Cincinnati Reds' Jonathan Broxton exerting hard to keep the bullpen solid – MLB News
Cincinnati Reds' reliever Jonathan Broxton said on Sunday, September 16, that he is trying to stay healthy, as the club braces itself for the playoffs. The Reds are sitting atop the National League Central and seem all set to comfortably book a spot in the playoffs.
Broxton, whom the Reds had acquired, from Kansas City Royals in the July 31st Trade Deadline has exhibited instrumentality in the bullpen, proving his efficacy as an accomplished reliever.
"Just trying to stay healthy, that was a big thing," Broxton said. "[I've] been able to do that, and then [I'm] just trying to get quick outs -- just trying to cut down my pitch count so my arm doesn't flare up."
Broxton was confronting unforeseeable challenges when he pitched in the first five games for the Reds. So overwhelming was the challenge that he ended up having a 9.00 ERA in five appearances with a 1-1 record.
However, far from giving up, he has toiled hard since then to put things in order. Broxton has succeeded in that endeavour after executing the fundamentals. After all, he had 23 saves in 27 opportunities when he was with the Kansas City Royals earlier this season.
Broxton’s first opportunity to save a game for the Reds came on Tuesday and the second on Sunday against the Miami Marlins, wherein he succeeded in bringing a victory for the team. He presenting himself as an adequate substitute in the absence of Aroldis Chapman, the club’s closer who is resting with arm fatigue.
However, much as Broxton is handy in the bullpen, he is impressed by Aroldis Chapman – the closer who has had 35 saves this season, being among the top closers in the National League.
"He's something special down there," Broxton said of Chapman. "We have a bunch of guys down there that can be closers. But he's our guy, so we're just trying to pick up some innings for him and give him a break."
The instrumentality shown by Broxton as a closer testifies to his brilliance. What is more important is that it just demonstrates the strength of the Reds’ bullpen, posing serious challenge to all their rivals.
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