Fansided

Each MLB team’s most surprising player from April

By Joshua Sadlock

Apr 3, 2017; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Eric Thames (7) hits a double to drive in two runs in the fifth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 3, 2017; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Eric Thames (7) hits a double to drive in two runs in the fifth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 15, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Jeremy Hellickson throws to the Washington Nationals during the first inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 15, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Jeremy Hellickson throws to the Washington Nationals during the first inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /

Philadelphia Phillies: Jeremy Hellickson

The Phillies attempted to hold an auction for Jeremy Hellickson at the trade deadline last year, could not find an offer meeting their high asking price, and decided to hold onto him in hopes of collecting a draft pick after he turned down the qualifying offer. Hellickson threw a bit of a monkey wrench into their plans by accepting the one-year qualifying offer, but in the end, the Phillies may actually be grateful that he did.

Hellickson went 4-0 in the month of April with a 1.80 ERA, allowing only two home runs in 30.0 innings. He has pitched into the seventh inning twice, and has issued only three walks this season. Hellickson has always pitched to contact, never striking out more than eight batters per inning in a full season. He is taking that to another level this year, and has struck out only 11 batters, for a strikeout rate of 3.3 per nine.

As a fly-ball pitcher, Hellickson has only gotten 32.3 percent of his contact on the ground this year. That would be the lowest rate of his career by a wide margin. He has also allowed only 4.4 percent of his fly balls to leave the yard so far this year, which is far below his career average and the MLB average. No one has been able to figure out his changeup this year, and Hellickson has used it more than any of his pitches. Hellickson’s fastball and sinker have been hit well for average, but are still being kept in the park.

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