WooSox pitcher Joe Jacques talks new pitch being 'pretty effective' he added this offseason
Left-hander Joe Jacques was selected by the Red Sox in the minor league portion of the Rule 5 Draft. After pitching his first five years in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization, Jacques entered the season with the WooSox bullpen and threw a scoreless inning in the Opening Day game for Worcester that featured rainy conditions and pretty cold weather.
“You're battling the elements out there and you find a way to still get it done.” Jacques said.
While battling the rain and sleet combination, Jacques had to turn to a fairly new pitch he has added to his arsenal.
“I was relying on the sinker in that outing, which is a new pitch for me.” Jacques added. “I usually ride the four seam in and up but the sinker seems like it will be pretty effective. It’s going to be helpful early in the season when it is tough to throw the slider because of the rain or the cold.”
The new pitch along with the new organization, Jacques is looking to solidify himself in the WooSox bullpen that is stacked with lefties. While the AAA level might have competition, Richard Bleier is the only healthy left-handed reliever in the major league bullpen.
Jacques came in for an inning on Sunday in another cold and windy setting. He gave up two hits and one earned run and sits at a 4.50 ERA two games into his season.
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