It’s Now or Never for Jordan Balazovic

[Ted Schwerzler]

Just a year ago, Jordan Balazovic was a consensus top-100 pitching prospect and was at the top of Minnesota’s system. He dealt with injury and effectiveness to the point he no longer appears in Twins Daily’s top 15 prospects. It’s now or never for the right-handed hurler.

Image courtesy of William Parmeter

Last season got off less than ideal for Jordan Balazovic. Due to the lockout, he couldn’t communicate with the organization and entered Spring Training with a knee issue. Despite suggesting he was healthy, he was slow out of the gate and battled ineffectiveness all season long. Even while he turned things around late with the St. Paul Saints, Balazovic finished with a gaudy ERA north of 7.00 across more than 70 innings of work.

Just a year removed from being a guy that put up a 3.62 ERA with more than a strikeout per inning at Double-A, Balazovic had turned into a complete pumpkin. The walks ballooned, and while the strikeouts held on, he inexplicably allowed more than two-and-a-half homers per nine innings. It was shocking for a guy who had always been stingy regarding the long ball.

Coming into this Spring Training, Balazovic needed to set a new tone. Instead of accomplishing that and impressing the big-league staff, Balazovic got punched square in the jaw. While he contends that it was a surprise and unprovoked attack, there is no denying it was a distraction and could have been avoided by choosing different whereabouts.

Instead of impressing the Major League staff, Rocco Baldelli and his coaches sent a message to Balazovic.

Sent out of camp as the first cut, all by himself, it is beyond clear where the Twins stand. It’s now or never.

Balazovic is not an old prospect, as he will pitch all of this season at 24 years old, but he isn’t viewed the same as he was a year or two ago. After putting up lackluster results all season, Minnesota needs to see more. The starting pitching depth may be better than ever, and with the emergence of talents like Louie Varland and Simeon Woods Richardson, Balazovic has been knocked down in the pecking order.

For everyone involved, the hope would be that the message was received loud and clear. It stands to reason that Balazovic wouldn’t have been happy being jettisoned so quickly from big league camp, but there is no time for him to stew on it. As minor league action gets underway on the back fields, Balazovic will again be ticketed to Triple-A. He can start the turnaround by dominating hitters this spring, and we’ll need to take those same efforts with him up to St. Paul.

Last season Balazvoic didn’t make his debut until May. He’ll be months ahead this time, assuming the preparation is on track. He can go a long way toward making the impression he wanted to make in Florida by coming out strong. The talent that landed him on national prospect lists isn’t gone, and the knee issues that hampered him a year ago should be in the rearview mirror.

Maybe this spring wasn’t a reflection of maturity or anything but a culmination of some bad luck. The 70 innings last year reflect results that Balazovic can’t continue to be tied to, however, and putting up some sparkling numbers again is what he needs to get on track with. As the Twins continue to sort out their depth pitching plans, it would be good for the Canadian to force his way among them.

No matter how much depth the Twins have on the mound, more is always a good thing to find. Balazovic represents an opportunity for the organization to see a come up in a big way, and all parties involved would be thrilled to see that outcome. The physical altercation may have hurt more, but Minnesota hopes the mental message hits home harder.

View full article

[Guest]

I understand what's wrong with Canada, but what's wrong with Canadiens?

[Doctor Gast]

Looking ahead at '24, we have Lopez, Ryan, Ober & Paddack set, leaving one spot. And maybe they'd want to go outside the organization. Varland & SWR were able put time in at '23 ST which gives them a leg up. Balazovik needs to really press down if he wants see any time in MLB in '23 or significant time in '24.

[Mike Sixel]

Never? No, it isn't now or NEVER. 

I'm still hopeful, but have no idea what will happen ....

[Dman]

It is a real tough start for Jordan and I am guessing he won't be in peak shape to start with the broken jaw issue.  Still I am hoping that the knee issue is gone and he can get back to who he was.  Might be a rough start for him but am hoping as the year goes on he shows some level of dominance. 

It might not be now or never for him but he is taking up a 40 man spot so another really bad year and the Twins likely free that spot for someone else who can or will make a difference. Not much room for unproductive spots on the 40 man.

[old nurse]

DeGrom debuted at almost age 26. Now or never?

I would really think that there was better baseball sense than that from the writers . Is TD becoming clickbait?

[Mike Sixel]

2 minutes ago, old nurse said:

DeGrom debuted at almost age 26. Now or never?

I would really think that there was better baseball sense than that from the writers . Is TD becoming clickbait?

becoming?

