Cincinnati Reds: Michael Lorenzen as a two-way starting pitcher

Should the Cincinnati Reds utilize Michael Lorenzen as a two-way starting pitcher in 2019?

This past season, Cincinnati Reds fans were able to watch Michael Lorenzen, arguably the most muscular pitcher in the Majors launch 4 home runs in just 34 plate appearances. His potential as a power threat from the outfield on off-days, as well as from the mound, give good reason for speculation on his potential as a two-way player. The Reds may very well have their own Shohei Otani right under their nose.

Going back to Lorenzen’s first and only season as a consistent starter in 2015, his performance was sub-par. It wasn’t Homer Bailey bad, but it was the kind of season many fans may look at and really question if he has what it takes to be a quality starter at the Major League level.

After a move to the bullpen, his ERA dropped from 5.40 to 2.88 (2016) and rose back to 4.66 in 2017. Though FIP and ERA+ are better stats to compare when assessing a pitcher. His FIP over the last two seasons averages 4.09. To put those numbers in perspective, Kyle Gibson of the Seattle Mariners put up similar numbers to Lorenzen’s two-season average.

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Gibson posted a respectable 3.9 WAR despite losing more games (13) than he won (10) over 32 starts. While Lorenzen has had a much different sample size coming out of the bullpen, he was able to start 3 games late in 2018. posting a combined 2.92 ERA with 1 win and 1 loss over 13.2 innings. Those numbers give promise in 2019 for The Zen Master in a potential shift to the rotation as a legitimate No. 5 starter who can also hit the cover off the ball.

Just for fun, let’s take a look at projections for his hitting numbers if he were to be given even 1/3 of the plate appearances Otani was given in 2018. In 34 plate appearances, Lorenzen hit .290 with a 1.043 OPS, 4 home runs, 5 extra-base hits, 10 RBIs, and struck out 9 times. If we base his 2019 stats on 121 plate appearances, Lorenzen projects to hit .262 with 14 homers,  18 extra-base hits and 36 RBIs.

While these stats are purely speculation and projections given his 2018 numbers, they give the Cincinnati Reds a legitimate reason to consider utilizing Lorenzen as a two-way player in 2019. Add in the fact he has progressively improved the past two seasons as a pitcher with quality starts to end the season in 2018, and you leave the Reds’ brass with a conundrum of the curious case of Michael Lorenzen.

This season might be about doing things in an unorthodox way to get the best team out on the field each game. What do you think Reds fans? Should Cincinnati utilize Lorenzen as a two-way starter in 2019?