Bruce Rondón

Bruce Rondón (born December 9, 1990) is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher for the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2013. Rondón has a fastball that can reach or even exceed 100 miles per hour (160 km/h).

Playing career

Rondón signed with the Detroit Tigers organization as an international free agent on September 12, 2007. He first played with the organization in 2008 as a member of the Venezuelan Summer League Tigers (VSL). He started 13 games, compiling a 2–6 win–loss record and a 3.58 earned run average (ERA).^[1] In 2009, Rondón appeared in six games, starting the year with the Gulf Coast League Tigers (GCL). He made three starts, registering an 0–1 record and a 4.76 ERA. On July 10, he rejoined the VSL Tigers and made three relief appearances, posting an ERA of 13.50.^[1]

Rondón pitching for the Lakeland Flying Tigers, advanced-A affiliates of the Detroit Tigers, in 2012

Rondón split the 2010 season between the GCL Tigers and the Lakeland Flying Tigers of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League (FSL), appearing in a combined total of 28 games, all of them as a reliever. He made 24 appearances in the GCL, leading the league with 15 saves. Rondón ended the season in the GCL with 20 consecutive scoreless outings and during that stretch, which covered 21 ²⁄₃ innings, he struck out 23 opponents. GCL hitters had a .133 batting average against Rondón, the best mark for all GCL relief pitchers in 2010. He was named a GCL all–star in 2010.^[1] Rondón finished the minor league season with four appearances for Lakeland, after he joined the Flying Tigers on August 24.^[1] Rondón spent all of 2011 with the West Michigan Whitecaps of the Class A Midwest League, appearing in 41 games before trouble with his right shoulder ended his season in August. He gathered 19 saves and posted a 2.03 ERA with the Whitecaps, and was named to appear in the 2011 Midwest League All-Star game^[2] Late in the year, Baseball America ranked Rondón as Detroit's 12th-highest prospect. The previous year, he had been rated 13th.^[1]

Rondón started the 2012 season on Lakeland's roster, but he was promoted to the Erie Seawolves of the Class AA Eastern League on June 20 and then to the Toledo Mud Hens of the Class AAA International League on August 7. Between the three teams, Rondón saved 29 games and posted an ERA of 1.53 while striking out 66 opponents. His save total was the third-highest for a minor leaguer. He was named to appear in the 2012 All-Star Futures Game.^[3] He retired two hitters on four fastballs,^[4][5] with one fastball registering 102 miles per hour (164 km/h) on the Kaufman Stadium radar gun.^[6]

Rondón was recognized as Detroit's Minor League Pitcher of the Year and in June, he was the organization's Minor League Pitcher of the Month. Baseball America picked Rondón as the top reliever in both the Eastern League and the FSL.^[1]

Detroit Tigers

Bruce Rondón, September 2016.

Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski referred to Rondón as a "rare talent" after the 2012 season, and indicated that he could become the Tigers closer in 2013.^[7] Rondón struggled early in spring training, but began to improve with mechanical changes.^[8] The Tigers optioned Rondón to Toledo for the start of the 2013 season.^[9] They promoted him to the major leagues on April 23,^[10] but did not use him as their closer. He made his Major League debut on April 25, 2013 against the Kansas City Royals. He entered the game in relief in the eighth inning. His first batter faced was Billy Butler, who singled to right field. His pitching line for this first inning was two hits, one run scored.^[11]

Bruce returned to Toledo in early May, where he posted 14 saves and a 1.52 ERA, with 40 strikeouts and 13 walks in 29 ²⁄₃ innings. The Tigers recalled him to the major league club on June 28, 2013.^[12]

Rondón earned his first major league save on August 30, 2013 against the Cleveland Indians.^[13] He posted a 3.45 ERA in his first major league season, striking out 30 batters in 28 ²⁄₃ innings.

Expected to be one of the Tigers' primary setup men for 2014, on March 21 it was announced that Rondón would undergo Tommy John surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right elbow. After the procedure, Rondón missed the entire 2014 season.^[14]

Rondón returned to pitch for the Tigers midway through the 2015 season. On September 22, 2015, Rondón was sent home by the Tigers due to their displeasure with his effort level. In 35 appearances this season, he posted a 1–0 record, with five saves in nine opportunities, a 5.81 ERA, a 1.61 WHIP, and 36 strikeouts. In 31 innings, he allowed 31 hits and 19 walks, while issuing a team-high 5.5 walks per nine innings.^[15]

On March 28, 2016, Rondón was optioned to the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens.^[16] Rondón was recalled to the Tigers on June 19, 2016, and made his season debut later that day, pitching two scoreless innings of relief against the Kansas City Royals.^[17] Rondón made 37 relief appearances in the 2016 season, compiling a 5–2 record with a 2.97 ERA and 45 strikeouts in  36 ¹⁄₃ innings.

Pitching style

Rondón relies heavily on a hard four-seam fastball in the 97 to 100 miles per hour (156 to 161 km/h) range, which he frequently throws at or above 100 miles per hour (160 km/h). His other pitches include a slider in the 86 to 89 miles per hour (138 to 143 km/h) range, a changeup in the 89 to 91 miles per hour (143 to 146 km/h) range, and an occasional sinker in the upper 90s, which he is still developing.^[18]

Personal

Rondón is named after Bruce Lee.^[19]

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bruce Rondón.

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or Baseball-Reference, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
• Venezuelan Professional Baseball League statistics