Los Angeles Angels star pitcher Noah Syndergaard finally looks ready to leave behind so many injury-riddled years and show his considerable talent to pitch.
He signed a one-year, $21 million deal to pitch in California this season, so he has the motivation to show he is healthy and effective to score a multi-year deal after the 2022 campaign.
On Sunday, he tossed five innings of one-run ball against the mighty Los Angeles Dodgers in Cactus League action.
“Thor” struck out seven hitters in the spring training masterpiece, showing he is in top form.
Of course, he would have to show he can effectively get major league hitters out in games that count, for his spring has been very promising.
He has a 1.04 ERA, 0.58 WHIP and 11/2 K/BB ratio over 8 2/3 innings in spring training and looks ready to go.
Velocity-wise, however, the hurler still thinks he has some margin to improve.
“Noah Syndergaard said tonight he expects his fastball velocity to tick up as the season gets going. Tonight he was sitting around 94-95,” Sam Blum wrote via Twitter.
Noah Syndergaard said tonight he expects his fastball velocity to tick up as the season gets going. Tonight he was sitting around 94-95.
— Sam Blum (@SamBlum3) April 4, 2022
Syndergaard Still Has Some Room To Grow Velocity-Wise
During his best years, Syndergaard averaged over 97 mph on his four-seam fastball, so he does have some room to grow as the season goes on.
He is coming off Tommy John surgery in the spring of 2020, and suffered several setbacks in his recovery that erased his 2021 campaign, too.
He was only able to pitch two innings, allowing two runs, last year.
He had a 4.28 ERA in his last full season, 2019, in which he threw 197.2 frames.
The Angels are hoping to have the vintage version of Syndergaard, the one capable of posting a sub-3.00s ERA.
They will feel happy if he can post something close to his career ERA of 3.32.
As long as his velo comes back and he has the kind of pinpoint command he showed on Sunday, he should be just fine.
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