Toronto Blue Jays add interesting depth piece in Ryan Feierabend

The Toronto Blue Jays added an interesting piece on a minor league contract with Ryan Feierabend.

There was a time when Ryan Feierabend was expected to be a possible star for the Mariners. A third round selection out of high school, he rose through the minors rapidly, making his major league debut at just 20 years old. While he spent parts of the next three seasons in the majors, he struggled to get outs, understandable for a pitcher that was just 22 years old in 2008. When he returned to the minors, it was expected that he would eventually find his way back to the majors, helping the Mariners as a key part of the pitching staff.

Feierabend did eventually return to the majors, although it was six years later with the Rangers. He struggled once again in his six outings, leading to a return to the minors. Then, he spent the next four years in Korea, posting a respectable 4.14 ERA and a 1.402 WHiP across his 660.1 innings in the Korean Baseball Organization.

Now, he is getting another chance stateside. The Toronto Blue Jays have added Feierabend on a minor league contract, an interesting addition for a team that needs pitching depth, especially in the rotation.

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Yes, a left handed knuckleball pitcher. As it stands, knuckleballers are few and far between these days, with Steven Wright the only active knuckleball pitcher in the majors. With a strong enough Spring Training, it is possible that Feierabend could join him in the exclusive club.

If that does happen, he would become an anomaly amongst anomalies. There have only been four left handed knuckleball pitchers in major league history, with Danny Boone in 1990 the last one to make an appearance. Feierabend has a chance to become the fifth lefty knuckleballer if he can make his return to the majors.

Obviously, the Blue Jays hope for more than he showed in his previous stint in the majors. Over 113.1 innings scattered over those four years, Feierabend has posted a horrific 7.15 ERA and a 1.809 WHiP, striking out only 68 batters with 40 walks.

However, if his last season in Korea is a sign of things to come, the Blue Jays may have found themselves a late bloomer. In 2017, Feierabend posted a 3.04 ERA and a 1.150 WHiP over 160 innings, striking out 132 batters with only 31 walks. Those numbers are certainly worth a look stateside.

Even though Feierabend is already 33 years old, age does not matter as much for a knuckleballer as it does for any other pitcher. He still has enough time left to become a viable addition to the Blue Jays rotation, especially if he can show some of that form he displayed in the KBO.

The Toronto Blue Jays made an intriguing addition in Ryan Feierabend. Even though he is being brought in on a minor league deal, Feierabend has a chance given the Blue Jays desperate need for rotation depth.