In the fourth year of his six-year/$140 million contract with Washington, D.C., southpaw Patrick Corbin appeared in the 2022 Nationals overall (6-19) with a 6.31 ERA, 4.83 FIP and 49 walks. (2.89 BB/9). , 128 strikeouts (7.55 K/9), and against the .321/.374/.513 line in 31 starts and 152 2⁄3 innings. He will start the season opener in the capital next Thursday afternoon as the start of his fifth season with the club.
Corbin and Knott hope the 33-year-old lefty will make a comeback this year after three subpar years after a strong run in 2019. world series Won the championship in the first year with the team.
“He came to spring training as a different guy,” Corbin’s manager Dave Martinez said this week. In the words of MLB.com’s Jessica Camerato.
“He has a lot of confidence. He knows he can do this. I am thinking. [We want him] Focus on getting one out at any cost. Drop the ball to the ground. Don’t worry about beating everyone up. And that’s what he came up with. “
“I think he’s a different pitcher than he was in 2017, 2018, 2019,” GM Mike Rizzo said of the pitcher signed as a free agent this spring.
“He’s beaten more guys. He’s a pitch-to-contact player right now with the ability to strike out when he needs to, but he has to stay inside himself. I think he still has to believe in his stuff I think he has to hit the strike zone you’ve heard me say that for the past two years he pitches in You have to do it, you have to pitch aggressively, and you have to make faster contact. [it] It will help him, but the onus is on him to pitch better, leverage his stuff, and trust his stuff again, like when he voted for Cy Young several years in a row.
Corbin finished fifth in NL Cy Young Award voting in 2018 and 11th in 2019, but his struggles over the past few seasons make those years seem like a thing of the past.
In naming Corbin the starter for next week’s season opener, his manager said he’s seen the left-handed Corbin gear up for a recovery campaign, and Martinez is confident going into his fifth season with the Nationals. have.
“Like I said before, I never felt bad for Patrick,” Martinez said. In the words of MASN writer Mark Zuckerman“We know what he can do at any given time. Over the winter he worked really hard, came into spring training in great shape, planned and pitched well.” So he’s going to get the ball on day one.”
Corbin doesn’t skimp on getting things started with the Nationals.
“It’s an honor for Davey to allow me to come out with the ball and show what I can do,” he said.
“Opening Day is a special day for everyone. Lots of excitement. Everyone is 0-0 and everyone has the same goal of winning. There is no better way to start than to get there.”
It’s the start of Corbin’s 11th big league season (After a year off to recover from Tommy John surgery in 2014, it’s his 12th season since his debut.), and he said he knows how rare these kinds of opportunities are for pitchers.
“I think this will be my 12th season. It looks like it was just called up yesterday,” Corbyn said.
“Blown away. You try to cherish these moments and really appreciate them. They don’t come around very often.”
This was Corbin’s second consecutive Opener nomination as he allowed five hits and two runs in four innings. New York Mets April 7th of last season.
this time he will take Atlanta Braves at Nationals Park in Game 1 of the 162 next week.
