The Michael Young trade that had been hinted at for so long has finally happened, with prospect Josh Lindblom being the key piece in the deal.
The trade sends Michael Young to the Phillies in exchange for Lindblom and right-handed pitching prospect Lisalverto Bonilla.
Lindblom is a talented 25-year-old reliever who has seen action with the Phillies and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Here is what he brings to the Texas Rangers.
Profile
Birth Date: June 15, 1987 (Age: 25)
Birth Place: Lafayette, Indiana
Experience: Two years
College: University of Tennessee
Ht/Wt: 6’4″, 239 lbs
About Lindblom‘s Big League Time
Though he hasn’t had many opportunities, Lindblom has been solid in limited action. His career ERA of 3.31 is impressive, as are his 1.26 WHIP and .227 batting-average against.
One concern, though, is that Lindblom has regressed a bit. In his first season with the Dodgers, Lindblom had a stellar 1.04 WHIP and a fantastic 2.73 ERA. After being traded to the Phillies in 2012, though, his ERA regressed to 4.63 and his WHIP to 1.54.
Lindblom‘s Repertoire
Lindblom has a few main pitches that he uses to great effect. He uses both a four-seam and a two-seam fastball that average around 93 mph. His four-seam fastball is his main pitch, which he uses around 45 percent of the time.
He also features a slider, which he throws on about a quarter of his pitches. His slider averages about 85 mph and may be his most deadly pitch, going for called strikes about 20 percent of the time.
One thing that Lindblom needs to work on his control over his other two pitches. While he rarely uses them, his curveball and changeup could both use significant work. Around 49 percent of his changeups and 65 percent of his curveballs are called balls.
In terms of his strategy, Lindblom is a strikeout pitcher. He averages an impressive 8.8 strikeouts per nine innings.
Conclusion
Lindblom has a lot of talent, but he didn’t excel in his short stint in Philadelphia. What caused his struggles there is unclear, but with a change of scenery, Lindblom could be a very solid reliever.
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