Arizona Diamondbacks’ Aaron Heilman fails to impress in starter role – MLB Update
Progress was made in Scottsdale, as the Arizona Diamondbacks got back to work on their Major League Baseball squad for the season with the goal of filling the vacant fifth slot in the rotation with a suitable player. The Cactus League has not ended well
for Aaron Heilman, who was sent back to the bull-pen, having failed to impress as a starter. It seems like that check has been cleared as new pitcher, Armando Galarraga will make his way to the front lines.
Heilman was up for a tough task on his hand, as he was trying his best to transform into a starting hurler. Everything seemed right until Sunday when he scuffled an opportunity against the Cincinnati Reds. The veteran was beat down in the fixture as he conceded
eight runs in a span of just two innings. The manager of the club, Kirk Gibson, took the opportunity to talk of the player.
"I just thought Aaron is a more dominating pitcher out of the 'pen," Gibson said. "I've seen him, his velocity was more, I thought he had more variation of pitch speeds, out of [the bullpen], and the other thing is we know what he can do out of the bullpen.
It went right down to the end. We gave him great consideration for that position, but in the end we thought this was the way to go."
The veteran bull-pen pitcher has been out of the front line attack since 2005 and he maintains the record of appearing in at least 70 games in league, for the past five seasons.
"It's obviously disappointing," Heilman said. "I felt like I threw pretty well, not as well as I would have liked. At the end of the day, I'm going to do what's best for the team and go out and get ready for the season."
The rotation will now follow the lead of Ian Kennedy on Opening Day. He will then be succeeded by Daniel Hudson, Joe Saunders, Barry Enright and finally, Galarraga.
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