Fernandez Mowing Down Opponents
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Miami Marlins ace Jose Fernandez came to the team with a lot of hype and through the first-half of the 2013 season, the 20-year-old phenom has lived up to all of the advanced billing.
Fernandez has been flat out dominant in his last few starts and could be the only Marlins player selected to the National League All-Star team. The flame-throwing right-handed pitcher most recently dominated the San Diego Padres Monday night throwing eight innings of two-hit, shutout ball.
The only thing that might limit Fernandez's success this season is a likely inning limit down the stretch this season. As of Monday night, Fernandez had pitched 92.2 innings on the season and may be allowed to roughly double that number before being shut down for the year.
Fernandez's numbers are eye-catching and worthy of being called a team's ace. He's working with a 2.72 ERA in 16 games pitched and has allowed just 28 earned runs through his starts. Fernandez has also put up a strikeout to walk ratio of roughly 3-1 on the season.
"He's got a good arm, and he's a very talented 20-year-old pitcher," Padres manager Bud Black told MLB.com. "He's a guy that, when you break him down, he does a lot of things right. And for 20, he's advanced, really is for a 20-year-old. He's got a good delivery, repeats it. He can spin a breaking ball. That's a very good breaking ball. One of the best breaking balls I've seen this year. A very good, tight breaking ball with great spin."
Between the breaking ball and his delivery, Fernandez is also averaging nearly 10 strikeouts per nine innings pitched. In addition, opposing hitters are putting up a stat line of .183/.268/.277/.545 against the rookie right-hander.
While Fernandez's overall win-loss record of 5-4 is not overwhelming, his overall pitching is giving the Marlins staff an ace which has been desperately needed for more than two years.
