Should the Pirates Move Tyler Glasnow to the Bullpen?

Is the best place for Tyler Glasnow in the long term the bullpen?

For a number of years now Tyler Glasnow has been one of the top pitching prospects in all of baseball. Despite dominating the minor leagues, his success has not translated to the Major Leagues.

In 20 career Major League games Tyler Glasnow has pitched 80 1/3 innings. While he is averaging a healthy 8.63 K/9, he is also averaging 5.38 BB/9 and 1.68 HR/9. He has also allowed 101 hits, he has hit five batters, and he owns a 6.83 ERA and a 5.64 FIP.

Tyler Glasnow’s struggles have come despite him having excellent stuff. His fastball routinely sits around 97/98 miles per hour, and he also owns a deadly curveball. However, control problems continue to plague him.

If moved to the bullpen Tyler Glasnow’s control issues could become less of an issue. First off, if he is only being asked to pitch an inning or two at a time it can help with his control. Secondly, control issues are less likely to get him in trouble in a one or two inning outing.

Moving Tyler Glasnow to the bullpen could also maximize his already great stuff. If pitching in just a one or two inning setting Glasnow can rev back throw gas. This would most likely lead to him throwing 100+ miles per hour with regularity out of the bullpen.

If a move to the bullpen pans out the way for Tyler Glasnow it has the potential to pan out then the Pittsburgh Pirates would have an excellent back end of the bullpen duo in Glasnow and Felipe Rivero.

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Would moving Tyler Glasnow to the bullpen help his control issues? That is an unknown. But with how much he has struggled to this point it is at least worth a shot.