate. At times, he completely loses his command; this past season, he walked 75 hitters and in his career, he has a walk rate of nearly four and a half walks for every nine innings.
These career numbers are strikingly similar to former first round draft pick Jefress, who had a triumphant return to Milwaukee last season. Jeffress constantly battled control throughout his career, until finally finding the plate last season. Though he has a career walk rate of five batters per nine innings, Jeffress only walked seven batters in 28.2 innings of work last season, as he pounded the strike zone repeatedly and became the team’s most effective pitcher out of the pen. Once a starter, he has clearly appeared to have found his role in the back end of the Brewers’ bullpen.
A transformation of this caliber for Pena is not out of the question either. Just like Jefferess, Pena possesses electric power and life on his pitches. By moving to the bullpen, Pena could steady his focus and gain effectiveness. There is a shortage of power bullpen arms in the league, and if Pena can straighten things out, he has the talent to soon join Jeffress as another power arm in the back end of the Brewers’ bullpen.
Pete Schwichtenberg is a Milwaukee Brewers writer for Rantsports. Follow @schwick26_pete, Like him on Facebook, or add him to your Google Network.
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