The day before the Washington Nationals’ 26-year-old 2018 fourth-round pick was set to make his MLB debut, Davey Martinez spoke with Jake Irvin to get him into a routine on his first day. The sixth-year manager told his right-hander to continue attacking the strike zone and attacking batters, as he did in the minor leagues.
“It’s all about throwing to the strike zone,” Martinez said. “…It’s about attacking the strike zone. I told him, ‘Look, you’ve had some success in the minor leagues, you’ll meet someday.’ [Pitching Coach Jim] Hickey and the catcher stay in attack mode and try to get early strikes and early swings, but the biggest key is for him to try to throw strikes and get ahead. ”
Irvin posted an overall ERA of 3.80 in four seasons with the Nationals, but missed the 2021 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, posting a 5.64 ERA, 5.27 FIP, 4.43 BB/9, and 8.06 K/9. Recorded. He started just five games for Triple-A Rochester earlier this season before learning he got the call.
“He took advantage of his fastball,” Martinez said when asked about Irvin’s success in getting up. If he can do that and throw both a fastball, a curveball and a changeup for strikes, he will be effective.
“He’s been working on it and he did really well on his last outing, so I hope he continues that today.”
“He’s a big, physical pitcher” Nationals GM Mike Rizzo told 106.7 The Fan on Sports Junkies in D.C.provides a scouting report on Irvin before his debut.
“He’s got good stuff, but his development is really stunted. He took a year with Tommy John surgery and another year with the COVID season. He’s really — At 26 years old — He has little professional experience, but has developed to the point where he started the season in Triple-A, and he has a big fastball in the mid-90s and a slider/changeover that we’ll use. Watch him attack the strike zone today. Throw and make strikes. [hitters] Put the ball in play and let the defense do what they have to do. ”
Irvin ended up starting 24 games for the Nationals, posting a 4.61 ERA, 5.31 FIP, 54 walks, 99 strikeouts, and a .255/.340/.431 batting average in 121 IP at the end of the year. left. He started in six games from early August to early September, posting a 2.65 ERA, 4.64 FIP, and a batting average of .226/.300/.387, but struggled in consecutive games and was unable to put it together. . First RBI in the majors.
Get through the season healthy* and test yourself against teams like atlanta braves The last match he played against gave the right-hander a chance to see where he is in his development and learn what he needs to improve on.
“I think that’s kind of what I’m trying to do now: learn every out,” Irvin said after getting his final out. We’re thinking about a lot of things right now and trying to learn and absorb as much as we can, and we want to be in that position. [the Braves are] Next year. So, learning a lot from that, watching what they’re doing, just continuing to pitch, compete, and try to learn more about myself and myself as the season gets deeper. ”
Irvin said it was a team effort that allowed him to stay in good shape late this year.
“Both the training staff and weight training staff have been doing a really great job of helping me get into a good routine and taking care of my body,” the new starter explained. ”
[ed. note – “* = His season effectively ended a few days later when he went on the IL with right ankle tendinitis.”]
“His foot, right foot, ankle is a little swollen,” Martinez explained when he finally declared Irvin’s season over. I don’t know what happened, but his leg was quite swollen. ”
“He fought me a little bit. He wanted to finish the season.” Martinez said as quoted in MASN.
“I told him, ‘You’ve been really good this year.’ Let’s build on that and get ready for next year.”
