DUNEDIN — Peace of mind and spring training seldom go hand in hand for young pitchers trying to establish themselves on a big-league roster but Brandon Morrow may be an exception.
For three years after being selected by the Seattle Mariners with the fifth pick in the 2006 draft, Morrow has bounced back and forth between the bullpen and starting assignments.
Traded to the Blue Jays this off-season for reliever Brandon League, the mixed messages have stopped. From his first conversation with GM Alex Anthopoulos, Morrow’s path has been clear. He’s a rotation candidate, period.
“Having that knowledge that you’re going to be a starter gives you a totally different mindset right out of the gate,” Morrow said Wednesday.
“The back and forth in Seattle starts to wear on you. It’s nice to know you’ve got a position. You don’t have to think about two different things at one time and you don’t have to prepare for two different roles.”
Morrow appeared in 131 games for the Mariners, 116 of them as a relief pitcher. He made the team in 2007 as a reliever but spent the next off-season stretching out to be a starter. Then, in training camp in 2008, the Mariners switched him back to the bullpen. It was like that throughout his time there. Twice in the past two years he was sent to the minors for grooming as a starter. It was a bit confusing, but Morrow sees some positive aspects.
“I think I would be in a different spot as a starter but you can’t say enough about getting major-league experience,” he said. “I’ve got 160 innings at the major-league level. I’ve got over 100 appearances. That’s a lot of time. Experience is valuable. I think it will help me accelerate my progress as a starter because there’s that comfort level.”
Manager Cito Gaston expects Morrow to be a starter this season, but he’s hedging his bets, with so many experienced pitchers in camp.
“There’s no guarantee,” Morrow said.
“I have to earn my spot. But if I’m not in the rotation here then it will be at whatever level they decide. Personally, I expect myself to be in the rotation in Toronto.”
All players are expected to be in camp by Thursday. Pitchers and catchers have been working out all week and the position players will join them officially on Friday.
The only position players who are not in camp are Jose Bautista, shortstop Alex Gonzalez and DH candidate Randy Ruiz.
Wednesday, Vernon Wells and Edwin Encarnacion made their first appearances and took some batting practice swings along with the other 10 or 12 players who have been working out this week.
“I was really impressed with Encarnacion,” Gaston said. “He was swinging really well for the first day. Put a couple out over the left-field fence that a lot of guys couldn’t reach (Wednesday).”
Gaston would like to see Ruiz step up and grab a roster spot as well, perhaps as a right-handed bat off the bench or a sub for Lyle Overbay against tough right-handers.
“I think he deserves a chance. This guy has hit everywhere he’s been.”
The Jays open their first Grapefruit League schedule next Wednesday, playing host to the Detroit Tigers.
ken.fidlin@sunmedia.ca
