Hirsh Now Relieving for Sky Sox
Jason Hirsh has been demoted to the bullpen at Triple-A Colorado Springs, having lost his spot in the rotation after prolonged struggles. He went 5-6 with a 6.98 ERA in 16 starts for the Sky Sox.
The move comes the week after Hirsh cleared waivers, was removed from the Rockies 40-man roster and assigned outright to the Sky Sox. He had been optioned to Colorado Springs at the end of spring training.
With Esmil Rogers joining the Sky Sox’s rotation July 9, Adam Eaton pitching well and Greg Smith healthy (he made his third start for the Sky Sox on Thursday), Hirsh, 27, finds himself pitching long relief. Thursday, he gave up three hits and two runs in 1 2/3 innings against Fresno with one walk and one strikeout.
Pitching for the first time in nine days following a break for the Pacific Coast League-International League All-Star Game, Hirsh averaged 88 mph with his fastball and 82 mph with his slider. The command and stuff of his slider were rated below average. While he had average fastball command, the pitch was graded below average.
In other farm news, left-handed reliever Xavier Cedeno was moved back to high Class A Modesto from Double-A Tulsa on Wednesday. Cedeno, who turns 23 next month, was having trouble against left-handed hitters and went 3-2 with a 4.79 ERA in 28 games for the Drillers with 22 walks and 25 strikeouts in 47 innings.
Cedeno became expendable at Tulsa when left-handed reliever Matt Reynolds was promoted there from Modesto. Reynolds has made two scoreless appearances for the Drillers after going 5-3 with a 1.29 ERA in 39 games for Modesto with eight walks and 58 strikeouts in 49 innings. He throws an 87-88 mph fastball, which he commands to both sides of the plate, has a put-away, split-fingered pitch and a slider and changeup. Reynolds has shown the ability to throw any pitch for strikes at any point in the count.
Tulsa reliever Shane Lindsday (elbow strain), who last pitched May 6, is making progress. He threw a 35-pitch bullpen _ just fastballs and changeups _ on Thursday and is scheduled to use all his pitches in a 45-pitch bullpen Saturday.
Reliever Chris Malone, who suffered a broken thumb in spring training, was activated at Modesto, where he went 2-4 with a 4.04 ERA last year. Reliever Carlos Luna was sent to short-season Class A Tri-City. Luna had been transferred from extended spring training to Modesto on May 4 and went 1-1 with a 5.52 ERA in 22 apperances with the Nuts.
Colorado Springs reliever Kurt Birkins, a left-hander, went on the disabled list July 8 with a right groin strain. Birkins has been riding a stationary bike and has not resumed throwing. He’s 2-1 with a 3.74 ERA in 20 games, including seven starts.
Finally, Greg Reynolds, whose only 2009 appearance came April 9 when Colorado Springs opened its season, threw out to 100 feet Thursday and has rejoined the Sky Sox to continue his rehabilitation with them, rather than in Denver with Scott Murayama, the organization’s rehabilitation coordinator. Reynolds will continue his rehab with Sky Sox trainer Heath Townsend but isn’t close to beginning a rehab assignment.
Bad news about Hirsch. I thought he was going to make in the bigs. Surprised he has lost so much speed and command since his broken leg. Hopefully he can figure out the cause and get it corrected.
Jack – any updates Greg Smith’s progress? Looks like he has 3 consecutive starts under his belt in July and the numbers look ok.
I didn’t know that Hirsh had cleared waivers. I guess that’s what happens when you’re 27 years old and still struggling mightily at AAA. Shows how fine the line is between success and failure. Right now he looks like he’s nearing the end of the line. An 88 mph fastball without pinpoint control is not a recipe for a major league career. Too bad.
Marc,
Greg Smith is doing fine. At this point, he just needs to stay healthy, make his turn consistently and accumulate innings, having missed so many earlier in the season.
Surprised he has lost so much speed and command since his broken leg.
I think a subsequent shoulder injury is what did the damage.
It’s too bad. Despite his minor league awards, I don’t think he he had that top of the rotation potential due to the descriptions of his stuff. He probably could have been another Jeff Francis type, though, and that would have helped quite a bit.
Hirsh had a terrible shoulder injury that was as close to a torn rotator cuff as you can have, with out actually tearing it. It’s sad he’s not recovered. Back to back minor league pitcher of the year made him as big a pitching prospect as one could be.
And now he’s about done. Truly sad.
Back to back minor league pitcher of the year made him as big a pitching prospect as one could be.
That description makes it seem like he was a Kershaw type prospect. Did he ever have that type of stuff/ceiling? His strikeout rates in AAA were never that good, and I don’t think he compensated by having a great sinker. He also didn’t appear to have A class stuff when he pitched for Colorado in 2007.
Did he ever have that type of stuff/ceiling?
I recall him being a top 10 prospect according to some sources. Yes he was big time when the Rockies got him. no, His K rates weren’t that outstanding.
Did he make any of those top 10 lists based on his stuff, or did he make them based on the numbers he put up? Thank You.
Hirsh’s stuff was never considered good enough to make him a blue chip prospect, despite his steadily excellent performances in the minors. We wouldn’t have gotten him (and Taveras and Buchholz) for Jennings if he had been. I had viewed him as a potential Chris Young type — very tall with that high delivery that created a difficult plane for hitters. And I think that’s the track he was on until injuries derailed him.