Ziomek Brings Lefty Funk

LAKELAND, FLA.—The Tigers added three talented young lefthanded starters to their system last season when they dealt David Price to the Toronto Blue Jays at the trade deadline.

But they already had a pretty good lefty prior to that.

Kevin Ziomek turned in a strong season in his first year at high Class A Lakeland in 2015 to follow an excellent 2014 at low Class A West Michigan.

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Ziomek is in big league camp for the first time and was the first pitcher to take the mound for the Tigers this spring. He started Feb. 29 in the annual exhibition game between the Tigers and Florida Southern.

“He’s kind of a tall, lanky lefty with a funky delivery,” Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. “That’ll probably make it tough on hitters just because of the delivery itself.”

Ziomek, 24, went 9-11, 3.43 with a 1.14 WHIP and 143 strikeouts in 155 innings last season for Lakeland. He struggled a bit in the first half, but he posted a 2.51 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP in 14 starts after the all-star break.

Ziomek did not surrender a home run in the final three months of the season and just three over the course of the season.

Ziomek said his first big league camp has been a great learning experience, thanks to a veteran pitching staff that includes Justin Verlander, Jordan Zimmermann, Anibal Sanchez and Mike Pelfrey.

“It’s nice to see some of the veterans and see how they go about their business,” Ziomek said. “Just to see how they set up a routine and follow it, get in the gym, get in the weight room. They’re good guys to learn from.”

Ziomek is likely bound for Double-A Erie to start this season as he continues to make his way through the system. He doesn’t light up the radar gun with a high-90s fastball, but he does throw an above-average fastball as part of a four-pitch mix.

He averaged 11.1 strikeouts per nine innings in 2014 at West Michigan and has 298 strikeouts in 286 innings in three seasons in the minors.

TIGER TALES

• Righthander Montreal Robertson, added to the 40-man roster this offseason, injured his right shoulder while in the weight room early in spring training.

• Lefthander Matt Boyd made an impression early with a slider that he added to his repertoire since last season.