Pirates A to Z: After being shut down by injury, Michael Feliz might be down to last chance - TribLIVE

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During the offseason, the Tribune-Review will offer Pirates A to Z, an alphabetical player-by-player look at the 40-man roster, from outfielder Anthony Alford to pitcher Trevor Williams. (The only MLB player with a surname that starts with Z is Detroit Tigers pitcher Jordan Zimmerman).

Player: Michael Feliz

Position: Relief pitcher

Throws: Right

Age: 27

Height: 6-foot-4

Weight: 240 pounds

2020 MLB statistics: 0-0, 32.40 ERA/3.60 WHIP in 1 2/3 innings over three games.

Contract: Enters second year of arbitration eligibility in 2021, after agreeing to a $1.1 million salary this past season.

Acquired: Traded by the Houston Astros, along with third baseman Colin Moran, pitcher Joe Musgrove and outfielder Jason Martin, in exchange for pitcher Gerrit Cole in January 2018.

This past season: After starting the 2019 season in Triple-A Indianapolis, Feliz arrived at spring training intent on making the major-league roster on Opening Day.

He had a strong spring training, allowing one earned run in 4 2/3 innings (2.08 ERA) in Grapefruit League play, and expressed confidence that he was prepared to prove he belonged in the big-league bullpen.

“I like where my pitches are now,” Feliz said. “The fastball is my best pitch, and I throw it for strikes more now and my slider has gotten better. My mind was right at the end of last season. Then I went home, and instead of playing winter ball I rested and then started my workouts. I feel really good. I feel like I’m going to have a good season.”

Feliz got off to a good start, pitching a scoreless eighth inning with 12 strikes in 18 pitches, to help preserve a 5-1 win at St. Louis for Derek Shelton’s first MLB managerial victory on July 26.

The next two outings, however, were disastrous.

The next night, at Milwaukee, Feliz entered the ninth with a 5-1 lead and facing the bottom of the order. He gave up a single, followed by a strikeout, a walk, a single, hit Keston Hiura with the bases loaded and got a groundout that scored another run to cut it to 5-3. Kyle Crick replaced Feliz with runners on second and third, and promptly gave up a game-tying double to Ryan Braun. The Brewers won, 6-5, in 11 innings.

After giving up a two-run home run to Kyle Schwarber in a 4-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Aug. 1, Feliz was shut down with right forearm discomfort.

The Pirates decided to play it safe, placing him on the injured list and allowing his arm to rest during the shortened season.

The future: Feliz started his major league career with so much promise, flashing a fastball that touched 98 mph and setting a Houston Astros rookie record with 13.15 strikeouts per nine innings while going 8-1 with a 4.43 ERA in 47 appearances.

The following year, he was on the 40-man roster when the Astros won the World Series but was sidelined by right shoulder discomfort.

He struck out the side today, so we figure it's time for a proper introduction…

🎥: Catching up with Michael Feliz

Give him a follow: @laflechaazuana pic.twitter.com/EQRXvDgclX

— Pirates (@Pirates) February 25, 2018

Feliz still has strikeout ability – he has a 12.0 strikeouts per nine in his career – but his inconsistency and injuries have been troublesome. And he’s allowed 18 homers in 105 2/3 innings with the Pirates, including 11 in 2019.

After agreeing to a $1.1 million salary last season, Feliz enters his second year of arbitration eligibility as a potential candidate to be non-tendered.

But Pirates general manager Ben Cherington has made it clear that adding pitching, especially to the bullpen, is a priority. And after losing Feliz, Crick, Clay Holmes and closer Keone Kela to injuries, the bullpen blew its share of leads last season.

Cherington said both Feliz and Holmes are cleared to pitch, and mentioned that Feliz could pitch in winter ball in his native Dominican Republic to make up for some of the innings he missed last summer.

“From a health perspective,” Cherington said, “we don’t have any reason to believe they won’t be ready to go.”

Feliz could be down to his final chance.

Kevin Gorman is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Kevin by email at kgorman@triblive.com or via Twitter .

Categories: Pirates/MLB | Sports

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