The first time you heard the nameRoenis Eliaswas probably last March, when the young lefty emerged seemingly out of nowhere to win a spot in the Seattle Mariners rotation. This spring the rotation candidates don’t include anyone we aren’t familiar with, though the same can’t be said for the bullpen’s second lefty job. The current favorite for that spot is someone who’s emerging seemingly out of nowhere, right before our eyes.
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Tyler Olsonis a 25-year-old lefty pitching prospect who reached AA last year. He’s posted good strikeout and walk numbers throughout the minors, and earned himself an invite to big league spring training this year. In a crowded competition for the last bullpen spot, he’s really standing out.
All Olson has done this spring is strike hitters out. He’s taken on as much of a spring workload as anyone and has looked better than most. In five spring innings he’s registered eight strikeouts. He’s gone multiple innings. He’s looked the part of a pitcher ready for the big leagues.
Much of the focus up until this point has been on the other guys.David Rollinshas to make the team or he goes back to Houston.Lucas Luetgehas big league experience.Mike Kickhamwas acquired to compete for a MLB job.Joe Saundersis trying to do the wholeOliver Perezthing. It’s a crowded competition, but nobody’s been better than Olson.
The argument against Olson is that he’s been (mostly) a starter in the minors, and to put him in a bullpen role at this point could hinder his long-term development. The argument for Olson is that he’s been the best, and this is a win-now team. That should be the end of it, really. The job should go to the best candidate, since this team is trying to win as many games as possible.
It would be a bummer to lose Rollins, or to otherwise limit the team’s flexibility. But the focus for 2015 is winning, and having a second lefty who strikes out the world and can pitch multiple innings is a huge get for Seattle. Olson’s emergence shouldn’t be without reward. The Mariners should be prepared to find room for him on the active roster.
It’s exciting when guys like Olson show up and dominate. It’s a testament to the quality and depth of the M’s farm system that a talent like this can fly below the radar. What’s important to remember is that the competition isn’t over. But Olson has a pretty big advantage right now. He’s the probable favorite.
Barring a late surprise or a push to keep as many players as possible, Tyler Olson should be a Seattle Mariner on April 6th. For the second year in a row, a talented young pitcher has surged from the depths and now appears poised to help the big league club win some games. That’s a thrill.
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