The A’s introduced they’ve claimed righty relievers Anthony Maldonado from the Marlins and Justin Sterner from the Rays. Each gamers had quietly landed on waivers final week.
Maldonado and Sterner every made their debuts this previous season. Maldonado, 27 in February, has barely extra expertise. He pitched in 16 video games for Miami and allowed 12 runs throughout 19 innings. He struck out 11 whereas issuing seven walks. Maldonado confirmed higher strikeout stuff within the minors, fanning 26.1% of batters confronted over 46 1/3 Triple-A frames. Whereas that got here with a barely elevated 10.8% stroll charge and a middling 4.66 ERA, the A’s are evidently intrigued by his arsenal. Maldonado leaned most closely on his mid-80s slider.
Sterner, 28, has all of two video games of MLB expertise. The BYU product tossed 4 innings of two-run ball with 4 strikeouts. He had a powerful yr with the Rays’ prime affiliate in Durham. Sterner turned in a 3.28 earned run common over 46 2/3 innings. He punched out greater than 31% of batters confronted towards an 8.9% stroll share. Sterner used a fastball-cutter mixture throughout his restricted MLB look. Each he and Maldonado sat within the 93-94 MPH vary with their heaters.
This was the primary possibility yr for each pitchers. The A’s can maintain them in Triple-A for the foreseeable future in the event that they stick on the 40-man roster.
