Detroit Tigers: Should they put a claim on LHP Jack Leathersich?

With Opening Day just a few days away, should the Detroit Tigers take a flyer on left-handed relief pitcher Jack Leathersich?

The Detroit Tigers have all but finalized their 25-man roster for Thursday’s Opening Day matchup against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Tigers look set in their bullpen, with Buck Farmer, Drew VerHagen, Warwick Saupold, Daniel Stumpf, Joe Jimenez, Alex Wilson and Shane Greene the expected crew. Saupold was competing with Johnny Barbato for the final spot, but Barbato is expected to begin the year on the disabled list.

However, there is a left-handed reliever that the Tigers could consider adding. That would be former Cubs and Pirates LHP Jack Leathersich.

The Leather Rocket

For starters, any opportunity to add a player with a nickname like the Leather Rocket has to be taken very seriously. Leathersich is a 27-year-old left-hander who has only thrown 16.2 big league innings. However, there is reason to be intrigued.

In 2017, Leathersich threw 49.1 innings. 44.1 of them were with Chicago’s Triple-A affiliate, while the other five were split between the Cubs and the Pirates. He managed to strike out 79 hitters in those 49.1 innings, good for a whopping 14.48 K/9.

The Leather Rocket (I’m not going to get tired of typing that) induces strikeouts with a heavy fastball. While he only averages 92 miles per hour on his heater, Leathersich has generated a 11.7% career swinging strike rate, well above average. This is due to a wicked 12.9 inches of movement. This pitch has late run and drop to it, which causes hitters to miss often. When they do make contact, it is often weak and generates lots of ground balls thanks to the late drop.

Leathersich’s troubles have come from his lack of secondary offerings (both his curveball and his changeup are below average) and his lack of control. Leathersich had a 6.23 BB/9 last season, which included walking six in just five big league innings.

If (big if) Leathersich is able to gain some control, he has a great chance of being a LOOGY in the future. It is worth pointing out that coach Chris Bosio is notorious for helping wayward pitchers hone in their control. Jake Arrieta, who had a 5.23 ERA at age 27, is a great example of this.

Fit on the Tigers?

Manager Ron Gardenhire considers two left-handers in the pen a ‘luxury’. Currently, Daniel Stumpf has the LOOGY role on lock. With Blaine Hardy still in the system as depth at Triple-A Toledo, it looks like the Tigers don’t have a huge need for a left-handed bullpen piece at the moment.

However, a left-hander with elite strikeout numbers like Leathersich doesn’t come around all that often, and it is worth it for the Detroit Tigers to place a claim on him. While he is unlikely to steal the last bullpen spot away from Saupold, the Tigers could attempt to pass him through waivers on their own and stash him away at Triple-A.

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For a rebuilding team, taking a chance on available players who have shown glimpses of promise is imperative. Leathersich may not have the stuff to stick in the major leagues, but he is worth taking a chance on.