Blue Sox add new arms as rotation begins to change

The Valley Blue Sox have added LHP Kaden Kimble (Mount St. Mary’s) and RHP Andrew Oppenheimer (Trinity) to the starting rotation, the team confirmed June 26. The changes are the first of what will be considerable turnover in the Blue Sox pitching staff.

On June 27,RHP Alex Hill (Mary Hardin-Baylor) was announced as the probable starter for Valley’s Friday night game versus the Bristol Blues at Mackenzie Stadium. However once the starting lineup was posted, “Kimble” was the name penciled in to take the mound.

“It's always a great feeling,” Kimble said. “You always want to see your name on the lineup. … Everybody says the starter throws the most innings or whatever it may be. I didn't happen to do that tonight, but it's a stepping stone.”

Kimble found out the night before his start that he would be getting the nod. He was scheduled to make a start in Valley’s next game at the Danbury Westerners on June 27, but a mix of injury concerns and external issues prompted Kimble’s bump up in the rotation.

Kimble lasted three innings, allowing four hits and one earned run while walking two and striking out one in a 4-2 loss to. He threw 70 pitches and faced 15 batters. 

Kimble’s best performance of the season came in relief. His first three performances out of the bullpen, saw him pitch a total of eight innings, allowing one earned run and collecting 10 strikeouts. His last two bullpen appearances June 9 and June 12 earned him an honorable mention for the NECBL’s pitcher of the week award.

However, Kimble has now had shorter than desired outings in his two starts this season. His most recent start was an improvement from his first, lasting an extra inning on six less pitches. Kimble admitted he prefers his bullpen role where he makes appearances more often, but is more than pleased to make starts for the Blue Sox.

“It's always a great feeling,” Kimble said. “Whether you're out of the bullpen, whether you're closing it in the ninth, whether you're the big starter for the day, it's all a blessing.”

The next day, Oppenheimer entered the rotation in his start versus the Danbury Westerners, where he threw five innings, allowing two hits and three earned runs while striking out one and walking two on 73 pitches. 

Reasons for the change

The move comes as a reaction to the departures of three starting pitchers. In correspondence to the departures, Oppenheimer, who was the ace of Division III Trinity College, joined the Blue Sox on June 27 and made his first start for the Valley Blue Sox that day. LHP Jon Shields (Angelo State) joined the Blue Sox on June 26, and was available June 27 but did not appear. 

RHP Jackson Hinchliffe (Richmond), who is in the transfer portal, missed his last scheduled start June 21 due to injury concerns and has since departed the team. Hinchliffe was one of Valley’s top starting pitchers in the two starts he made. He lasted five innings in his first start and six innings in his second start. 

RHP Nolan Geisler (UMass Lowell) is dealing with injury concerns and is unlikely to return this season. Geisler last pitched June 15, lasting two innings after his six inning start June 8. 

Perhaps the biggest loss for the Blue Sox will be RHP Dylan Reid (Brown). Reid, Valley’s opening day starter who has been off to one of the league’s best starts, will make one more start for the Blue Sox. The Blue Sox have won in all three of Reid’s starts, including the opening day start where he threw six innings of no-hit ball with six strikeouts. 

While the losses are not ideal, pitching coach Nick Hock had nothing but positives for the incoming pitchers filling the open roles.

“It’s very necessary right now,” Hock said. “We definitely need them, I’m excited to have them. I’m excited to watch all of our new arms, really. I think it’ll be a fun next couple of weeks.”

Changes like this are nothing new for head coach John Raiola. With over a decade of coaching experience in the NECBL, handling turnover is a regular task.

“It's kind of an ever-changing thing,” Raiola said. “We have it kind of set on paper and they know what those roles are, and then things change when injuries creep up and innings limits and all kinds of things.” 

Short term effects

With Geisler, Hinchliffe and Hill all missing their most recent starts, the Blue Sox bullpen has been called upon to throw more innings. In the Blue Sox’s past three games, no more than four pitchers have been available in relief. 

This means that most relief appearances have consisted of two or more innings pitched. RHP Gregory Bruno (Seton Hall) pitched two innings in relief after Kimble’s three inning start and has thrown for two innings in four of his five appearances this season.

Bruno said he was conscious of the bullpen’s heightened responsibility, but has not let it change the way he approaches his outings.

“Whenever my name is called I just go out there, do what I do,” Bruno said. “Whether it's losing 10-0 or winning 10-0 or if it's a close game, nothing's going to really change me from doing what I'm supposed to do and help this team win."

For Bruno, multi-inning outings have not been an adjustment. For others used to shorter outings, it has. Hock said the Blue Sox pitching staff has not had trouble making tweaks. 

“They’ve adjusted well,” Hock said. “I think a lot of them do have experience in multiple-inning roles, so it’s not a complete culture shock for them. But they’ve been good.”

Raiola said the ideal scenario for the Blue Sox is to have each pitcher be in the game in the most comfortable circumstances. Unfortunately for the Blue Sox, that option is hard to come by at this moment in the season. For Raiola, he wants his pitchers to be ready for any role.

“It’s easier said than done sometimes,” Raiola said. “You have it all planned and it doesn't always go according to plan. So it's continue to work hard in between so that you're available and fresh and ready to go out there in whatever role you're in.”