Jungmann an intriguing young starting-pitching option for Brewers
PHOENIX -- A Major League Baseball team rarely, if ever, gets through an entire season using just five starting pitchers.
So it has to be concerning to the Milwaukee Brewers that they don't have much big-league starting experience behind their starting five of Kyle Lohse, Matt Garza, Wily Peralta, Mike Fiers and Jimmy Nelson.
"We've talked about it quite a bit," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said. "We have some guys here in camp that we like and think they can do it. (General manager) Doug (Melvin) is always looking to try (and see if) we can add as much depth as we can."
Currently No. 6 on the starting-pitching depth chart is Taylor Jungmann, who has yet to make his major-league debut and has just 18 career Triple-A starts under his belt.
Picked No. 12 overall by Milwaukee in the 2011 first-year player draft, Jungmann has an opportunity in spring training to leave an impression on the Brewers for when they need a starting pitcher.
"I think just like anybody else, I'm here to show them what I can do," Jungmann said. "I'm obviously going to try to throw my best. Other than that, I'm not looking too much into opportunities as far as the sixth spot or whatever. I try to work on the little things from day to day that I've been working on since last year. I'm not worried about the other stuff."
Jungmann has slowly risen up Milwaukee's system after beginning his professional career with Class-A advanced Brevard County in 2012. He spent all of 2013 with Double-A Huntsville, posting a 4.33 ERA in 26 starts.
After beginning last season 4-4 with a 2.77 ERA in nine starts for Huntsville, Jungmann earned a promotion to Triple-A Nashville in May. The 25-year-old struggled to adapt to the next level at first, posting a 5.13 ERA over his first 13 outings in Triple-A.
"I went through a little funk as soon as I went up," Jungmann said. "I don't know if that was me being anxious being in Triple-A for the first time or if it was getting away from my mechanics."
Jungmann made an adjustment late last season that helped him earn honors as Milwaukee's minor-league pitcher of the month in August with a 1.80 ERA in six starts.
At the recommendation of Triple-A pitching coach Fred Dabney, Jungmann shifted from the first base side of the rubber to the third base side.
"I think that really made a difference with my mechanics," Jungmann said. "It made everything a lot smoother, more relaxed and more natural for me. That was the big thing for me. It really helped my breaking ball. It helped all of my pitches."
His strong finish earned him a spot on Milwaukee's 40-man roster, which meant an invitation to big-league spring training.
There's a minute chance Jungmann could impress the Brewers enough in spring training to warrant consideration to be the team's long reliever, but it's likely the right-hander begins the season in the starting rotation at Triple-A Colorado Springs.
While he could leave a strong impression during spring training, his performance in Triple-A will dictate if he's called upon when the Brewers need a starting pitcher during the season.
General manager Doug Melvin is still on the hunt for starting pitching depth and could add a veteran arm to the mix before Opening Day.
"It is probably hard for him to show to me (he is the No. 6 guy) no matter how he pitches here in spring training," Roenicke said. "I have to really go on what they see in the minor leagues.
"I like his stuff. His stuff really plays well. When he's down in the zone with his fastball, because of the height, it really has nice movement to it. His curveball is outstanding. But in spring training is going to be different. Is he going to be able to go into a season and command it -- because he has to."
Although it may not have happened as quickly as some had thought it would, Jungmann is on track to pitch in the majors four years after he was drafted out of the University of Texas.
If Jungmann makes his big-league debut in 2015, he would be Milwaukee's first first-round draft pick to play for the Brewers since Jeremy Jeffress (2006).
"I think everybody coming out of college thinks they are ready for the big leagues," Jungmann said. "You are not necessarily ready for it but you always want to think you are because you want to have that confidence. I didn't have too many expectations coming out of college because I feel like if you set your expectations too high at a certain point in time you get disappointed. Then you rush yourself there and things like that, so I try to focus on the day-to-day.
"I think it has gone well. I think I've progressed every year. That's all I can ask for is to get better every year."
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