Indians right-handed relief prospect Nick Sandlin is out for the season with a forearm strain, according to the team’s official Tribe Insider Twitter news feed.
Forearm troubles limited the 22-year-old Sandlin to 26 1/3 innings between the Double-A and Triple-A levels this season. When Sandlin was healthy enough to pitch, the 2018 second-round pick from Southern Mississippi held his own.
Making his debut at the minors’ top level, Sandlin gave up a mere five hits and racked up 11 strikeouts over nine innings with Columbus. A pair of home runs and seven walks helped lead to four runs against, however. To this point, Sandlin owns a 2.68 ERA with an impressive 13.2 K/9 against 3.2 BB/9 in 50 1/3 minor league frames.
At the outset of 2019, MLB.com (No. 18) and FanGraphs (No. 23) each placed Sandlin among the Indians’ 30 best prospects. The more bullish outlet, MLB.com, suggested Sandlin could have made a case for a major league promotion as early as this season. Now, though, that’ll have to wait until at least 2020.
This does not sound good at all. It seems that timetables stretching into the next season at the earliest for a return are particularly disappointing.
he should be starting when ge comes back. Cleveland can use him as a starter if Buaer, Carrasco, ans Kluber dont stick arround for the long haul.
He was drafted as a reliever and potential closer, had never started as a pro. They have plenty of other starters coming up.
that doesnt make it out of the question permanently. look at what the guy did as a starter in college on 2018. yes he is a good RP, but perhaps he has more value as a starter.
When the teams scouting report says
“ At 5’11” and without great stuff, Sandlin appears destined for the bullpen, despite possessing four pitches in his arsenal.”, he’s staying in bullpen.
He is pretty much a sidearmer, who likely won’t be allowed to face many lefties in the show. Starting is kind of out of the question. Go watch video of him throwing on youtube, and ask yourself if anyone in the majors that is a starter throws like that.
Besides, they already have depth at starter. Civale is in AAA, McKenzie is almost back, Eli Morgan is dominating AA and Adam Scott looks good so far in AA as well.
Nooooooooooooooooooooooooo………..