Padres pitcher Anthony Bass still wants to start in the major leagues. That said, from the start of spring training he's agreed to pitch in a relief role for San Diego this season, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
"Eventually," Bass said Sunday, clearly placing the emphasis on his first word, "I want to be a starting pitcher. I see myself as a starting pitcher."
But when manager Bud Black asked him whether he'd prefer to start at Triple-A or pitch in relief in San Diego, Bass decided he wanted to remain with the big club. Now, he'll have a versatile role for the Padres this season.
"Anthony is the only pitcher on our staff who can start, come out of the bullpen in long relief or pitch in the seventh or eighth inning in a key spot," Padres pitching coach Darren Balsley said. "There is a lot of versatility there."
The 25-year-old hurler has allowed three earned runs over 11 spring innings thus far for an ERA of 2.45 with 10 strikeouts.