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Cincinnati Reds starter Michael Lorenzen pitched a gem, as the Reds won 5-2 Sunday. Lorenzen’s bat proved to be effective once again. Hitting .265 on the year, his success hitting may remind many of another Reds pitcher. His name is Mike Leake.
Leake has always been a keep weapon, as he can both hit and pitch. In fact, the Reds have often used him as a pinch-hitter if needed. The reason behind Leake’s hitting success is thanks to his past as a position player.
Reds rookie Lorenzen is similar to Leake as he too has a past as a position player. In 2013, he spilt time between center field and closer for Cal State Fullerton. When the Reds drafted him, he stuck with pitching and now finds himself in the team’s starting rotation.
The greater question will be whether Lorenzen can keep this productive hitting going. As you can see below, during each of their rookie seasons, they not only impressed with their pitching, but their hitting as well.
Mike Leake: 28 games / .333 avg. / 0 HRs / 3 RBIs
Michael Lorenzen: 15 games / .263 avg. / 0 HRs / 3 RBIs
Their pitching style is the same as well. Neither Leake nor Lorenzen are strikeout masters, both averaging around five per nine innings (see rookie seasons below):
Mike Leake: 24 GS / 8-4 / 4.23 ERA / 5.92 Ks
Michael Lorenzen: 10 games / 3-2 / 3.49 ERA / 5.55 Ks
If the Reds do trade Mike Leake, they may not be losing as much as they think. When setting these pitchers side-by-side, Lorenzen has proven to be Leake 2.0, which may make trading Leake a little bit easier for the Reds in the coming weeks.
Chad Troyan is a baseball and football writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @ChadTroyan15, “Like”him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google
