While leaving a team mid-season is unusual, this was likely mutually agreed the best move for everyone.
A minor league pitching coach looked at his video and predicted a fast turn around with the right situation.
I can't think of any Cajun pitcher
with better stuff. He cruises upper 90's with crazy movement. Farquhar pushed 100, but not before he turned pro. That is big league stuff all day. The delivery needed refinement to add command, which apparently has improved enough for Tampa to make the investment.
At 6-6 pushing 100 mph, he will need to prove more than once he can't pitch.
Tons of pitchers add velocity after they turn pro too. Scary to think. Conor is not a max effort guy either. There might be more in there.
That's the case for every player. Nobody gets to MLB and sticks because somebody else thinks they belong there.
The mental game is the other side of the coin. If he can develop the command to the point he knows the other team has no chance, then he will be fine.
To get there he will likely fail and need to pick himself up to go again, learning as he goes.
The Dominicans succeed because failure is not an option. They grow up in dirt floor huts. They have no Plan B.
Sometimes when you're 18-20 years old, there needs to be a culture too.
I'd say in your case, and no knock at all to CL because he tried to hold that culture at his age and fight other battles without much help, there needed to be more accountability and a sense of urgency. It wasn't there. AT ALL.
So much more in my thoughts about that...but it is what it is. Now two decades ago.
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)