Streaking Pirates Pitcher Anthony Claggett Nabs Player Of Week

Anthony Claggett had another nice week for Luis Dorante and the Bravos de Margarita earning the RumBunter Player of the Week Award.

Dorante is probably most well known for being Albert Pujols’ gopher ball pitcher during the 2009 MLB Home Run Derby, but he was the Pittsburgh Pirates bullpen coach from 2008-2010.  He is now the Latin America Field Coordinator and has seen the 6’3″ Claggett pitch very well this winter.

Claggett extended his streak to eight consecutive games of striking out at least one batter.  Claggett started his streak in November and between Nov. 24 to Dec 5 he struck out a batter in each of his four appearances.  From Dec 8 to 12th,  he struckout two, and then onDec 17 he struck out three.  A couple days ago, he struck out four.

The Bravos right hander made his third start this month on December 23.   Claggett went five innings, allowed three hits, two runs with four strikeouts and onewalk.

In the Winter Leagues, Claggett has impressed.  He has thrown 24.2 innings.   He started and pitched 14 of those innings with the remaining 10.2 innings coming in relief.  He has allowed just 13 hits over those 24.2 innings with five earned runs.  The right hander has struckout 16 opponents with five walks and has held the opposition to a .159 average.

It’s quite the turnaround from his 2010 season which was split between Altoona and Indianapolis.  For the Curve, Claggett threw 15 innings, struckout 13 and allowed 15 hits.  For the AAA Indians, he appeared in 35 games throwing 54.2 innings allowing 55 hits, 38 earned runs, and seven homers.   He struckout 44, and walked 22.

 Bardball had this to say about Claggett:

Anthony Claggett,
Your fastball, they flag it.
It floats like a maggot,
They wait there and tag it.
Throw harder, or bag it.
Anthony Claggett.

Anthony Claggett,
We’ll rip you in agate,
Your body, we’ll drag it.
Meet quim, you best shag it.
Or, otherwise, bag it.
Anthony Claggett.

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