FM righty is in control

Miracle's Slowey stingy on walking batters

By David Dorsey
Fort Myers News Press

After Kevin Slowey walks to the pitcher's mound at 7:05 tonight at Hammond Stadium, odds are that not too many hitters will be walking to first base.

Slowey, 21, will start the Fort Myers Miracle's Florida State League home-opener against the Sarasota Reds.

The Minnesota Twins drafted him in the second round last year out of Winthrop University.

Last season, Slowey walked a total of just eight batters over the course of 72 innings. Meanwhile, the right-hander struck out 84 and finished with a 3-2 record and a 2.13 ERA in the lower minor leagues.

"The big part of it for me is going out there and having my defense behind me," said Slowey, who referred to starting shortstop Trevor Plouffe and second baseman Alexi Casilla. "I know if I force the hitter to hit the ball, like I'm supposed to do, I'm going to do well most of the time."

Twins big-leaguer Carlos Silva led the major leagues in fewest walks per nine innings last season, issuing just nine over 188 innings.

"Numbers are numbers," Slowey said. "You can't compare them to somebody with big-league experience.

"The way I pitch is to force a hitter to hit. Walks are pretty dangerous. If there is a pitcher I would like to be like, I think it would be Brad Radke."

Like Slowey, Radke began his career with the Miracle, the Class A minor-league affiliate of the Twins.

Radke has reached the 200-inning plateau in nine of his 11 seasons, and he has averaged just 0.18 walks per nine innings. Slowey averaged 0.11 last year, and Silva 0.09.

"He's attached to the strike zone," Miracle manager John Boles said of Slowey. "His stuff stays in the zone. It's fun to watch, because he gets the defense involved. With him, he has deception to his delivery."

IF YOU GO

When: 7:05 p.m.
Where: Hammond Stadium
Tickets: Free at Lee and Collier Publix supermarkets; can be upgraded at the box office to box seats for $2.
Parking: $3
Post-game: Fireworks