AJ Politi is settling in for WooSox bullpen; When will he make MLB debut?
The WooSox split their double header Sunday against Lehigh Valley. Worcester got a much needed win in Game 1 that happened to be Bobby Dalbec’s second walk-off hit of the weekend. The WooSox found themselves in an extra innings situation after the bullpen blew a three-run lead in the top of the 7th inning.
The bullpen in Worcester has had its ups and downs this season. That trend also describes AJ Politi’s season to this point. Politi ran into a rough stretch in the month of April. Back-to-back outings against the Columbus Clippers resulted in five earned runs over two innings pitched.
His month of May has been a completely different story.
Over his last nine appearances, the former Seton Hall grad has allowed one earned run. In those nine outings, he pitched nine innings and has only given up three hits. He has ten strikeouts and has only walked two batters. He has racked up three wins and two saves over that same stretch.
In the month of April, opposing batters carried a batting average of .317. On top of the high batting average, opponents carried an OPS of .868. Hitters also combined for 13 hits and six runs. To his defense, five runs and five hits came in that same two outings against Columbus.
In May, the batting average sits at .111. The OPS comes in at .395. Politi has become almost unhittable since the calendar changed months. The hot streak has come at a good time for the WooSox, as current saves leader Chase Shugart has struggled in his last couple of outings in his high leverage role.
Currently second on the team in saves behind Shugart, Politi figures to assume a closer-like role alongside Kaleb Ort. With Ryan Sherriff, Brennan Bernardino, and Ort all on the 40-man roster, all signs point to Politi being the top guy not on the 40-man that should get a chance at some point this season.
Politi turns 27 years old next month, and considering he was taken in the recent Rule-5 draft, the right hander is putting himself into a spot where the Red Sox will need to make a decision with him this season. The New Jersey native has a 3.20 ERA alongside a 10.1 K/9. If the month of June goes how the month of May did, we will see Politi make his long awaited MLB debut.
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