Giants Review: Rookie Reyes Moronta Emerges as Dominant Reliever

SAN FRANCISCO - Dereck Rodriguez and Andrew Suarez got most of the headlines, but before they made their respective big league debuts, the Giants already had a rookie pitcher breaking through. 

Reyes Moronta was actually optioned to Triple-A camp in early March, but he pitched well every time he was seen at Scottsdale Stadium, had a good outing in an exhibition game in Sacramento, and ended up on the Opening Day roster. It turns out he was here to stay.

Here are the highs and lows from Moronta's first full season in the big leagues … 

What Went Right

Moronta made 69 appearances, which tied for 19th among NL relievers and fourth among NL rookies. The 69 appearances were the most by a Giants rookie since 1973, when Elias Sosa pitched in 71 games. Moronta wasn't just a workhorse though; he put up big numbers. 

Moronta had a 2.49 ERA and limited opposing hitters to a .154 average. The only NL relievers who beat that? Josh Hader and Sean Doolittle. He set a franchise record by allowing just 4.71 hits per nine innings and was particularly stingy against righties, allowing a .132 average and .445 OPS. 

Bruce Bochy repeatedly brought Moronta into tight spots, and he repeatedly succeeded. Opposing hitters were 0-for-10 against him with the bases loaded and he allowed just nine of 41 inherited runners to score, the seventh-best mark in the NL. 

What Went Wrong

If you looked at some of the above numbers, you might think this was a historically dominant season. But Moronta had a glaring issue that kept him from hitting the next level: In 65 innings, he walked 37 batters. He was particularly wild early in his appearances, walking the first batter he faced 13 times. 

This isn't a real knock because Moronta was used a lot, but he did certainly wear down. His 3.38 ERA in August was his second-highest of his rookie year, trailing only a 6.75 ERA in September. The Giants all but shut him down over the final weeks, with Moronta pitching just 5 1/3 innings in September. 

Contract Status

Moronta has just one option remaining. 

The Future

Moronta, 25, has the stuff to pitch in the ninth and he certainly is durable enough to do so, and appears to have the mentality for it. But he's almost too valuable in the earlier innings to currently consider a larger role.

Time and time again, Moronta saved a Giants starter who ran into trouble in the fifth or sixth, and he's capable of going multiple innings once he enters the game. He's a real weapon when the game is close one way or the other, and if he solves that occasional wildness, he could be one of the most valuable relievers in the National League.

A lot went wrong for the 2018 Giants, but quietly, they found a right-hander who has the potential to be an anchor in their bullpen for years to come. 

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