Pirates pitcher Michael Feliz feels confident in quest to prove himself

BRADENTON, Fla. — Michael Feliz did not make the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Opening Day roster last year. The big right-handed reliever hopes the outcome is different when this season starts.

Whenever that start might be, of course, as it has been postponed by Major League Baseball in wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

“It was very disappointing when they told me I was going to Triple-A,” Feliz said prior to camps being shut down. “I wanted to be in the big leagues. Everyone wants to be in the big leagues. All I could do was go down there and prove that I should be here.”

Which is exactly what Feliz did.

In 10 games with Indianapolis, he had a sparkling 1.20 ERA along with 22 strikeouts in 15 innings. The Pirates called him up April 26, and he stayed in the major leagues the rest of the season.

Feliz, 26, is not a lock to be with the Pirates when the season opens.

However, he seemingly has a leg up on winning a bullpen job after a solid 2019 season. It also helps Feliz’s cause that he is out of minor league options and would have to pass through waivers if the Pirates tried to send him down.

Feliz had a 3.99 ERA and struck out 73 batters in 56¹⁄₃ innings over 58 games a year.

If not for an ill-fated one-off stint as an opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers on May 24, Feliz’s ERA would have been more than three-quarters of a run lower at 3.21. He retired only one of the six batters he faced that night at PNC Park and was charged with five runs.

Though the Pirates finished last in the National League Central for the first time since 2010, Feliz could go home to the Dominican Republic feeling good about himself when the season ended.

“I knew I had to change people’s mind about me after the way I pitched (in 2018) and in spring training last year,” Feliz said. “I feel like I did. I showed that I can pitch up here and get hitters out.”

Feliz was one of four players acquired from the Houston Astros in the trade for Gerrit Cole in January 2018.

Feliz’s initial season started well as he had a 2.70 ERA through his first 22 appearances. He was gaining the trust of then-manager Clint Hurdle and being used in the late innings to help set up closer Felipe Vazquez.

Then everything fell apart. Feliz’s ERA was 7.81 in his last 25 games.

So, Feliz had something to prove last season.

He credits much of his success to fellowbullpen mate and Dominican Francisco Liriano. The two were teammates with the Astros in 2017 then were reunited last season when Liriano signed with the Pirates as a free agent.

“He told me that I needed to be consistent,” Feliz said. “And he told me that my stuff was good enough to get big league hitters out. He was always talking with me, giving me advice, giving me confidence. He was a big help to me.”

Liriano is now with the Philadelphia Phillies. However, Feliz’s confidence has reached a point where he believes he no longer needs constant encouragement.

Feliz looked sharp during Grapefruit League play, allowing one earned run in 4²⁄₃ innings for a 2.08 ERA.

“I like where my pitches are now,” Feliz said. “The fastball is my best pitch, and I throw it for strikes more now and my slider has gotten better.

“My mind was right at the end of last season. Then I went home, and instead of playing winter ball I rested and then started my workouts. I feel really good. I feel like I’m going to have a good season.”