The Cleveland Guardians hoped that Parker Messick could one day develop into a solid MLB pitcher.
That’s why they took him in the second round of the 2022 MLB Draft out of Florida State.
Messick has arrived just on time, or maybe a bit ahead of schedule.
The stout southpaw has been a huge part of the Guardians’ massive chasedown of the Detroit Tigers. Cleveland enters Tuesday night’s action just 1.0 game back of the Tigers in the AL Central Division.
Messick, for his part, has made six starts, gone 34.2 innings, allowed eight runs (2.08 ERA) and struck out 31 hitters while walking just five.
“With no (Shane) Bieber and no (Luis) Ortiz, the Guardians turned to rookie southpaw Parker Messick, who might come from the David Wells school of conditioning but pounds the strike zone and is 3-0 with a 2.08 ERA in his six starts, walking only five and giving up only one home run,” ESPN’s David Schoenfield wrote on Monday. “He got all of this rolling with seven shutout innings on Aug. 26 in his second career start and Cleveland has gone on to win his past three outings as he has given up only four runs.”
Schoenfield added this: “As always, the key to the success of the Cleveland franchise: It finds and develops pitchers.”
Messick is slated to get the ball Thursday in the three-game series finale against the Tigers. Depending on how the first two games go, Messick could be pitching for a division tie or lead.
And so far, Messick has looked very much up to the task.
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