Robert Kwiatkowski has used his 'big chip on shoulder' mindset in route to promotion to Worcester
Worcester Red Sox reliever Robert Kwiatkowski is labeled as undrafted on paper. He was an undrafted free agent signed by the Red Sox in 2020, which was the year when the MLB Draft had only five rounds due to COVID.
“It’s a big chip on my shoulder knowing that I was undrafted, and a lot of other guys have priority over me,” Kwiatkowski told Beyond the Monster. “That’s just how life is. The quicker I understood that the quicker I could stop pressing on myself and stop trying to overthink things. I just have to take advantage of every opportunity I get and the results will speak for themselves. To be honest, anything that is in my path I am trying to kill. That is the mindset going forward and that is similar to the Boston mindset. That gritty, chip on the shoulder mentality that I strive to be like.”
The 26-year-old was promoted to Triple-A for the first time in his career in late April after throwing 16 innings for Portland to finish the 2023 season and another 6 scoreless innings to start off 2024.
The Georgia native along with Brendan Cellucci and Cody Scroggins have been the first wave of bullpen arms who received promotions to Worcester since the start of the season. Scroggins has since been returned to Portland, but Kwiatkowski has his eyes set at staying put in Triple-A now that he has arrived.
“I really try not to overthink that part of it,” Kwiatkowski said of new challenges in Triple-A. “Hitters at all levels are good. I just try to stick to my routine and mindset and keep it simple. I like to go right after guys regardless of the ABS (automated balls and strikes system). I am going to be competitive in the zone with all of my stuff. If I stick to that mindset, the results speak for themselves. The biggest thing is the quality of hitters throughout the lineup is much better from Double-A to Triple-A. I feel like more mistake pitches leave the ballpark the higher you go up through each level.”
Kwiatkowski has pitched about as well as one could ask so far in Worcester. He has thrown 5.2 innings and has struck out 5 batters. He has only allowed 3 hits and has only walked 1 guy so far. Walks have never been an issue for the right-hander, but it is encouraging to see only 1 walk so far with the ABS system in his short stint.
One of the biggest differences between Double-A and Triple-A is the MLB experience at the Triple-A level that quite a few guys have in the locker room. Kwiatkowski is still new to the level, but he has had no issue turning to a couple of guys with MLB experience for guidance.
“I always have frequent conversations in the bullpen with other guys,” Kwiatkowski said. “One guy that comes to mind is Jason Alexander. I always bounce ideas off of him and I just let him talk because he has had some big league experience. I have learned what his mental approach to the game when he is on the mound and what works best for him and how to best sequence your pitches off each other. That is something that I have not really been thinking about and put into my plan of action when I am on the mound. Hearing that makes me want to learn more and do more in sense of becoming a more polished pitcher. It’s been very helpful listening to the older guys talk.”
Alexander has 18 games of major league experience when he pitched for the Brewers back in 2022. This is just another powerful resource these young players have once they get to the Triple-A level, is having guys like Alexander who are open minded and share what made them successful enough to get to the majors. It’s even more impressive too considering Alexander is brand new to the organization and is showing a bit of leadership out of the gate.
One of the many fresh faces to the Red Sox organization this past offseason was WooSox bullpen coach Noah Junis. Junis came to the Red Sox from Premier Pitching in St. Louis, where he worked with many arms in the offseason who are in the professional ranks.
“It’s been a fun experience,” Kwiatkowski said of working with Junis. “When you are on the mound and throwing some good stuff, he is hyping you up and that gives you that extra bit of confidence. Even when you are doing your practice bullpens and get feedback from him on the analytics side. Clearly, he knows what he is talking about too and that helps with the confidence when it is time to get in between the white lines and be free out there and do what you do best.”
