Saturday, January 06, 2007

Bayliss Finishes Impressive Year

Jonah Bayliss, the relief pitcher acquired in the Mark Redman trade from the Kansas City Royals in December of 2005, continued his excellent 2006 by wrapping up his winter ball season in Venezuela. Bayliss is expected to compete for a bullpen job with the Pirates in 2007 and some consider him to be a legit closer of the future candidate.

Bayliss concluded his campaign in the Venezuelan Winter League with an eight-game scoreless streak for the Caribes de Oriente to lower his ERA to 1.88. The 26-year-old right-hander was 2-1 and struck out 18 in 24 innings while holding opponents to a .214 average. He spent the 2006 season with Triple-A Indianapolis, where he was 3-3 with a 2.17 ERA and held the International League to a .181 average.

The link also has an updated report on other Pirates playing winter ball this season.

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