KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Evan Marshall is lucky to be alive, let alone pitching.
And now, four years removed from a horrifying, life-changing moment on a Class AAA pitcher’s mound in El Paso, Texas, the White Sox bullpen is lucky to have Marshall, who is enjoying the best extended scoreless streak of his career.
The 29-year-old right-hander entered the Sox’ game against the Royals Friday with a 0.00 ERA, three holds and a WHIP of 0.73 in 12 relief appearances.
The Sox purchased the contract of the 29-year-old Marshall, signed as a non-roster invitee to spring training last October, on May 1 after he posted – get this -- 10 scoreless innings for Charlotte over nine relief appearances. Before this season, he appeared in 101 games over parts of five major-league seasons with the Diamondbacks, Mariners and Indians, posting a 5.15 ERA.
“I am throwing the ball better now than I ever have,” Marshall said Friday, “with a sense of to the glove, with a purpose and a step-by-step working through at-bats. Not just throwing but thinking my way through.”
Marshall said he got “pigeon-holed” his last few years as a sinkerball pitcher, “but now I’m throwing sinkers and four-seamers and changeups and curveballs at any time in any count, all for strikes.”
After what he’s been through, Marshall is soaking in every good moment. Pitching for the D-backs Class AAA affiliate in 2015, a 105 mile-per-hour line drive fractured his skull, caused swelling and bleeding on the brain and sent him to emergency surgery. A year after that near-death experience, he was pitching in the majors.
“It’s still a thing, when you step on the mound. It’s there whether I want it to be or not,” Marshall said of getting struck. “Ultimately time has made me feel better, maybe desensitized me to [the fear] a little bit.”
He certainly feels better about life.
“You can’t almost die and comprehend that and not change,” he said. “The sky was bluer, food tasted better. It was one of those things where I appreciated all those little things I always took for granted. There aren’t really a whole lot of bad days any more. They’re all pretty good.”
Cordero claimed on waivers
Right-hander Jimmy Cordero was claimed off waivers from the Mariners and optioned to Class AAA Charlotte. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Sox transferred left-hander Carlos Rodón to the 60-day injured list.
Cordero, 27, owns a 5.40 ERA over 16 2⁄3 innings this season, and the Sox are his fourth organization this year. While his command has been an issue, scouts like his velocity and the Sox viewed him as worth taking a flyer on while adding some depth at Charlotte.
Rodón, 26, underwent Tommy John surgery on May 15.
They’re Aces
Four products of the White Sox Amateur City Elite program were picked in the draft this week, the most in the program’s 12 years: Illiana Christian third baseman DJ Gladney, White Sox, 16th round; and outfielders Pierce Jones (Marian Catholic) by the Padres, 26th round; Jason Hodges (Marist) by the Reds, 34th round; and Kendall Ewell (Marist ) by the Rockies, 40th round.
Jay takes it up a notch
Outfielder Jon Jay (groin) was transferred from AA Birmingham to Charlotte on his minor league rehab assignment. Jay singled his first time up Friday. He had two hits in 10 at-bats at Birmingham.
