Otero keeps throwing up zeros
In one breath, Rice says Otero has average stuff. But in the next, he talks about the kid's "big heart," determination and intelligence, almost contradicting his own scouting report. It seems Otero, who was recently promoted from Augusta of the Class A South Atlantic League to San Jose of the California League, can also baffle his coaches as easily as he has been baffling hitters since the Giants made him a 21st-round selection in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft.
Otero threw two more scoreless innings Thursday night, earning his first Cal League victory, as San Jose outlasted Modesto, 6-4, in 11 innings. The outing lowered Otero's ERA to 0.30 in 30 innings this season. His ERA in 52 1/3 innings since turning pro is a mere 0.69. Throw in the fact that he has 38 saves in 49 appearances and one has to wonder what Otero has to do to be considered a true closer.
He was a starter for most of his career at Duke, from where he graduated early, before pitching his final collegiate season for South Florida. When the Giants signed him, they told him to close and he went happily, eager to please his new employer. Has San Francisco found its closer of the future? We'll see.
"He probably doesn't have an above-average pitch," Rice said. "But he keeps the ball down in the zone and he's very aggressive. He has a big heart, though, and that's the first thing you need to be a closer. He's got pretty decent stuff. It's just not 'wow' stuff. He could be a setup man in the big leagues or maybe even a starter.
"He presents balls to be strikes that aren't. It's a great ability to have that never shows up in the scouting reports. He has a great ability to get a guy to swing and miss at a pitch or not hit the ball hard. I saw him do that in Spring Training. He's also got a great ability to hold runners on and he's a very good fielding pitcher."
Otero was also MiLB.com's Short-Season Relief Pitcher of the Year last year after collecting 19 saves in 22 games for Salem-Keizer. He was tabbed as a Sally League All-Star this season after collecting 18 saves. He's struck out 43, walked just four and allowed only one homer (none this year) in his career.
He had begun the season by throwing 25 1/3 scoreless innings for Augusta before allowing a run in his last Sally League appearances. He's thrown three scoreless innings for San Jose, collecting a save and a win along the way.
When asked about becoming a closer, Otero mostly smiles and shrugs. He started 46 of his 73 collegiate games, including 16 of 18 at South Florida. But the Giants saw his inner-relief pitcher and haven't regretted the decision to move him into the 'pen.
"It's just a lot of luck and good fortune I guess," Otero said. "I'm just excited to have the opportunity. I'd throw lefty if they wanted me to. I'm just trying to thrive in whatever situation they put me. I never considered myself a closer, but they saw something and it all worked out.
"There's more room for error as a starter. In the ninth inning, one bad pitch and you lose the game. Neither is easy. You just have to make good pitches. And I'll keep doing whatever they tell me to do. If they want me to start, that's great. Either one works for me."
Rice said the one drawback to having Otero close is that he doesn't have enough opportunity to expand his repertoire. He'd like to see the youngster develop his changeup more and be able to throw a few more fastballs to increase his velocity.
"His first game as a big leaguer might be as a long man, so he needs a third pitch," Rice said. "He's got a nice changeup, but it's a pitch that doesn't come out a lot. He survives on the sinker and slider and keeping the ball down. His change is more than good enough, but it's just the fact that he doesn't throw it a lot."
Who knows, though. Otero might start incorporating that change into his repertoire as the Cal League season plays out. He's a kid who is full of surprises, and that just might be one more.
Kevin Czerwinski is a reporter for MLB.com.