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MattMac124
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Meet Mickey Jannis, baseball's next knuckleballing wonder
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But for some, there was anxiety. After all, who would be the next knuckleballer to step up and join the secret cabal? Because there must always be at least one pitcher in the big leagues who is able to pass on the ancient secrets to another generation.
Enter Mickey Jannis, a former 44th-round Draft selection of the Rays who, like all knucklers, started his career as a traditional pitcher. After being released from the team in 2011 and bouncing around the independent leagues, going from teams like the Lake Erie Crushers and the Bridgeport Bluefish to even the Brisbane Bandits in the Australian Baseball League, Jannis finally turned to his knuckleball.
Said the hurler:
"Growing up, I always fooled around with it on the side so it wasn't a huge change for me, and I threw it off and on in summer leagues and stuff like that, but nothing serious. It's just something you have to commit to, and probably the last two years is when I really committed to it and it's paid off so far."
Signed by the Mets earlier this year after he posted a 1.83 ERA with the Long Island Ducks, Jannis worked his way up to Double-A before heading over to the Arizona Fall League to square off against some of the best prospects in the game. Entering Saturday night, the knuckleballer had a 1.88 ERA in five starts.
While he wasn't quite so sharp while facing the Rafters on Saturday, surrendering four runs (three earned) in five innings, Jannis still fooled batters with his diving, darting knuckler as he racked up three strikeouts.
Maybe Toronto will be interested? Worked well last time they took a knuckleballer from usFat Tony said:More pitching ye