Washington Nationals: Jeremy Hellickson impresses on debut
By Ron Juckett
The battle for Washington Nationals fifth starter is joined. Jeremy Hellickson dazzles in his first start and gives DC another rotation option.
Washington Nationals pitcher Jeremy Hellickson made an impressive debut Friday night.
Scheduled for 60 pitches versus the Miami Marlins in Jupiter, Hellickson tossed 69 over four full innings. He scattered three hits, a walk and a run relying on a fastball barely hitting 90-mph and enough junk balls to make Antique Roadshow regulars jealous.
On the night, he fanned four and mixed his breaking pitches over both sides of the plate low in the strike zone. His curve as sharp, breaking in an ideal 12-to-6 clock face over the plate. The knuckle-curve danced and his slow fastball was enough of a change of pace to keep the Marlins guessing.
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When you consider Hellickson faced the Marlins starting lineup in his first start of the year that makes for a great debut.
After shaking off rust, and hitting Derek Dietrich on the backside in the first, Hellickson’s delivery relaxed, and he found confidence in his pitches. If there was no set limit, he could have thrown at least one more inning, if not two. He threw a pair of clean innings, including his last.
Outside of a bullpen session last Sunday following a red-eye flight from California, this was Hellickson’s first organized game action this spring. Although he kept in shape on the West Coast, there is a huge difference between facing high school batters and genuine major-league hitters.
Washington, the lone team to call, hopes he can earn the last spot in the starting rotation. Hellickson is on a minor-league contract with his first opt-out date falling on May 1. He will be in DC well before that.
A.J. Cole, who will start the season as the fifth starter, struggled at the same time as Hellickson as Cole faced the Houston Astros at home. As Hellickson took command if his start, Cole fell apart. In his four innings, he allowed five hits and five walks. He surrendered all three Houston runs.
If Cole cannot handle the pressure of starting—and, to be fair, Houston is the defending world champions—then his time must stay limited until Hellickson stretches out. Erick Fedde, optioned to Triple-A Syracuse, needs regular work to mature while the combination of Edwin Jackson and Tommy Milone adds little.
Friday was a major step forward for the former All-Star. As Hellickson bounces back from an underwhelming 2017, he is primed to be a needed boost to a strong rotation.
A bad start for Cole during Washington’s first trip to Atlanta in early April will bring a change. One more good start from Hellickson moves Cole to the pen.