PORTLAND, Maine — Jay Groome realized a worthwhile lesson as he labored again from the Tommy John surgical procedure he had in 2018: Patience.
“It kind of made me a firm believer in don’t look too far ahead,” Groome, one of many Red Sox’ high pitching prospects, stated this week. “I feel even after I was rehabbing, I used to be wanting too far forward, so I might get down on myself quite a bit, as a result of I wasn’t at that stage.
“But I finally realized everyone’s different, just move at your own pace and time will work itself out.”
Six years since being drafted by the Red Sox within the first spherical, Groome is carrying that very same mindset. But it’s additionally onerous for him to not daydream slightly.
It’s an thrilling time for the highest pitching prospects within the Red Sox’ system. Some, like Josh Winckowski and Connor Seabold, are getting big-league alternatives. Others are shifting as much as Triple-A, like high pitching prospect Brayan Bello. Chris Murphy, an in depth good friend of Groome, bought the decision to Worcester final week.
Groome, in the meantime, is constant to grind away in Double-A Portland, the place he’s been pitching since final September. He’s one in all two pitchers on the 40-man roster (Bryan Mata, too) who’re in Double-A, the remainder in Triple-A or the majors. But whereas he could also be a bit behind, Groome doesn’t really feel too distant from experiencing his goals.
“It’s always in the back of my head, especially now that Murph got promoted,” Groome stated. “It’s like, wow, it’s one step closer. Who knows what can happen? Just keep being diligent with your work. It paid off for Murph.”
When he returned from Tommy John in 2019, Groome stated he set two objectives for himself: Stay wholesome and pitch within the huge leagues.
The latter, clearly, will take extra time, however he has stayed wholesome. He simply wanted to exhibit some extra endurance to actually begin proving himself once more. After COVID-19 canceled the 2020 minor league season, Groome lastly skilled a full season in 2021, when he made 18 begins for Salem earlier than shifting as much as Portland for his remaining three begins.
This season, Groome has been making an attempt to construct on that. The outcomes have been up and down – his walks are up – however that’s a part of the method as he builds extra confidence and reveals he can proceed to be relied on each 5 days by way of a full season.
“It’s just going out there and proving to himself that he can continue to do that and work at a high level,” Double-A pitching coach Lance Carter stated. “He’s on a mission, and he really is focused. I think last year was a big builder of that.”
Groome is aware of that to make it to the subsequent degree of his profession, he has to proceed to hone in on his secondary pitches, notably the changeup and slider he’s been enhancing on the previous couple of years. Both pitches he looks like are coming alongside effectively.
The left-handed Groome stated he’s joyful together with his slider’s progress, however desires to do a greater job of placing away lefties with it like did final season. He’s been watching video and pinpointing how he had success with the pitch final season. Meanwhile, he stated the changeup is a pitch that over the course of June, he was experimenting with a bit. He needed to play it within the zone to see what sort of contact he may induce with it, slightly than pitch for swings and misses on a regular basis.
Groome stated his focus this season is making an attempt to assault the strike zone as a lot as he can.
“That’s how I want to be, that’s what the Red Sox want out of me and at the end of the day, it’s my job to execute the pitches,” Groome stated. “I’m so diligent in my work and my bullpens and throwing program. I used to be kind of laid back on that stuff and I just know that’s what’s going to help me get ready and get me better each week.”
Carter, who spent a while with Groome in Lowell after he was drafted in 2016 however has labored with him way more carefully now as his pitching coach, is seeing the lefty’s elevated confidence in his secondary pitches.
“Any time the more weapons that you can have, it’s about throwing them for strikes and quality strikes, not just having the pitch, but the quality of the pitch and being able to throw them in the strike zone in all counts, and I think that’s where he’s growing,” Carter stated. “Having confidence to be able to throw something other than just his fastball and curveball in those counts, to both left-handed and right-handed hitters. I think that’s something he has to do to be able to pitch at the major league level and he’s getting better and better at it.”
When that point comes is clearly unsure proper now, however Groome is doing all the pieces in his energy to be ready for the subsequent degree of his profession – wherever and every time which may be. He sees the alternatives his fellow prospects are getting, and whereas his previous has taught him to not suppose too far forward, he’s human sufficient to know the alternatives out there in his close to future.
“Being up here, it’s nice because there always is that thought that I’m one call away, especially with everything that happens now with COVID,” Groome stated. “Guys go down with COVID, you see how quick some stuff can change. I just know I want to be ready for anything that happens and when I get my opportunity, I’m going to run with it.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com