The budding professional career of former UT pitcher Sean Bierman has taken a turn. He has been traded for the first time from the Tampa Bay Rays to the Chicago White Sox.
Bierman was drafted by the Rays in the 10th round of the 2012 MLB amateur draft. In his draft year he skipped rookie ball to split time between Hudson Valley (Short Season A ball) and Bowling Green (Class A). In 13 games he posted a 3.65 ERA with 45 K in 61.2 IP. This season between A and A+, his ERA (2.55) and his strikeouts both improved. He continued to show control and walked just about one batter per nine innings.
In 2011, Bierman had Tommy John Surgery to repair his elbow. He did not let the surgery kill his dream of being a professional pitcher and thanks UT for getting him through that difficult time.
“Sam Militello, UT’s pitching coach, helped me better my mechanics and return from my surgery,” Bierman said. “I still use everything he taught me today. I can’t thank him enough.”
Militello has been the UT baseball team’s pitching coach for over 20 years now. He works closely with his pitchers to bring out the best in them. Bierman’s success after a surgery that could’ve ended his baseball career is a great example of his skills.
Having Tommy John Surgery is not nearly as bad for pitchers as it was just a decade ago. Before, if pitchers had the surgery, their careers would be on the line. Now, some pitchers are coming back and throwing harder. Bierman does not think his velocity has gone up at all since the surgery, but, for the first time, he does not feel pain in his elbow when throwing.
Bierman is not a high-end prospect at 25 years old, but the control and ground ball rates make him a guy to keep an eye on. Everywhere he has pitched he has shown success and is able to get batter out.
“I have started 99 percent of the time I’ve pitched after college,” Bierman said. He wants to continue to start, but he may be moved to the bullpen in the upper levels of the White Sox farm system. The lefty should begin 2014 at High A Winston-Salem or AA Birmingham, depending on how the Sox see his readiness.
Bierman is sad to leave the Rays organization because it eliminates any chance of him playing in the same city as he did while at UT. However, he is excited for his new beginning with another class organization.
“I have nothing but good things to say about both organizations,” Bierman said. “They both have been so good to me.”
Bierman said his life has just turned upside down, but is excited about playing baseball in another city.
He already has the mindset of a professional. “Day by day, if good things happen that’s great, every day I work hard to better my future, that’s all that matter.”
James Belluscio can be reached james.belluscio@spartans.ut.edu.