After ending '24 strong, Kochanowicz eyes spot in rotation

TEMPE, Ariz. -- It took just nine starts down the stretch last season to put right-hander Jack Kochanowicz firmly in the competition for the final spot in the rotation this spring.

Kochanowicz, 24, is one of the top candidates for the No. 5 spot in the rotation, along with lefty Reid Detmers and right-hander Chase Silseth. He struggled in his first two career starts in July last year, allowing 11 earned runs in seven innings, but he was much better when he was called back up in August, posting a 2.78 ERA over his last nine outings, while averaging more than six innings per start.

He made the first start of the spring for the Angels in their Cactus League opener against the Mariners on Saturday, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits with three strikeouts. He said he¡¯s excited about the opportunity to compete for a spot in the rotation but said the decision ultimately won¡¯t be up to him.

¡°All I can do is go and pitch,¡± Kochanowicz said. ¡°It's really out of my hands, so I just have to go out there and throw. I don¡¯t think about that at all while I'm pitching. I'm sure it's always in the back of everyone's head. Everyone wants to be on that team. But it¡¯s out of my control.¡±

Angels manager Ron Washington was impressed by Kochanowicz¡¯s poise as a rookie and how he leaned on his power sinker to generate quick outs. He also showed pinpoint control, walking just 10 batters in 65 1/3 innings.

¡°I thought that there was a lot of improvement,¡± Washington said. ¡°He showed tremendous aptitude with being able to apply the things that we were trying to give to him on the fly. And he showed a tremendous heartbeat and that's why, I think toward the end of the year there, he had some pretty good starts for us. He has an idea of what his stuff is, and I think he learned how to use it.¡±

The one part of Kochanowicz¡¯s game that he could improve is his 9.4 percent strikeout rate in ¡®24, which was much lower than the league average of 22.6 percent.

Washington said he believes that the strikeouts will come with more experience, but also that Kochanowicz doesn¡¯t necessarily need to make it a huge part of his game because of his ground-ball rate. The 6-foot-7, 228-pounder had a groundball rate of 57 percent, which towered over the league average of 42.2 percent. It helps that he has elite velocity on his sinker, which averaged 95.8 mph.

¡°I've heard a lot about him not striking out people, but he's getting 13-14, ground balls a game and he's young,¡± Washington said. ¡°So I figure in another year or so, he'll learn how to get into the upper part of the strike zone and get him some strikeouts. But I'd rather him keep getting 14 ground balls a game.¡±

Kochanowicz said he¡¯s not focusing much on his strikeout rate, as he believes it¡¯ll improve as he sharpens his four-seamer, curveball and changeup to go along with his highly effective sinker.

¡°Last year gave me a ton of confidence, just that my stuff really does work at that level,¡± Kochanowicz said. ¡°I think I just have to continue to go to my strength, which is getting ground balls. The strike outs will come as long as I improve the other stuff. But I just need to stay with my strengths.¡±

Angels tidbits

? Zach Neto has been taking batting practice in the cages, fielding grounders and playing catch from 45 feet three times per week as part of his recovery from right shoulder surgery, he said Saturday. Neto has been encouraged by his progress but isn¡¯t sure if he¡¯ll be ready by Opening Day, because he¡¯s not throwing across the diamond, facing live pitching or sliding just yet.

? Lefty Victor González arrived at camp on Saturday after a delay due to visa issues coming from Mexico. He signed a Minor League deal with the club to compete for a spot in the bullpen and said he was able to get his work in while in Mexico, so he¡¯s not behind the other pitchers.

? Mike Trout remains on track to make his spring debut in right field on Monday against the Giants at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Trout hasn¡¯t played anywhere but center field since 2013.