TEMPE, Ariz. — Reid Detmers found his locker in the Angels’ spring training clubhouse right between those of Kyle Hendricks and Yusei Kikuchi.
That was certainly not a coincidence.
The Angels have long believed that Detmers has the stuff to be a frontline starter, and they are hoping the influence of successful veterans like Kikuchi and Hendricks can help him unlock his potential.
So far, Detmers is enjoying their interactions.
“The last four or five days we’ve been here, it’s been unbelievable,” Detmers said Friday. “Talking to these guys, and just picking their brains. I’ve got a good spot. Let’s just say that.”
This is a critical spring for Detmers, 25, to show that he can be what his talent suggests. After he threw a no-hitter in his 11th major-league start, expectations for Detmers have been high. He’s had months-long stretches of dominance, and equally long stretches of misery.
Now, the Angels consider him just one of a handful of pitchers competing for the No. 5 spot, most notably with Jack Kochanowicz and Chase Silseth.
“It is what it is,” Detmers said. “After the year I had last year, nothing’s guaranteed. I just kind of approach it the same way I would always approach it. Not overthinking it. Going out there and competing every day, which is what I love to do.”
Last season, Detmers spent three months in Triple-A, a harsh taste of what he brought upon himself by posting a 6.14 ERA in his first 12 starts, including a 9.72 mark in the seven before his demotion.
Detmers finished with a 6.70 ERA in 17 starts. When he returned from Triple-A, he had a start that showed all the good and bad rolled into one. He stuck out 12 in five innings against the Texas Rangers, but he also gave up four runs on three homers.
“This was the first year where I truly learned a lot about myself,” Detmers said. “Going into the offseason, I knew exactly what I needed to work on.”
As Detmers described the issues, they boil down to three things.
First was fastball command. Detmers does not have an overpowering fastball, so he needs to locate it. Also, if he can get strikes with his fastball, putting hitters behind in the count, they will be more vulnerable to swinging and missing at his changeup.
The Angels believe one of the issues causing his inconsistency was his strength, which led to problems maintaining his mechanics.
To that end, Detmers improved his nutrition and workout routine over the winter.
“Not trying to get huge, but attacking certain muscles and getting stronger in certain areas,” Detmers said. “I would definitely say by the end of last year, I was kind of beat up, and we’re attacking those areas. OK, if we attack this area, it will allow me to feel better longer throughout the season.”
The final piece is in Detmers’ head, although Detmers believes his mental approach was just a minor issue.
“I would say a little bit mentally,” he said. “I wouldn’t say a whole lot. It’s more just commanding the fastball. That’s what I attacked this offseason. Hopefully it translates. All the stuff is there.”
How good could he be if he could get the stuff to translate into performance?
A couple of years ago, Detmers said in the spring he set a goal of being a 20-game winner. He won four games each of the next two years.
He’s not doing that again.
“I’m not going to put anything out there,” he said. “It’s just me going out there and getting outs whenever we need outs, having fun while I’m doing it. The last couple years have been a little stressful. Put a little bit too much pressure on myself. This year, I took the time to really work on stuff, work on my stuff, work on my mind, and just kind of get back to having fun. It was fun to go out there and compete every five or six days. That’s the main goal.
“I still think I can be a front-end starter. I will say that’s one of the goals. I will definitely say that.”
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