Mariners starter Justus Sheffield feels ‘comfortable’ through 2 spring outings
Before he even arrived in Arizona for camp this spring, Justus Sheffield knew where he wants to be by season’s end.
“When we hit September, I want to be a solidified starter,” the 23-year-old left-hander said in January at the club’s pre-spring training media luncheon.
He wants to be a pitcher the Mariners can stick with, he said then, who plays in Seattle for a long time.
With the Mariners turning the keys over to the kids this season, and Sheffield a lock for the starting rotation, he will get every chance to prove he’s a guy worth moving forward with.
“Being young and getting these opportunities — it’s about what we can do with it now,” he said then.
Here’s what Sheffield’s done with the opportunity so far: He’s made two spring training appearances with nearly flawless results.
Last week against the Brewers in Maryvale, he followed starter Kendall Graveman and tossed two perfect innings in relief, striking out three.
Monday against the Rockies in Peoria, he worked three innings, allowing one run — a solo shot by Ryan McMahon off a fastball in the first inning that soared over the batter’s eye in center field — on two hits, and struck out four.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREHow will we cover spring training in 2020?
The Seattle Mariners are ready to report to spring training and so is The News Tribune. Beat reporter Lauren Smith will be on the ground in Peoria, Ariz., from the first full squad practice. And our coverage will continue through the final roster decisions at the end of March, bringing fans the latest on the second year of Seattle’s rebuild. Click on the arrow in the top right for more.
Looking to the future
While the Mariners aren’t exactly expected to contend for a playoff spot in 2020, these six weeks of preseason workouts and games will give us a closer look at some of the top prospects — like outfielders Jarred Kelenic and Julio Rodriguez, and former first-round draft pick Logan Gilbert — expected to be key pieces of the club’s future, and some of the young players battling for Opening Day roster spots. We’ll also be able to catch up with the more experienced players — like veteran third-baseman Kyle Seager and ace pitcher Marco Gonzales — already in Seattle’s clubhouse.
Don't miss any action with a Sports Pass
Support our coverage of Mariners baseball — which over the course of the year will include a steady stream of subscriber exclusives you can’t get anywhere else — with a yearlong News Tribune Sports Pass subscription.
“I tried to go away and it was middle up — right in the sweet spot,” Sheffield said of his one blunder. “I think I seen it go and I just said, ‘Leave it. Let it go.’ ”
Given mostly everything has gone right for Sheffield early this spring, he had no problem shaking off the homer.
“Early on the heater was a little bit in the zone,” he said. “As you could see, that one was touched. But, I got back in there and really just tried to get down and through it.
“I’m really, really happy with all of my pitches.”
He’s mixed in each of his three prominent pitches — his fastball, slider and changeup — in both appearances.
His slider was particularly effective against the Rockies Tuesday.
“(The slider) was the main go-to pitch today,” he said. “I kind of worked off that and then was able to throw my heater in, which I was really excited about going in on righties. And then the changeup away, I feel like that’s my main attack, main goal. I accomplished it today.”
He’s been working on further developing his changeup during the past year, and is seeing results there this spring, too.
“The changeup is going to be a real weapon for him,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said. “It comes out 86 (mph), 87, it’s got good fade and depth to it. They hit it on the ground most of the time when he throws it up there.”
Sheffield said he felt strong during his second outing, and could have kept going, but will look to build on it as he continues to stretch out his arm for the regular season.
He also felt comfortable, thanks in part to the guidance of Mariners catcher Tom Murphy. Those jitters Sheffield dealt with in a handful of outing with Seattle last season? Those seem to be gone.
“I’m pretty comfortable,” he said. “Murphy back there, he’s caught me a lot and we kind of have that chemistry going. It’s nice to have somebody back there that knows what kind of adjustments I need to make pitch by pitch.”
“That’s probably the calmest I’ve ever seen (Justus) out there, which is great to see,” Servais said. “He continues to get a good feel for his stuff, and (will) move from there.”
