MLB Rookie Report: Buddy Boshers, LHP, Minnesota Twins

On Thursday the Minnesota Twins promoted left-handed pitcher Buddy Boshers to the major league roster. Boshers appeared in 25 games for the Los Angeles Angels back in 2013 but threw just 15 innings total and is still a technical rookie. Here's a quick take.

Boshers was drafted by the Angels in the fourth round in 2008 from Calhoun Community College in Alabama. Initially a starter, he converted to the bullpen in 2012 and shot up the ladder from that point, reaching the majors with the Angels in '13 and posting a 4.70 ERA with a 13/8 K/BB in 15 innings. He spent 2014 in the high minors then signed with the Colorado Rockies as a free agent. They released him in spring training and he spent '15 pitching independent baseball for the Somerset Patriots in the Atlantic League, posting a 1.00 ERA in 54 innings with an excellent 71/14 K/BB.

That caught the notice of the Twins who signed him as a free agent. This year he has a 1.42 ERA in 19 innings in Triple-A with a 21/5 K/BB.

Boshers is a 6-3, 205 lefty age 28, born May 9, 1988. He doesn't have exceptional velocity but he's not a true soft-tosser, either, with his fastball right around 91 and topping at 94. He'll mix in a breaking ball (Pitch F/X calls it a slider, Boshers himself calls it a curveball), and an occasional change-up. His arsenal is good enough to be confusing to left-handed hitters, batting just .182 against him this year, .221 in 2014, and .176 in 2013.

This is a LOOGY and short-man profile but Bosher's ability to throw strikes and keep hitters off-balance could make him a useful bullpen component.

Here's some indy ball action from Mike Ashmore. The out-pitch breaking ball in this clip looks like a slider.