After harnessing his fastball and improving his control during
Spring Training, Live Oak grad Brandon Villafuerte was convinced he
would make the big club when camp broke last weekend.
After harnessing his fastball and improving his control during Spring Training, Live Oak grad Brandon Villafuerte was convinced he would make the big club when camp broke last weekend.
Unfortunately, according to his father Ralph, Villafuerte’s performance on the mound wasn’t the only factor in his ability to make the major league roster and the pitcher was assigned to the D-backs’ Triple-A club in Tucson on Sunday.
“He thought he should have made it,” Ralph Villafuerte said. “He was frustrated because he thought he pitched good enough. But there’s a lot of guaranteed contracts on the team. They get first shot.”
But Ralph Villafuerte said his 28-year-old son, who was signed by Arizona as a free agent in January, will be up with the big club in Phoenix before long.
“He’ll get back up,” Ralph said. “It’s just a matter of time.”
The D-backs reportedly signed Villafuerte and fellow veteran relief pitcher Scott Service, who was also assigned to Tucson, as insurance against injury or failure by one of its slate of young relief pitchers on the major league roster.
Villafuerte and Tucson were scheduled to open the season on Thursday.
