Cody Ege could be a Bullpen Hero in 2017

Recently, I posted an article about predicting the Angels bullpen but I made a huge mistake: Leaving out Cody Ege. How could I miss a guy that has been so spectacular this spring? A guy with one of those names that you aren’t sure how to pronounce? I mean is it Egg-y, Egg, Eee-gee? I prefer the first one because it’s more fun but apparently it’s that last option. Either way, this dude has been pretty amazing in the Cactus League.

How amazing? Well, I’m glad you asked! So far, Ege has pitched 8.1 innings over 9 games and has yet to give up a run OR a walk. He’s only given up 8 hits for a nice little WHIP of 0.96 and has one of the team’s 4 pickoffs.

Ege was originally drafted by Texas in the 15th round of the 2013 draft. The Rangers traded him to the Marlins who DFA’d him last August - and Eppler pounced. In Ege’s 3rd minor league season he moved from A+ to AA to AAA and maintained an 11.8 K/9, 1.056 WHIP and 0.96 ERA that year at the age of 24.

Ege got his big league debut in April of last year and had a rough go in his 5 games. The Marlins optioned him to AAA where his struggles continued until they let him go in August. Remarkably, Ege walked 27 batters in 44 minor league innings for the Marlins last year.

Seemingly reborn for the Angels last fall, Ege threw 8.2 innigns over 13 games to the tune of a 1.04 ERA and 1.27 WHIP. He struck out 9 and only gave up 1 run - a homerun to Robinson Cano.

The main problem for Ege is going to be the roadblocks on the big league team. Only Mike Morin and Jose Alvarez have options so to make room for Ege it has to be one of them - or someone has to get DFA’d.

Just over a week left in spring training and the roster stuff is getting exciting!