After posting a Yokohama franchise-record 1.55 ERA last season, White Sox starter Anthony Kay had comparable offers to stay in Japan, but the 31-year-old signed a two-year, $12 million pact with the White Sox to prove himself as a big league starter.
In compiling a 6.12 ERA through April, Kay got a demonstration of what major leaguers can do, even against 96 mph from the left side.
“In Japan, you can kind of overpower guys there because they don’t see velocity as much,” Kay told the Sun-Times. “I had to change my repertoire a little bit over here, rely on the soft stuff a little bit more because guys can handle velo.”
Specifically, Kay needed to show he could locate soft stuff in the strike zone, not just as chase pitches. Like many pitchers after Tommy John surgery, the action on Kay’s changeup is different from when it was his best pitch in college. He credits changing where the catcher sets up for helping him visualize where he wanted his changeup and sweeper to land; low and away from right-handed hitters.
“[Hitters] have to respect that,” said pitching coach Zach Bove. “If he’s landing the changeup and the sweeper, it slows them down to make the four-seam and the cutter play up even more.”
With that dynamic in place, Kay is now a stabilizing force in a Sox rotation where he once resembled a weak link, and is running a 3.46 ERA since May 1.
White Sox rotation is in place, if you squint
Manager Will Venable stipulated Wednesday that Erick Fedde and Jose Urquidy are part of the Sox rotation at present, though both pitched behind openers in the Crosstown series, and the former has bounced between roles throughout August.
“Technically on paper, it’s not the five starters,” Venable said. “But you look at Fedde and the way we have used him as a guy in the rotation spot, that is his spot. You saw what happened [Tuesday]. That was no different than how we have used him before. The only difference is we used him recently out of the pen as well. You expect that’s a spot he can cover, and then in the case of Urquidy, same type of deal.”
Fedde was moved to the bullpen when the Sox traded for Luis Castillo, back when their rotation included a healthy Davis Martin and Noah Schultz, before the latter was optioned. With 4⅔ innings of scoreless baseball Tuesday, Fedde should be in the starter mix for at least another turn.
Injury updates
Martin threw his first bullpen session Wednesday since hitting the IL for a blister on his right middle finger. The blister is basically healed, but the IL stay also offers Martin the chance to rest and reset his delivery mechanics. After a phenomenal first two months, he has a 7.06 ERA since June 1. He is eligible to be activated on Aug. 29.
Kyle Teel is on track to test his recovering left ankle running the bases this weekend. If he completes two successful days of running the bases, the Sox starting catcher will be cleared for a rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte.
Prospect lefty Cameron Johnson underwent surgery to remove loose bodies from his pitching elbow this week. Last month’s 15th round pick is expected to be ready by spring.