[Major League Ready]

2 hours ago, Doctor Gast said:

Looking ahead at '24, we have Lopez, Ryan, Ober & Paddack set, leaving one spot. And maybe they'd want to go outside the organization. Varland & SWR were able put time in at '23 ST which gives them a leg up. Balazovik needs to really press down if he wants see any time in MLB in '23 or significant time in '24.

Haven't you heard?  We are a lock to sign Nola. 

[old nurse]

12 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

becoming?

A few years back I had a coworker on TD. Got in trouble for flame bait  His brother got thrown off for sounding like him. Sometimes you have to tone it down 

[Mike Sixel]

1 minute ago, Major League Ready said:

Haven't you heard?  We are a lock to sign Nola. 

At least you are consistent!

[Doctor Gast]

13 minutes ago, Major League Ready said:

Haven't you heard?  We are a lock to sign Nola. 

That's what I like to hear!😉

[D.C Twins]

I think this singling out shows that the Twins in no way evaluated the situation as an unavoidable random act of violence as some on this site seemed inexplicably ready to believe as Balze's account.

 

[Major League Ready]

2 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

At least you are consistent!

I know the odds are against us.  We can afford him.  Unfortunately, so can the Phillies.  They have $38M coming off the books next year.  Let's hope he does not want to be there for some reason.  It's going to be tough if he is happy there.  The most likely scenario is probably them extending Mahle.   

[DocBauer]

Now or never? I strongly disagree. And I'm not even talking about wrong place and wrong time for something bad to happen to him. He was a top 100 prospect this time a year ago. He then struggled with his knee, planting, his entire mechanics got messed up, and probably his head as well. To his credit, he felt better late in the season and looked much more like his old self. Regardless of what happened, or what is known/believed, he arrived early to get to work.

At 24yo, with the talent he still possesses, nobody in their right mind is going to make 2023 as some make or break season unless he just stinks. Ideally, he would be 100% and ready to challenge by mid season for an opportunity. That's probably not going to happen now. But what if he's ramped up and ready to debut come August or September? What if he just gets better and better and looks primed to debut in 2024 at 25yo? Wouldn't that dismiss any sort of "never" idea?

As far as being the 1st cut, IDK, maybe it's a message to say he just shouldn't have been out on the town at all that night, just in case something could happen. But at the same time, unable to do much of anything pitching wise for a few weeks, why wouldn't he be an immediate cut to just work out, keep his strength up, and get ready for the milb season? What can he do for the next few weeks but just watch?

Sorry, no, it's NOT now or never. It's "get right", work hard, and get back to where he was. Maybe with a little more perspective to avoid potential wrong place and wrong time chances in the future.

[jimbo92107]

Dear Jordan,

Pitch well, and stop hanging out in bars. You'll save a lot more than money.

Jimbo

[Fatbat]

He is gonna be just fine. Guys come out of the woodwork all the time. Pencil him in for a long, successful career. 

[old nurse]

15 hours ago, Major League Ready said:

I know the odds are against us.  We can afford him.  Unfortunately, so can the Phillies.  They have $38M coming off the books next year.  Let's hope he does not want to be there for some reason.  It's going to be tough if he is happy there.  The most likely scenario is probably them extending Mahle.   

If they resign Wheeler that 38 is back on the books

[old nurse]

Balazovic is on the 40 man. A lot of the prospects on the 40 man get cut early in case of injury do the service clock doesn’t start ticking

[miracleb]

"Just a year removed from being a guy that put up a 3.62 ERA with more than a strikeout per inning at Double-A, Balazovic had turned into a complete pumpkin"
************************************

EVERY major league team has a dozen minor league pitchers better than this (above.).  2019 was the only year that Balazovic had numbers that would indicate......."boy, I think we have something here."

THREE years ago he was a consensus top 100 pitching prospect.  Now he just needs to fight to regain what he once had.....and we all hope that he does!!

[Major League Ready]

1 hour ago, old nurse said:

If they resign Wheeler that 38 is back on the books

Wheeler is not a free agent until 2025 when he will turn 35 years old.   Nola will turn 31 during the season next year.  I am assuming Nola will be the bigger priority.  Plus. Wheeler's $23.5M coming off in 2025 makes it even more financially feasible to sign Nola.  Nola's comp next year is $16M so we are talking a net increase of roughly $15M.    Let's hope he wants to play somewhere else.  It would be great to add him.

[Trov]

I would not say it is now or never for him.  As pointed out he is only 24.  Everyone's favorite ace from Brewers Mr. Burnes, did not breakout at MLB level until 25.  Many other top pitchers for a few years do not break out until 25 to 27.  Some burn out by 29, but some go well into 30's.  

Of course if he does not make progress and falls further down depth chart his time with Twins will be near an end, but I am sure many teams will be willing to take a chance on him if we ever release him.