The innings have been minimal but the results maximal for Twins second year reliever Pat Neshek. In his role of late inning reliever but not the stopper (hello, Joe Nathan), the second year right hander may not even work a full inning in some games. His 1.20 ERA is the best on the team among pitchers with six innings or more.
Neshek’s record is 3-0, with 36 strikeouts in 30 innings. His ERA is among the most impressive in the American League but he doesn’t have enough innings to qualify for a ranking among pitchers in major league baseball with the lowest ERA’s.
Called up by the Twins from AAA Rochester last season, the Minneapolis-area native was 4-2 with a 2.19 ERA as a rookie. He was third in wins among American League rookie relief pitchers, trailing Detroit’s Joel Zumaya, six, and Baltimore’s Kurt Birkins, five. Neshek had a streak where he didn’t allow a run in nine appearances for the Twins.
Neshek’s ERA now betters his already impressive averages in the minor leagues, 2.19 at New Britain in 2005 and 1.95 at Rochester last season. Coming up through the Twins organization since 2002, Neshek has been a relief specialist and led Minnesota’s minor leaguers in saves in 2005.
The 26-year-old’s role is often to help the Twins hold a lead or stay in the game in the seventh or eighth innings. Then the 32-year-old Nathan, the Twins’ bullpen star, takes over. Neshek was asked if he aspires to be the team’s stopper some day, or even a starting pitcher, both opportunities that likely would bring more money. The Twins could lose Nathan to free agency after next season.
“No, not at all,” Neshek told Sports Headliners. “I am very content with what I am doing. I am content to put on a uniform every day and that would be awesome if I could do that for the rest of my career. I’ve always said if that’s what they want me to do (relief pitching), that’s what I will do. In college (Butler University) I was always a starter, and when they drafted me I said, ‘What do you want me to do?’”
Neshek threw overhand at Park Center High School and developed arm trouble. Since becoming a submarine style pitcher his arm has been okay. The unorthodox side arm style, combined with a good fast ball, is a challenge to hitters. “When it’s cooking at the top of it, I can get up to 94 (miles per hour),” Neshek said. “Couple times 95 but that’s kind of a stretch but usually I will set 90-92, 93 once in a while.”