Rosado a rising star among minor league coaches
TRENTON » In the eighth inning of Friday night’s game, Thunder pitcher Matt Marsh stood on the mound against Erie slugger Christin Stewart with a 3-2 count and a runner on first in a tight contest. Before Marsh toed the rubber, pitching coach Jose Rosado jogged out of the dugout for a quick chat.
When Rosado — known around the clubhouse as ‘Rosy’ — speaks, the pitchers listen.
“We had a runner on first and two outs against a power guy,” Rosado explained outside the Thunder clubhouse following what ended up a 4-2 victory. “In a 3-2 count, I feel like he’s looking fastball, and I wanted to make sure we didn’t throw a fastball in that spot.
“Not because I’d rather face a guy 0-0 count than 3-2 throwing a fastball, so I was like let me see if I can trick him and make him thing we are going to be aggressive with him because we don’t want to put the tying run on base.” Rosado’s tip?
For Marsh to throw his palmball. Swing and a miss. Strike three.
“I told you,” manager Bobby Mitchell said with a smile. “You’ll notice when he makes trips to the mound, they’re all settled down. The panic is gone. Whatever anxiety there was, it’s gone because of his demeanor and the way he goes about his business.”
Rosado, a two-time AL All-Star with the Kansas City Royals in the late 90s, is in his third season as the Thunder’s pitching coach. He’s earning plaudits for the work he’s done over the past two summers in which Trenton has led the Eastern League in every statistical pitching category.
Through 55 games, the Thunder are on pace to better all of the numbers they compiled last season when they topped the league in ERA, shutouts and WHIP.
Here are the numbers thus far compared to 2016’s (in parentheses):
• ERA: 2.61 (3.12)
• Shutouts: 11 (15)
• WHIP: 1.19 (1.21)
“Our organization is doing a great job putting good guys together,” Rosado said. “I’m blessed to be part of this. I give all the credit to our pitchers, (and) we have some guys catching them calling a good game and that gives us an opportunity to win the game.”
While the Yankees’ system is chockfull of talent, don’t discount Rosado’s role in the success. He has a keen attention to detail that helps pitchers seamlessly transition between different levels in the organization.
Ronald Herrera, a 22-year-old right-hander, has blossomed under Rosado’s tutelage so much that he made his major league debut on Wednesday against the Angels in Los Angeles when the Yankees needed an arm for a shorthanded bullpen.
“He’s one of the biggest helps for me,” said Herrera, who has posted a 7-0 record with 1.07 ERA in eight starts.
“They asked about Ronald and I feel comfortable that he’s going to go at any level and give you good innings and throw strikes,” Rosado said. “I was 100 percent sure that he was going to be able to throw strikes. I didn’t have any doubt to say yes he could help you guys.”
Rosado, 42, is compiling a resume that the Yankees, and others, are taking notice of. Mitchell is sure that he’s on the radar of big league clubs and a stint as Puerto Rico’s pitching coach in the World Baseball Classic only reinforced the Jersey City native is trending upward.
“It’s a good feeling when you feel like, ‘OK, I can do this, too,’” Rosado said. “It helps to be able to be out there and gain more experience. I really wanted to put myself in a good position to gain more experience. The more experience I have, I can pass to our guys to help them reach their goals and their dreams.”
Maybe the near future holds a reunion in a major league dugout.
“I’m here and I enjoy this 100 percent,” Rosado said. “I give all my time and passion to our ballclub and the one thing I know is that I’m here with the Trenton Thunder. No doubt we all have goals, but personal and professional my goals are team goals.”