TRENTON- Trenton has a new reliever on the roster, and he is someone that comes with over a year of experience on the biggest stage there is in baseball. J.R. Graham was acquired Saturday for cash considerations by the Yankees from the Minnesota Twins. Graham, a 26-year old righty, was a Rule 5 selection of the Twins before the...
TRENTON- Trenton has a new reliever on the roster, and he is someone that comes with over a year of experience on the biggest stage there is in baseball.
J.R. Graham was acquired Saturday for cash considerations by the Yankees from the Minnesota Twins.
Graham, a 26-year old righty, was a Rule 5 selection of the Twins before the 105 campaign, and spent the year on the Major League roster. He pitched in 39 games on 2015, going 1-1 with a 4.95 ERA. He was designated for assignment on May 6, having made just one appearance.
But his experience should help a young Thunder staff.
"I have some inside knowledge of what it takes to get there," Graham said. "Kind of what goes on, and how to be a professional. I am just going to try to help the guys out with any questions they have, and be that role model."
"My best pitches are my fastball and slider," Graham said. "I am just going to go after people. That has been kind of my thing. It can be a good thing, but also my downfall. I am just going to try to go after people the best I can."
"It is a new opportunity, and I am just glad that someone put their faith in me," Graham said. "I am excited to be here. It is always a fresh start."
Graham arrived Sunday as the Thunder dropped the final game of the series with Reading 7-2. The teams ended up splitting the series, and now Trenton has a day off Monday before the Richmond Flying Squirrels come in for a three game set starting Tuesday night.
"I look forward to having him," Mitchell said. "From what I understand, he has good velo, and has some experience. I would think so (that experience would help the team). Any time you can get that big league experience, and get a taste of it and know what you have to do to succeed there, it definitely helps."
"You just have to work your way back," Mitchell said. "I am pretty sure he is well adjusted, and he knows what the goal is. Some guys come back dejected, and don't handle it very well. But I am pretty sure he is ok with it."
WOTHERSPOON BACK TO START FOR THUNDER
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With all the talent in the Phillies minor league system, there has been one player that has gone under the radar.
Hoby Milner is a lefty reliever with a good fastball and a nasty three-quarters curveball, and he has been tough to face for opponents. In 14.1 innings this season, split between Lehigh Valley and Reading, Milner has yet to allow a run. He has only allowed six hits, and struck out 15 batters while walking just two.
"It is really a curveball from a lower arm slot, so it has slider break," Milner said. "Hopefully it is looking like a fastball to guys because I throw it with four-seam spin just like my fastball. But the majority of my strikeouts and outs have been on the fastball."
Milner was a starter for the first part of his minor league career, before he transitioned to the bullpen last year.
"I actually prefer to be in the bullpen," Milner said. "I like coming to the field with the ability to pitch every day. I have an arm that I can throw back-to-back-to back days. I like it."
Milner's dad played for the Toronto Blue Jays in 1978. Not many kids can say their dad was a career .444 hitter in the big leagues (he was 4-for-9), so Milner has someone close to him that can help with the cerebral side of baseball.
"He coaches me a lot, when it comes to the mental aspect of the game," Milner said. "Obviously we was a catcher, so he knows a lot about sequences, and what guys are looking for on certain counts at certain points of the game. He has helped a lot when it comes to the mental game."
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The Thunder were shut down by Fightin Phils ace Ben Lively, who set a career-high with 12 strikeouts Sunday. He is 6-0, and lowered his ERA to 1.53 on the year. He is not one of the Phillies farm hands that is under the radar, a la Milner. He should be making the move to Triple A Lehigh Valley shortly.
Contact Sean Miller at seanmillertrentontimes@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @TheProdigalSean