FORT MYERS, Fla. — Alexi Ogando, once one of the most fascinating pitchers in Major League Baseball, joins the Boston Red Sox with a clean slate.
Ogando, who served as both a starter and a reliever with the Texas Rangers, is coming off back-to-back injury plagued campaigns that cast doubt over his career. The 31-year-old is positioned to carve out a spot in Boston’s bullpen, though, and he doesn’t intend to hold back this spring.
“When you’re playing for other teams, you kind of notice the harmony of different clubhouses and the composition of every team,” Ogando said Friday at JetBlue Park. “And this seemed like a place I would want to be able to play.”
Ogando signed a one-year contract with Boston last month after auditioning for big league teams. The right-hander was limited to 27 relief appearances with Texas in 2014 because of a sprained ulnar collateral muscle that prematurely ended his season.
It’s reasonable to wonder what exactly Ogando has left in his throwing arm. After all, he dealt with shoulder and biceps issues in 2013, so it’s not like last season was an isolated incident. But Ogando said Friday he’s been feeling 100 percent since September, and he’s no longer limited in terms of throwing bullpens, firing breaking balls or doing anything else that might be considered risky for a pitcher battling an ailment.
“It’s been a long time since I went 100 percent to really see where my velocity’s at,” said Ogando, who used to throw in the 96-97 mph range. “But I think I’m in the ballpark. I can’t tell you exactly where I am right now, but I’m around there.”
Ogando always was intriguing because of his ability to bounce between Texas’ rotation and bullpen — a trait the Rangers used to their advantage — but one can’t help but wonder whether the sporadic nature of his gig ultimately led to his demise. He was extremely valuable in his role, even earning an All-Star selection in 2011, yet there’s some inherent risk that comes with constantly messing around with a pitcher’s routine.
“Really, who knows?” Ogando said Friday when asked if his inconsistent role with Texas caused his injuries. “Only God knows why certain things happen, especially injury-wise. I can’t really say, I can’t really point to that.”
Ogando won’t have to deal with too much uncertainty, as it’s fairly obvious he’ll be used as a reliever if he cracks Boston’s Opening Day roster. It’s a welcome sense of stability that Ogando intends to use to his advantage while gearing up for a return to form.
Ogando posted a 3.12 ERA in 156 appearances (48 starts) from 2010 through 2013. He might not return to being an All-Star caliber pitcher, but the veteran absolutely is willing to bet on himself.
“Yeah, of course,” Ogando said when asked if he can be as good as he once was. “That’s why I’ve worked as hard as I have to get back to this point.”
Back to being healthy. Still fascinating.
Thumbnail photo via Kyle Terada/USA TODAY Sports Images
