Adleman Making Most of Second Chance
PENSACOLA, Fla. - Tim Adleman knows major league ball clubs will only give him so many chances.
That's what happens to a 24th round draft choice. That's what happens to a player who spent nearly two seasons playing in the independent leagues after being released in spring training in 2012 by the Baltimore Orioles.
But guess what? Adleman didn't quit.
"It can be difficult for some," said the 27-year-old right-handed starter with the Pensacola Blue Wahoos. "You just have to be ready for your opportunity. You have to take advantage. You don't get as many as a first rounder. Whatever opportunities you get, do the best you can."
What has Adleman done with his second chance with the pitching-rich Cincinnati Reds organization? He has been dominating Double-A this season.
Adleman posted 17 straight scoreless innings over four games between May 1 and May 17. He's second in the Southern League with a 2.41 ERA. Adleman was selected to the Southern League All-Star team - his first since his rookie season in 2010 in the Class A New York-Penn League.
The lanky 6-foot-5, 210-pound pitcher out of Georgetown, who sports a beard, knew he had some innings left in his right arm. That's why he chose to play in the independent American Association in 2012 and the Canadian-American Association in 2013 where his 1.46 ERA caught the Reds' attention.
The Orioles dumped him after his 5-7, 6.01 ERA with the Low-A Delmarva Shorebirds in the South Atlantic League.
"My motivation came from the fact that I felt I could still pitch in the big leagues," Adleman said. "Baltimore didn't give me the opportunity to know which level I could make. I stuck with it and here I am."
In Pensacola, Adleman is 6-8 in 22 games, including 95 strikeouts in 119.2 innings. He pitched mostly in relief for the Blue Wahoos in 2014, but in his six starts last year he was remarkably consistent. Adleman allowed nine runs in 34 innings for a 2.38 ERA, which is near his current earned-run average this season.
Despite his low earned-run average, Adleman's record is an unimpressive 6-8. That's because the Blue Wahoos lineup has generated 2.82 runs during his starts.
Pensacola manager Pat Kelly said he has felt Adleman has pitched great. In his most recent outing, a nationally televised game against the Birmingham Barons, who sit atop the Southern League North Division in the second half, Adleman gave up just two runs to the Barons in six innings. He also struck out a season-high eight. His strikeouts came after missing his previous start because of a sore elbow.
"That's a tough lineup," Kelly said. "I thought he did a nice job against all those hitters. They don't stop coming at you."
Adleman explains his low earned-run average simply comes from his desire to give Pensacola a chance to win. Now, Adleman wants to win. Period.
"I was focusing too much on the team in the games," Adleman said. "Now, I'm looking to go deep in the game and do better than allowing a few runs. I'm looking to make it to the sixth or seventh inning, hold the lead and win the game."
Another key? The Blue Wahoos' have turned 38 double plays behind Adleman - the most of any Pensacola starter. Pensacola's 139 double plays, so far, are both the most in the Southern League and a franchise record.
Baseball is all Adleman has ever wanted to do. "Ever since I can remember," he said.
He played first base and some outfield in high school but made the decision to stick to pitching.
"I was a big target at first but I realized I couldn't hit well," Adleman said.
Fortunately, his family showed support for his dream to one day hurl pitches from a big league mound.
"They are very excited and have been behind me all the way," Adleman said. "As long as I still love playing the game, I'll keep doing it."
And, Adleman will keep playing the game when he strikes out top prospects like the Minnesota Twins Adam Walker II, gets Twins Max Kepler to pop out to center field and has Chicago Cubs first baseman Dan Vogelbach line out to shortstop.
Yes, in his only inning in the Southern League All-Star game, Adleman retired the side in order in the fifth inning.
Walker has a Southern League-leading 26 home runs and 86 RBIs for the Chattanooga Lookouts. Chattanooga's Kepler has 26 doubles and is batting .332, which is second best in the Southern League. Kepler also leads the league with a .417 on-base percentage. Meanwhile, Vogelbach has five home runs and 34 RBIs, while hitting .284 with a .410 on-base percentage with the Tennessee Smokies.
Adleman failed to earn a top prospect nod in the Reds organization this preseason.
"It was cool to be included with all those guys, all those top prospects," Adleman said. "They will probably be called up to the big leagues."
It's where the unheralded Adleman wants to be.
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