Diamondbacks Player Spotlight: Jeremy Hellickson
By Cody Fincher
The Arizona Diamondbacks acquired starting pitcher Jeremy Hellickson this offseason from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for two minor league prospects. Hellickson was brought in to hopefully stabilize a young D-Backs starting rotation.
After his last start, Hellickson sits with a record of 5-4 with an ERA of 4.94. These types of numbers are not what the D-Backs were expecting from Hellickson, who has been a good pitcher throughout his young career. But these numbers should be expected from Hellickson.
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Hellickson is a fly-ball pitcher who is pitching in a hitter’s park in Chase Field. Being in that situation, Hellickson gives up a lot of home runs. The pairing of Hellickson and Arizona almost didn’t make sense because of his tendency to give up home runs.
Hellickson won the American League Rookie of the Year in 2011 with the Tampa Bay Rays. That year, Hellickson finished with a record of 13-10 and an ERA of 2.95 in 29 starts for the Rays. But since winning Rookie of the Year, Hellickson has not had an ERA under four.
However, Hellickson has been pitching better as of late. In his last start against the San Diego Padres, Hellickson recorded his fifth win of the season, pitching six innings, giving up only two runs, while striking out seven. Hellickson has found his strikeout pitch recently, as he’s had at least six strikeouts in three of his four starts in June. Hellickson’s next start is today, June 27, against those same Padres who he was able to dominate on June 21.
We have already seen one starting pitcher removed from the rotation this season, as Josh Collmenter was sent to the bullpen earlier in the month. If Hellickson, or any other of the D-Backs starters, aren’t careful, then he could find himself facing that same situation.