Mike Minor’s return to the rotation Friday means a move to the bullpen for rookie David Hale, and that’s something the right-hander says he feels comfortable doing.
“I’ve had some relief appearances, more long relief so if that’s the role they want me in, I feel pretty comfortable doing it,” Hale said.
He made 42 relief appearances in rookie ball and low Single-A coming up through the minor leagues. And Hale believes the experience he got with his first two major league starts and the roll he was on as a starter in April will help him in the move to the pen.
“I think (the starts) added a lot of confidence for me, they let me know I can do it,” said Hale, who went 1-0 with a 2.31 ERA in four starts in April. “I did a little last year. It gave me confidence to keep it going this year. (Now) it gives me a lot of confidence. I think I can do it out of the pen. I don’t think it’s going to be that much different.”
Hale, who has shown the ability to command his sinker to get groundball outs, as well as strike batters out when he needs to.
“I think starting helps you out if you move to the pen because you have to develop three or four pitches,” Hale said. “And to have that many pitches in relief is a huge asset.”
The Braves see Hale as a pitcher they could use like Kris Medlen in 2010 and 2012, working multiple innings in relief and spot starting as necessary.
“Can’t complain about that,” Hale said. “It worked out well for him. If that’s what they want me to do I’m perfectly happy doing it.”
