MESA, Ariz. — Keegan Thompson’s first two big-league seasons hinted at his potential as a possible multi-inning weapon out of the bullpen.
He posted a 2.21 ERA and .204 average against in 27 games (40 2/3 innings) before being converted to a starter for the final two months. Thompson followed with split roles in 2022 and got on a roll again in relief when he posted a 1.47 ERA and 42 strikeouts over 36 2/3 innings in 12 outings, a contrast to a 4.83 ERA in 17 starts.
The Cubs tried to use Thompson in both one-inning appearances and multi-inning outings last season, but his inconsistency and too many walks led to a demotion to Triple-A Iowa in mid-May, and he spent most of the rest of the season there. Now the 29-year-old right-hander is trying to reestablish himself in the bullpen mix as manager Craig Counsell continues to learn what he has in his pitchers.
“Keegan has proven he can get major-league hitters out,” Counsell said Thursday. “The bullpen is difficult because you’re not able to script it as much as you want and if you want it scripted, frankly, you have to be a force, right? I can script it for the force, but that’s the only guy that gets it scripted.”
Thompson’s two- to three-inning appearances in 2022 often were plotted out to account for the typical three days off between outings. That approach could work when he’s pitching like he did as a reliever in 2022. Availability and durability are two key attributes needed in relievers because of how they affect each other. The bullpen is collectively connected, and being able to cover each other is an important part to the equation of the pitching staff finding 27 outs.
As for whether Thompson can be a one-inning-plus reliever, Counsell said, “I don’t know, that’s certainly a question I think Keegan has to answer.
“The role he’s had success in is a multiple-inning role. I think we all want to find that reliever. I think every team is looking for a multiple-inning force for sure. It’s a rare guy and it’s a hard job. And if we can find that if Keegan can be that guy, that’s great.”
Shota Imanaga racking up strikeouts
When the left-hander is locating his fastball in the upper-third of the zone, good luck to hitters trying to square it up.
In the few moments this spring when Imanaga has run into trouble, it usually stems from his fastball catching too much of the middle of the zone and not being elevated enough. That wasn’t an issue Thursday against the Oakland Athletics when he struck out nine batters in 4 1/3 innings.
In three Cactus League starts, Imanaga has walked two and struck out 19 in 9 2/3 innings.
“In my head, I believe that a really good pitcher should get strikeouts but also limit his pitch count,” Imanaga said through interpreter Shota Imanaga. “And today I got strikeouts but threw a couple pitches a little too much so I want to continue to work on that and limit the pitch count and then continue to get strikeouts.”
Imanaga hasn’t been told yet whether he will make one or two more starts before the Cubs open the season March 28. He wants to focus on consistency over the final two weeks as he continues to prepare for his first major-league season.
“The thing that’s been interesting about Shota’s starts so far is that the strikeouts have been really pretty high — nobody’s going to complain about the strikeouts,” Counsell said before Imanaga’s start Thursday. “The strikeouts a great way to get an out. But I think Shota is a fly-ball pitcher, that’s just his pitch characteristics, so I think (our defense) is capable of helping him out there for sure.”
Hayden Wesneski handles lefties
Left-handed hitters feasted on Wesneski last season.
He struggled to be an effective starter without more consistently being able to neutralize the lefties, particularly when teams stacked them in their lineup. Counsell was pleased by Wesneski’s performance Wednesday against the Cleveland Guardians. He tossed three innings in relief to close out the game, striking out three without issuing a walk.
Wesneski, who is in the mix to make the pitching staff, didn’t allow a run on two hits. But just as important, he successfully navigated the roughly seven left-handed hitters the Guardians had in the lineup by that point of the game. Counsell felt it was good Wesneski was able to focus on that area of his game.
“I thought he navigated that well,” Counsell said. “And we got three innings, which we were concerned we were going to be able to get, to keep him stretched out, and we were able to keep him stretched out so that was a good day for him.”
