While Jesse Biddle was busy throwing five no-hit innings in Clearwater last night, Aaron Nola was making his debut with Double-A Reading as they hosted the Washington Nationals Double-A affiliate, the Harrisburg Senators.
Nola finished strong in Clearwater, tossing 10 innings in his final two starts, giving up two runs while striking out 12. Overall, he went 2-3 with a 3.16 ERA ovcer seven starts with the Threshers. On Wednesday night, he began his Double-A career in style, picking up the 'W' in Reading's 9-2 victory.
The Phillies first-round pick from this year surrendered just one run while scattering six hits over five innings of work. He walked just one and struck out four hitters. Nola threw 72 pitches, 47 for strikes. The LSU alum said he felt good, especially in front of a large crowd, despite making a mistake or two. (via MiLB.com)
"I felt good. I'm used to pitching in front of a big crowd, it's fun to bring my adrenaline up a little bit," Nola said. "My body and arm felt good. Made some good pitches and I made a couple mistakes."
His Reading debut also gave Nola the opportunity to do something he hasn't in quite a while. For the first time since high school, he picked up a bat and went 1-for-2 at the plate with a bunt single and a walk. (via MiLB.com)
"That was a cool experience. I'm glad I got to do that," he said. "My thoughts were just get the bunt down, get it down and the runners could advance. As pitchers that our biggest thing we have to do, move the runners over so the top of the order can come up."
While Double-A will prove to be a test for Nola, his first outing showed that he was more than up to the challenge. His first Double-A start was much better than his professional debut for Clearwater back on June 23rd, when he gave up four earned runs over just 2.1 innings. He posted a 3.16 ERA over the next seven games, six of them starts. (via MiLB.com)
"For me, it's all about getting adjusted. I try not to think too much about that first start of my pro career and it just kept getting better after that," Nola said. "It's a great group of guys I'm playing with now. It's a step up, the environment is good — more fans — the competition is better, but my thoughts are to go out and do my thing."
Nola likely has four or five more starts left before the minor leagues conclude their season. The Phillies have him limited to five innings per start because of the 116 2/3 innings he threw in 16 starts for LSU from February to June.
While fans may think Nola could see the rotation as early as 2015, keeping him in the minors for first couple months of 2015 would buy the Phillies an extra year of control and delay his first year of arbitration.
The Phillies also need to factor in the aspect of pitching as a part of a five-man rotation. Thus far in the minors, Nola has been throwing every sixth day. With LSU, he pitched every seventh day. Bottom line, Nola will likely spend the first couple of months in the minors to get adjusted to throwing every fifth day. Whenever that comes, Nola says he is ready. (via Philly.com Sports)
"I've been on a 6-day rotation for about eight starts now, and I think they are going to gradually move me to a 5-day rotation," Nola said. "I'm OK with that. I'm ready for that."
Complete highlights of last night's 9-2 Reading win, including Nola's outing, can be seen in the video below.
Brandon Apter, Publishing Editor for Philliedelphia.com
