Josh Judy: Mixed results
by Chuck Murr of IndiansInk.net, October 18, 2009 at 10:38am ET
Josh Judy Profile
Josh Judy worked one scoreless inning for the Peoria Saguaros in a 6-4 loss in the Arizona Fall League.
Judy walked two and got all three of his out on strikeouts, getting two outs to end the eighth inning, then getting another strikeout but walking two in the ninth before being replaced.
Judy was only a 34th-round draft pick by the Indians out of the Indiana Institute of Technology -- hardly a breeding ground for major-league ballplayers. But Indians scouts saw that Judy had a good build for a pitcher at 6-4, 200 pounds, a good fastball, and a willingness to learn.
Three years later, Judy has become a viable candidate for a future role in a big-league bullpen. In 96 career games, 94 of them in relief, he has a 17-6 record, 16 saves and a 2.68 ERA. He also has struck out 188 and allowed only 129 hits and 55 walks in 167 2-3 innings.
In 2008, he compiled a 12-1 record at Class A Lake County, mostly in a middle-relief role. He finished only six of the 35 games he appeared in, but struck out 80 in 74 1-3 innings.
Judy opened the 2009 season as the closer at Kinston in the Class A Carolina League and had three saves in five appearances, fanning seven without a walk in 4 2-3 innings. That earned him a quick promotion to Double-A Akron.
Judy worked as a setup man, then assumed the closer's role after Vinnie Pestano was sidelined with an injury. In 36 games for the Aeros, he went 4-3 with a 3.10 ERA and 11 saves. In 49 1-3 innings, he gave up 35 hits and 18 walks, striking out 63.
Judy will turn 24 years old in February. He may be promoted to Triple-A Columbus to start 2010 and if he posts good numbers there, likely will be a candidate to see some innings in Cleveland at some point next summer.
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