Chicago White Sox: 5 players out of MiLB options
Javy Guerra – RHP (reliever)
Aug 13, 2014; San Francisco, CA, USA; Chicago White Sox relief pitcher Javy Guerra (41) pitches the ball against the San Francisco Giants during the seventh inning at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Javy Guerra has a solid shot to make the bullpen in ’14, but he’s in competition with others, including Cleto, who is also on the list.
Guerra is coming off a ’14 season (his first with the White Sox) where he pitched 46.1 innings, with a 2.91 ERA in 42 outings. Guerra pitched well at times last season but did allow 15 earned runs in relief.
He did have six saves, so he does have that ability as well, but his control was off at times with five hit batters and 20 walks. Guerra also allowed three home runs, and the opposition hit .246 off him last season.
This spring, however, has seen Guerra have an ERA of 2.84 in six games (6.1 innings pitched). He’s held spring opponents to a .217 average, where he’s allowed two earned runs off five hits and three walks.
Guerra is a good piece to have in the White Sox bullpen, but it might come down to whether he’s able to out-duel his competition within his own locker room, and this season he does have more competition compared to last year.
In all honesty, I don’t care which relievers make the bullpen, just as long as the White Sox pick the best players by their performance, and this year I believe that will happen more than ever with a “win-now” mindset.
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