ESPN’s Law: Corbin projects as a No. 2 starter
Jun 25, 2013, 1:38 PM | Updated: 1:38 pm
Not an ace.
That was the overall opinion of ESPN MLB analyst Keith Law when assessing Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Patrick Corbin.
“I think he can be a good No. 2 pitcher and that is what I am buying,” Law told Arizona Sports 620’s Doug and Wolf on Monday.
Corbin started the season as the No. 5 pitcher in the D-backs rotation after having to beat out Tyler Skaggs and Randall Delgado in spring training for that spot.
“I was never a huge Corbin fan and I violated one of my core beliefs,” Law said. “Always bet on good athletes and he is a good athlete.”
Last season, Corbin went 6-8 with a 4.54 ERA and 86 strikeouts. He appeared in 22 games and started 17.
The improvements from last season to this season for Corbin have been drastic.
Corbin is a perfect 9-0 this season with a 2.19 ERA and already has 79 strikeouts in 15 games. The team is 14-1 in games that he has started.
“The velocity he has shown only in relief work is now being shown in the rotation,” Law stated. “His athleticism has allowed him to add velocity and that is because of his quicker arm.”
You would be hard-pressed to find a pitcher who has been as valuable as Corbin has been to a team’s rotation in the first half of the MLB season.