'Before that I was a really good pitcher,' said Escobar, who also pitched in a couple of minor-league blowouts for the White Sox. After five months at his new position, Escobar signed with the White Sox. It was a Chicago White Sox scout named Amador Arias who advised a 15-year-old Escobar he needed to give up the mound and learn to play shortstop. 'I was surprised when I saw (90-91 mph).'Īfter a pitch-tracking website credited him with six cutters along with the three actual curveballs, Escobar laughed and said he must be blessed with a 'natural cutter.' He relied mostly on a four-seam fastball, reaching back to his Venezuelan youth as a pitcher-center fielder. Laughing, he recalled what Twins manager Paul Molitor said as he handed him the ball. 'I have fun every day, but (Thursday) I was pretty excited,' he said of his scoreless ninth in a 15-7 loss. He was too busy reliving his 16-pitch outing against the Astros to spend any time in the trainer's room. Shortstop Eduardo Escobar said the back of his shoulder was a little tight a day after making his mound debut in the majors, 'but nothing bad.' Just finish every pitch, and you'll be fine.' 'You have to make sure you finish every pitch,' Santana said. That's why they will take turns watching each other throw in the bullpen Saturday afternoon. While Santana is several inches taller than Berrios, the importance of staying on top of his pitches and working down through the zone is just as important for him. Three times Berrios has been chased before the fifth inning, but Santana believes his protégé's confidence level is still OK. With 14 walks and seven home runs allowed in 28 innings, Berrios has completed six innings just once in his young career. He's going to be one of the great pitchers here in the big leagues. 'That's in the past just focus on what's next,' Santana said of Berrios. Among 206 starters with at least 20 innings this season, only Oakland's Dillon Overton (10.97) has a higher ERA. Why not? First, you just have to locate.'Īfter failing to record an out in the third inning Thursday afternoon against the Houston Astros, Berrios saw his earned-run average spike to 9.32 through seven big-league starts.

'When you have two strikes and you want to blow somebody up, then you just go for 97. 'If you can locate 94 (mph) right there, down and where you want it, then just stick with that,' Santana said.

Ervin santana pitching repertoire