Pittsburgh Pirates to Promote Jeff Locke
By Matt Shetler
Jeff Locke got a small taste of the major leagues last season and after a strong season at Triple-A Indianapolis, it looks as if Locke is making a return trip to the bigs.
Kristy Robinson of Pirates Prospects reported Monday night that Locke would be promoted by the Bucs on Tuesday.
Locke is likely being promoted as an insurance arm and there has been no word yet on the corresponding roster move that would have to be made.
He was scheduled to start on Tuesday for Indianapolis and could be used out of the bullpen if necessary.
Locke is putting together an outstanding season in Triple-A in which he is 9-5 with a 2.66 ERA, striking out 113 while only walking 38 in 125.0 IP on the season. He’s been on quite the roll as of late, coming off an outing in which he struck out 10 in a 2-0 Indianapolis win. In addition, Locke has posted a 1.98 ERA while striking out 53 in his last 10 starts.
Kevin Correia is still scheduled to make a spot start Wednesday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks, so Locke very well could be strictly used in an emergency situation and sent back down immediately. But Pirates manager Clint Hurdle could look to take advantage of having a second southpaw in the pen and elect to use Locke in a relief role for now.