The Closer: Oquendo Keeps the Door Slammed for Pelicans
July 13, 2023 by Sam Weiderhaft At the Single-A level of Minor League Baseball, the presence of certain roles within a pitching staff is often limited. Typically, in a Major League setting, there are starters, setup pitchers, long relievers, middle relievers, and closers. Organizations are still trying to find those
July 13, 2023 by Sam Weiderhaft
At the Single-A level of Minor League Baseball, the presence of certain roles within a pitching staff is often limited. Typically, in a Major League setting, there are starters, setup pitchers, long relievers, middle relievers, and closers. Organizations are still trying to find those roles for their young arms in the lower levels of the minors.
For Johzan Oquendo, his role as the Pelicans’ closer has been carved out for the last two seasons.
Oquendo reached the Single-A level in the beginning of the 2022 season, being placed on the Birds’ opening day roster after spending one year in the Arizona Complex League following his 16th-round selection in the 2019 MLB Draft by the Cubs. He went on to lead the Pelicans in games with 31 and struck out 88 hitters through just over 58 innings. He also went on to save three games, becoming the last pitcher out of the bullpen on days he threw.
His most notable performance came on June 23, 2022, in Kannapolis as he pitched 1 2/3 innings with three strikeouts and got the win in the Pelicans’ extra-innings clinching victory to secure the Carolina League South First-Half title.
The Puerto Rico-native returned to Myrtle Beach in 2023 and has shown drastic improvement as the season has gone on. His ERA of 4.94 in 2022 has dropped to 2.48 prior to the All-Star break. After 18 wild pitches a year ago, he’s cut that number down to just five. His five saves rank in the top 10 of the Carolina League.
“Every day, I give 100 percent when I come out to the park,” Oquendo said. “Exercises, my throwing program, lifting, I prepare 100 percent for my time on the mound.”
Through 19 games and 32 2/3 innings, the right-hander has struck out 50 batters with just 24 walks, mostly credited to a wipeout slider and quick sinker that’s able to miss bats.
Despite his success closing games on the mound, Oquendo’s biggest moment of this season happened before the first pitch.
On Saturday, July 1, against the Charleston RiverDogs, Oquendo along with teammates Marino Santy and Ismael Mena, graduated their English class, proving to understand the English language through multiple years of training. The graduation was made complete with a pregame ceremony with the entire team on the field, cheering for the three players as they came out of the dugout in caps and gowns. Oquendo was able to celebrate this accomplishment with his family, who was in town for the series.
On Saturday, three Pelicans players graduated from the @Cubs English learning program.
— Myrtle Beach Pelicans (@Pelicanbaseball) July 3, 2023
Cubs education coordinator José Menendez led a ceremony congratulating Johzan Oquendo, Marino Santy, and Ismael Mena in front of their teammates and coaches!#MBPelicans | #NextStartsHere pic.twitter.com/qacDYdxVnr
“That’s my third year,” Oquendo explained. “I was super excited for that. My parents were here to see that, that was amazing for me.”
Oquendo completed his day by getting a save and tossing a shutout final inning against the RiverDogs.
The 22-year-old is known as one of the more vocal leaders of the bullpen with his big personality. He enjoys his Latin music with the volume boosted in the clubhouse before games to get him and the other members of the bullpen ready.
“That’s hype,” Oquendo said.
The young closer will look to continue his success in the second half of the season as the Pelicans return home following the All-Star break.