Cleveland Guardians right-hander James Karinchak has been one of the top options late in games during his five-year career with the team.
There have been highs and there have been lows, though: he has even spent some time in Triple-A in the last two campaigns.
Talent-wise, the Guardians are aware that there aren’t many pitchers on the roster with Karinchak’s upside.
That upside becomes evident by taking a peek at his career performance: 253 strikeouts in 165.2 innings, with a 3.10 ERA.
But Karinchak is determined to find an optimal level of consistency, and that means starting to work much sooner than spring training.
“#Guardians RHP James Karinchak currently training at @CresseySP down in Florida. Karinchak along with Cleveland RHP Triston McKenzie & LHP Jake Berry are all training at Cressey Sports & Performance getting ready for the 2024 season,” Guardians Prospective tweeted.
#Guardians RHP James Karinchak currently training at @CresseySP down in Florida. Karinchak along with Cleveland RHP Triston McKenzie & LHP Jake Berry are all training at Cressey Sports & Performance getting ready for the 2024 season. #ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/I0JTuvNvnT
— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) January 12, 2024
It’s nice to see him committed to having an amazing season in 2024.
He knows that he needs to put in the work to make that happen.
The Guardians will need him to be healthy, determined, and focused to reach their ceiling in 2024 and return to the postseason.
He recently avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $1.9 million contract.
Walks have become a problem, as he handed out 28 of them in 39 frames last season.
But Karinchak is already throwing bullpen sessions and working on his pitches in a very good training center, in Florida.
He is even spending time with some teammates and showing how badly he wants to be great in 2024.
Guardians fans should surely embrace this attitude from their setup man.
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