Kyle Ryan working to win Tigers' final bullpen spot
KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- For a player like Kyle Ryan, spring training has to be a careful balance.
Ryan, a 6-5 lefty from nearby Auburndale, is trying to win the last bullpen spot.
At the same time, Ryan has to make sure he's ready for the regular season no matter where he ends up.
It's a challenge Ryan says he takes seriously.
"It's one of those scenarios where you can't let you making the team affect the rest of the season," Ryan said. "You've got to go about your business in your own little way."
Ryan pitched 1 1/3 inning Friday in Port St. Lucie against the New York Mets. He did not allow a hit or walk a batter and struck out one.
"Yesterday was a lot better than the first day," Ryan said. "The first day was, I wouldn't say bad, but it wasn't all there. I was leaving the ball up and just gotta get down in the zone to throw more strikes."
Ryan was referring to his spring debut in the annual exhibition against Florida Southern.
Ryan gave up a hit and a walk but got out of any serious trouble against the Moccasins.
Ryan, 23, knows that relievers do not need to have as many pitches as starters so he's focusing on two right now.
"Right now it's two-seam and cutter," Ryan said. "I feel those are my strongest pitches so I have to keep those in line with each other. Once I can do that, I just gotta keep them down. Once I keep them in the zone, from there it's just go home."
Tigers manager Brad Ausmus thinks Ryan can get both left-handers and right-handers out.
"(The thing) I like more than anything is his sinker," Ausmus said Friday. "I think he has the ability to get left-handers out. Be tough on righties but I think he'd be extremely tough on lefties. And he's not scared. He proved that last year."
Ausmus has said if it looks like Ryan and Buck Farmer will not make the team later this spring, they'll be stretched out so they can start at Triple-A Toledo.
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