A tip from Arizona Diamondbacks pitching coach Chuck Kniffin has
former Live Oak High star Brandon Villafuerte throw-ing better than
ever late in spring training, giving the 1993 grad a boost in his
attempt to make the team.
A tip from Arizona Diamondbacks pitching coach Chuck Kniffin has former Live Oak High star Brandon Villafuerte throw-ing better than ever late in spring training, giving the 1993 grad a boost in his attempt to make the team.
After compiling an ERA of 7.71 and walking seven batters in just 4 1/3 innings this spring, Villafuerte took Kniffin’s advice regarding his pitching mechanics and turned in his best outing of training camp last weekend. Reaching 93 mph with his fastball, Villafuerte struck out three and allowed just one hit in two innings.
“What a difference,” D-backs manager Bob Brenly said on the team’s Web site. “(Villafuerte’s not) fighting his body (as much). He was really popping the ball (Saturday).”
According to Villafuerte’s father, Live Oak High freshman baseball coach Ralph, said his son changed his mechanics to avoid the pain of tendinitis last season and has struggled to return to form. But Ralph Villafuerte said Brandon is potimistic about his chances and has been impressed with the Arizona organization so far.
“They told him he has a spot to lose,” Ralph Villafuerte said. “So far, he loves (the D-backs). He said Brenly is a great person.”
The 28-year-old Villafuerte signed a minor league contract with Arizona in January after being released by the San Diego Padres last year, and arrived at the D-backs’ training camp in Tucson as a non-roster invitee this spring.
Villafuerte is not listed on the 40-man roster and has three younger pitchers in the set-up role depth chart, including Oscar Villareal, Brandon Lyon and Jose Valverde, though Lyon is scheduled to undergo surgery and will miss three to four months. However, Villafuerte could end up staying in Tucson with the D-backs’ AAA club when the big club breaks camp.
But the D-backs are hedging their bets on a young bullpen, which includes closer Matt Mantei — making a comeback from injury last season, by signing Villafuerte and fellow veteran reliever Scott Service. Both could end up in Phoenix before April is finished.
Even if Brandon doesn’t stick with the D-backs, Ralph Villafuerte said he’s determined to kepp playing big league baseball.
“He still wants to play,” Ralph said. “He said he’s going to make it. I told him, you’d better make it because you don’t have anything else to fall back on right now. I told him, if you want to quit you can come home and flip burgers or pump gas.”
Villafuerte’s entire big league career has been something of an upset. After starring at Live Oak and West Valley College, he was drafted in the 65th round by the New York Mets in 1995.
Villafuerte spent seven seasons in the minor leagues before finally getting his shot with the San Diego Padres, who brought him up to the big club in June 2002.
He impressed the Padres enough, by compiling a 1.41 ERA in 31 games, to earn the set-up role in front of all-star closer Trevor Hoffman.
Last season, when Hoffman and back-up closer Jay Witasick went down with injuries in spring training, Villafuerte was expected to help take over the closer’s role.
But he struggled with his control and a propensity to give up the home run and found himself in AAA Portland by the end of May.
A proposed trade to Montreal never went through and Villafuerte finished the 2003 season with the Padres, who then released him.
He compiled a respectable 4.20 ERA with two saves and an 0-2 record in 31 games with San Diego last season.
“Nothing was handed to him,” Ralph Villafuerte said. “I told him, you’ve got to remember you’re in a garage, and you’re a Volkswagen and the rest of these guys are Cadillacs. You have to work harder than them to make it.”
