Piggyback rotations are a great way for minor league teams to juggle a large rotation of starting pitchers. Piggybacking is a term used to describe when two pitchers sharing a start; one pitcher starts the game and the second pitcher comes in the middle.
The Blue Jays organization has two of the best in Lansing with Justin Nicolino and Aaron Sanchez. The duo has played five games together this season. Sanchez is 3-0 and Nicolino is 0-0, and incredibly, both have a 0.00 ERA!
Justin Nicolino was drafted by the Blue Jays in the 2nd round of the 2010 MLB draft out of University High School in Orlando Florida. Nicolino has a good fastball in the low 90’s which he can control on either side of the plate. He also has a good curveball and changeup which he uses as well. Last season, Nicolino split time with Vancouver and Lansing collecting a 6-2 record and a 1.33 ERA to go with 73 strikeouts and only 13 walks. Thus far this season, the young prospect has recorded 17 strikeouts and has only walked two.
Aaron Sanchez was drafted by the Blue Jays in the 1st round of the 2010 MLB draft out of Barstow High School in Barstow, California. Aaron has a strong arm which can throw fastballs in the high 90’s, but has the control to throw as low as the low 50’s to throw batters off. Sanchez throws a yellow hammer as well which is a divesting curve ball most famously done by Satchel Page.
Sanchez has a career record of 6-6 with a 3.63 ERA with 113 strikeouts and 51 walks sense going pro in 2010. This season the young Californian has 20 strikeouts and has walked eight.
Overall, there is no denying tha Sanchez and Nicolino are just two of the many strong arms in the Lansing Lugnuts rotation. Let’s hope that their perfect season continues.