Guardians reliever Sam Hentges looks sharp in rehab appearances for Akron RubberDucks
If rehab assignments are any indication, the Guardians are about to get an integral piece of their bullpen back.
Sam Hentges made his first rehab start of the season for the RubberDucks and pitched a scoreless inning in a 5-3 Akron win.
Hentges came on in the top of the fifth with the squad down 3-2 to the Harrisburg Senators.
He gave up two balls, a base hit and stolen base to Drew Millas to start the frame but settled down after that to retire the side.
Hentges went on the injured list retroactive to March 27 with left shoulder inflammation but showed no signs of rust.
“I feel like it was just another outing to get my feet under me,” Hentges said. “I felt good. I felt healthy. I feel like that’s the most important thing today. I feel like I was throwing a lot of strikes, which is a good thing as I build up.”
Guardians Sam Hentges solid in one inning of relief for RubberDucks
The southpaw threw 13 pitches, 10 for strikes. Ten of those final 11 found the zone.
A member of the 2019 RubberDucks, Hentges came into his own last season with the parent club.
He has a 4-6 career mark for the Guardians with a 4.61 earned run average. Included in that is a save and 140 strikeouts over 130.2 innings.
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The left-hander was 1-0 last postseason for Cleveland with a 2.84 ERA and 10 strikeouts in three postseason appearances.
Flash back to Wednesday and he looked like the 2022 version, as he induced flyouts to Trey Harris and Jose Sanchez before striking out Justin Connell on three pitches.
He topped out at 95 mph three times, but had some nasty off-speed pitches to keep the opposition at bay.
“I think (the off-speed pitch) is a main focal point for me as I’ve gotten up here in Ohio,” Hentges said. “It’s to hone in on that secondary stuff. The fastball has been good but mixing in some good curveballs was a step in the right direction.”
Hentges indicated he’ll pitch Saturday for the RubberDucks again unless he is told otherwise.
“Mentally, I feel great,” Hentges said. “I feel like that’s a big hurdle with injuries. It’s getting over it mentally, but I feel like I’m in a good spot.”
Contact Brad Bournival at bbournival@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @bbournival
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Guardians pitcher Sam Hentges makes rehab appearance for RubberDucks
