After 13 years in the minor leagues, Dustin Molleken is finally getting his shot in the Detroit Tigers bullpen
On Monday evening, the Tigers announced they were calling up Dustin Molleken, a right handed reliever, from their Toledo farm club. Typically, the call up of a relief pitcher to the major leagues would be a minor story, if it was a story at all. Yet, this one got news. Why is that?
Dustin Molleken was originally drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates out of Lethbridge Community College in Alberta, Canada in the 15th round…in 2003. Yes, that means that Dustin Molleken has been in the minor leagues for 13 years waiting for his chance at the major leagues!
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Molleken has had quite the journey. After 3 games in rookie ball in 2003, he had Tommy John surgery. He spent 7 seasons in the Pirates system, never getting higher than AA.
The Rockies picked up Molleken in 2011, and he spent two seasons with the Rockies organization between AA and AAA, sporting over a 5 ERA both seasons. However, after his underlying numbers went backwards in his second season in the organization (BB/9 going from 1.9 to 3.3 and K/9 going from 8.2 to 6.7), Colorado let him go.
Molleken then spent a season and a half in Japan, pitching for the Nippon Ham Fighters out of their bullpen, before Milwaukee picked him up to put him in their AAA bullpen. However, once again, his numbers went backward in his second season, and Milwaukee let him go.
Molleken was signed by Cleveland in 2015. He pitched in Columbus, putting up a 3.25 ERA in 52 2/3 innings of relief with an 8.9 K/9. He was a minor league free agent after the season, and the Detroit Tigers signed him. He has totaled a 3.76 ERA in 38 1/3 innings with an 8 K/9 this season before his call up.
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At 31 years old, Molleken isn’t exactly “old”, but certainly he’s about 10 years older than most rookies. Let’s hope he can do well with the Tigers and take this long-awaited chance and turn it into multiple seasons of a major league life!