Permanent bullpen role a relief for Jays’ Pannone
Hard-throwing lefty settles into a routine, and the coaches like what they’re seeing
For much of the 2019 season, Thomas Pannone didn’t know if he was coming or going.
It was almost literally the case for the Blue Jays pitcher who served as a starter and a reliever both in Toronto and with the triple-a affiliate in Buffalo over a long, grinding six months.
The tumultuous season for Pannone was arguably at its most absurd on July 18 when he travelled seven hours by car from Buffalo to Boston to make a start against the Red Sox. He can look back and laugh now, but that journey was certainly indicative of what would have been a gruelling campaign for anyone, and especially so for a young pitcher trying to settle into a routine as he strives to find his way in the big leagues.
A progressive off-season from the Jays’ front office in terms of adding starting pitching depth has changed that uncertainty for the Rhode Island native, however.
Instead of being a fringe candidate for a starting role, Pannone is now a front-runner for a permanent spot in the bullpen.
“Last year when I was bouncing back and forth, whether it was from triple A to the big leagues or from starting to the ’pen, it was a lot to handle,” Pannone said in an interview.
“Having one set role, I can wake up every day and come to the park knowing I’ll be coming out of the bullpen.
“It’s a mindset. Having a clear idea of what I’m going to be doing is definitely more comfortable than not.”
The vanity side (and earning potential) of the game is such that most pitchers aim to wins jobs as starters. But when the Jays started adding proven starters in the off-season — Chase Anderson followed by Tanner Roark followed by Hyun-jin Ryu — Pannone had a solid idea of where his focus needed to be.
“It was kind of obvious to me and when (Jays coaches) asked me what they thought my role should be, I pretty much had it pinpointed,” he said.
“I was good with it and I was prepared for it. Anything to get in the game and help the team and show them what I can do.”
While the prospects for his future were coming into focus during the winter, Pannone set out to improve his delivery and strength, and in the early days of camp anyway, the results have shown.
“He’s stronger. Physically he’s in great shape, and the ball’s coming out nice,” Jays pitching coach Pete Walker said.
“I think he’s excited for the role as a reliever. Short stints. It allows him to be more aggressive and more attacking in his approach.
“We’ll see how it translates into games, but I’m looking forward to seeing that.”
Pannone believes he’s had a productive off-season, adding some zip to his fastball that has been touching 95 miles per hour. Not having to worry about the starting role will allow him to further refine his pitches and attack hitters with more ferocity.
“My winter was really productive,” Pannone said. “I got a lot of good work in. Simplified my delivery and found out what works best for me. I’m able to repeat what I’m doing with all three of my pitches. It allows me to get my arm through a little quicker than I did last year. It’s like I’m in a good spot.
“My (velocity on my fastball) has been up a couple of ticks, but for me, it’s more a matter of the life on my stuff. Sometimes my fastball is 90 and it plays like its 94. Sometimes it’s 90 and it plays like it’s 90. When I have that extra jump on my fastball, which I feel like I do right now, I’m always in a good spot.”
The transition to the bullpen was perhaps inevitable for the 25-year-old. Certainly it’s a logical result considering his numbers from last season, when he posted a 3.54 ERA in his 30 relief outings. In his seven big-league starts, that number ballooned to 11.31.
After he embraced the challenge of focusing on a reliever’s role, Pannone was handed some further upside when MLB altered the rules requiring the bullpen arms to face a minimum of three hitters.
“It’s definitely a good thing for me, with the rule change, not facing just one hitter,” Pannone said.
“Obviously I’m good to go a distance. I can go in to face lefty, righty, lefty if that’s the situation, and I can go in and throw a couple of innings if they need me to do that.”
After a year of transitioning from starter to reliever, the lefty is looking forward to being able to properly prepare for his outings and grow into the role.
“Last year was my first true time being in the bullpen and I felt very comfortable doing it,” Pannone said. “I’m happy that I came in this spring training and (the Jays) communicated with me.
“Hopefully I’ll get the hang of the bullpen more and more, and maybe get in the later innings as I progress in the ’pen. I’m excited for the opportunity.”