Major League Baseball

Hoover has been vital to Reds bullpen

Published Jun. 22, 2015 11:14 p.m. ET

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After an abysmal 2014 campaign, JJ.. Hoover has been outstanding in 2015.

Just how good has the right-hander been?

Well, as the Cincinnati Enquirer wrote, "he went into Monday's off day 5-0 with a 1.44 ERA. He has an active 13-appearance scoreless streak. He hasn't allowed an earned run since April 21."

So after going 1-10 with a 4.88 ERA a season ago, how has Hoover managed to turn it around?

"I'm executing more pitches," Hoover said. "I'm keeping it out of the middle of the plate. That's honestly the key to it."

It's hard to predict how a player will rebound from such a tough season, but Reds manager Bryan Price knew the Reds needed Hoover to rebound well.

Hoover is a big asset to the Reds bullpen and if he's not pitching well, the entire staff suffers.

So far, Hoover has responded to the challenge.

"He's a strong kid," Price said. "We knew for us to be good this year, Hoov had to be better. He's answered the bell big time. But I didn't pitch him in any high-leverage situations for a month plus. He was just a guy who was going to come in and try to get his mojo back. He's done that to such an extent that he's a lock to pitch the eighth inning when he's healthy and fresh."

(h/t Cincinnati Enquirer)

Photo Credit: Joe Robbins/Getty Images

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