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Mr. Ed -> RE: Former Twins News (9/5/2016 2:31:45 PM)
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Thank you Twins incompetence
In a sense, Saturday was Day 1 of the next phase of Alex Meyer’s career.
Meyer was promoted to join the Angels and tabbed for a start on Wednesday, replacing Brett Oberholtzer in the rotation.
“I’m thankful for my time with the Twins, but it’s definitely good to have a fresh start and an opportunity to come somewhere where they’re happy to have me,” Meyer said Saturday. “I’m happy to have a fresh start in a new organization.”
Meyer was the centerpiece of somewhat surprising trade of Hector Santiago to the Twins on Aug. 1. They took a shot that Meyer, once one of baseball’s top pitching prospects, could finally fulfill his potential.
A bad year in 2015 and a shoulder injury in 2016 dropped his stock in the industry, but the Angels are hoping he can rebound. He was still throwing in the upper 90s in the past month in the Angels farm system.
“Like all of baseball, you are drawn to his power arm,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “This guy was a first-round pick. He has a nice delivery, spins the ball. From some of the tough spots he’s gone through in his career, he’s evolved. He’s really thrown the ball well down there. You want to see him up here against major league hitters and see how his stuff plays.”
Meyer pitched in five games at three levels of the Angels farm system, from the rookie level Arizona League to Triple-A Salt Lake City. In 11 2/3 innings, he had a 3.09 ERA, with 21 strikeouts and two walks.
Meyer, 26, said he feels 100 percent past the shoulder problem – an impingement, he said – that cost him two months this summer.
“The other night when I threw in Salt Lake was the best I’ve felt since coming back,” Meyer said.
Meyer also said since he got to the Angels system the coaches have shown him some ways to prevent a recurrence of the injury.
Given that and how he’s felt and his success in the last month, Meyer is optimistic that he can be the pitcher the Angels hope.
“I don’t have any lack of confidence,” he said. “Last year was the first year I really struggled. It was just a bad year in general. Before that, I was good. Before the injury this year I felt good. I don’t really have any concerns going forward.”
As for his Angels debut on Wednesday afternoon at Oakland, Meyer may only be able to throw four or five innings. He hasn’t thrown more than 64 pitches in the last month.
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