After a strong winter in Venezuela, reliever Jorge Julio has signed a minor league contract with the Pirates and received an invitation to Spring Training, reports César Augusto Márquez at the Venezuelan newspaper Lider en Deportes (link in Spanish). However, Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that the Pirates did not invite the pitcher to Spring Training (Twitter link).
Julio last pitched in the majors for the Brewers in 2009, when his longstanding control problems led to his release after just 15 appearances. Julio never stopped throwing hard or getting strikeouts, though, and his 2010 full-season campaign with the Bridgeport Bluefish of the independent Atlantic League was a success. He struck out 57 batters in 55 innings without allowing a home run, on his way to a 1.15 ERA. This winter with the Tiburones de La Guaira, Julio has again seemed to be in control, as he managed a 1.95 ERA with 22 strikeouts in 27 innings.
This is a good low-risk/high-reward type of signing. Julio has the potential to dominate out of the bullpen.
Ya the buccos stole one here i think, julio could be effective
This is a good signing. Maybe he can be a nice setup man. Does anyone have a scouting report on his velocity?
Reminds me of Denny Bautista!
Let’s hope not in looks, Bautista looked like a bug.
Used to be one of my favs. Good signing.
mid 90s, gets frustrated at times with strike zone and will grove one in and give up alot of homers, in baltimore where i seen him they used him pretty much solely as a closer, I think he’d thrive as a 7 or 8th inning guy when ya need a strike out.
Is that true?? Was he really throwing 93-95 for Tiburones this winter?
it´s true, even a little more. I saw it
it´s true, even a little more. I saw it
Is that true?? Was he really throwing 93-95 for Tiburones this winter?
The bullpen seems to be coming together nicely with power arms, julio, hanrahan, meek, asciano coming off an injury. At least this regime seems to have a blueprint of what they want their team to look like.
Don’t forget Chris Resop!
I would’ve loved to see him sign with the Braves, just so we can hear Fredi Gonzalez say “he’s our guy” every time he gives up runs.
This is how you put together a low-cost bullpen: you stockpile guys with interesting stuff and roll the dice on them.
I could see him having a good half season and being flipped for prospects, a la Dotel.
If Julio does well with the Bucs, I would expect Ned Colletti to give up Andre Ethier for him come July
I was following his progress when he was playing for Bridge Port Bluefish. I was initially following Wily Mo Pena but after he left I started to follow Jorge Julio more. He did very well down there and pitched great down in Mexico.