Appy notes: Schlabach staying in control

There are numerous ways in which Ike Schlabach can stand out as a member of the Bristol Pirates pitching staff. At a lanky 6-foot-5, he has a nice vantage point as he goes through the Appalachian League attempting to sharpen his skills on the mound.

Schlabach said he's anxious to learn how to use his height to his advantage.

"There's quite a few guys my height on our team," he said, "but they're right-handed."

Schlabach is a left-hander with some unique motions on the mound. He's about a year into his professional career, already sensing improvements since he was drafted in the 19th round out of Teller Kimber Creek High School in Texas.

"I'm adapting a lot better," Schalabach said. "Control is a lot better. Velocity is a lot better."

Bristol manager Kory DeHaan was on the Gulf Coast League club's coaching staff last summer, so he has seen first-hand some of Schlabach's development across the past year.

"He has matured tremendously from last year to this year, just in his confidence," DeHaan said. "He was a ton of energy last year and we're trying to learn how to control that."

Schlabach's delivery is unconventional, but DeHaan said that's not a drawback.

"He's a deceptive, funky pitcher," DeHaan said. "It's not a smooth motion, a little herky-jerky to it."

Schlabach said he hopes his mechanics give him an edge once he fine-tunes things. He throws from about a three-quarters angle.

"I've been told my delivery is a little funky," he said.

Bristol catcher Brent Gibbs, a seventh-round pick last month, said he noticed the unorthodox delivery right away.

"And he was throwing with some velocity," Gibbs said. "But it's more of how he handles himself. He knows what he's doing out there. I love catching him, but I would not want to hit against him."

At 19 years old, Schlabach is the youngest pitcher on the Bristol team. But as a second-year pro, he has gone through some of the adjustments that confront newcomers.

"I never really think about it," he said of his age. "I think of myself as one of the older guys."

Schlabach was headed to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi before the Pittsburgh organization came calling in the Draft.

He said some of his statistics will even out, figuring he has been unlucky in certain situations. He has one victory in seven Minor League decisions and sports a 3.93 ERA in seven starts for Bristol.

Pitching with more authority is something he said will come with time.

"A lot has happened since fall instructional league," Schlabach said. "Most of it has been on the mental side for me. They're getting my confidence to rise, and that's important for me."

In brief

Heating up: By the time Minnesota Twins first-round draft pick Alex Kirilloff's 10-game hitting streak came to an end July 24, the Elizabethton Twins outfielder led the Appalachian League in hits and was in the top five in slugging percentage. Three of his first four professional home runs came during the hitting streak.

Making them count: The efficiency for Princeton Rays pitcher Willy Ortiz is impressive because he has racked up a league-high five wins in only six starts. Those victories have come against five different opponents. He has logged five innings in each start.

Barely a stretch: Burlington Royals pitcher Geoffrey Bramblett has given up more than one run in only one of his six appearances. The last time out, the first-year right-hander out of the University of Alabama allowed only two batters to reach base in five shutout innings against Bristol. He needed to work from the stretch for only one batter. "I didn't have to [much], so that was a good one," Bramblett said.