Sunday, May 20, 2012

Jeff Locke Gets Call

The Bucs called up LHP Jeff Locke from Indy today, where he was scheduled to start. He replaces RHP Jason Grilli, who went on the bereavement list after his wife's grandfather's death and may not be back until the Pirates return home.

We're not exactly sure how the Pirates plan to use him. He could bump KC today, but we'd suspect by the circumstances that he's here as long-man insurance for the pen should Correia falter. Locke was 3-3 with a 3.02 ERA for the Tribe, putting up a 1.217 WHIP with 36K and 10BB in 47-2/3 frames. He pitched some last September for the big club, and not too well - he was 0-3 with a 6.48 ERA as a starter, with command issues in his first nibble at the apple.

He's a lefty that can get into the low 90s, and his change and curve are considered his best pitches. Locke's been able to get guys out from either side of the dish, and is thought to have a little more upside than Rudy Owens.

Locke came to Pittsburgh in 2009 with Charlie Morton and Gorkys Hernandez as part of the Nate McLouth deal with Atlanta; now the Pirates have all four guys on the active roster.

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