The problem is, the future is struggling.
Buchholz, making his Triple A debut last night, unraveled in the second inning after he balked Ottawa's Brennan King to second base. After first baseman Jeff Bailey booted a routine grounder to score King with the first run, Buchholz allowed a long home run to center field by Randy Ruiz.
"Aside from the longest ball I've ever seen hit off me, it was a good experience for me to get out there and face different hitters and see some new faces," Buchholz said. "I felt it was successful as far as going out there, pitching and trying to attack the zone. I got hurt a little bit. I was trying to attack the zone and they hit it."
Buchholz's velocity ranged between 91-94 miles per hour. He started the game with a 94-m.p.h.-heater down the middle of the plate, but Ruiz's home run came on a 92-m.p.h. offering. Wearing No. 23, Buchholz toes the rubber from the far right, allowing him more control on his off-speed pitches. He has a relatively high leg kick, allowing him to hide the ball well. On the second-inning balk, Buchholz failed to step toward first base before making a pick-off throw.
He had a strong first inning, striking out leadoff man Chris Roberson on three pitches, then fanning Jason Jamarillo for the third out. But in the second inning his mechanics changed. A long fly ball for the first out, followed by King's single to right. The balk, the Bailey error, the home run, a liner to right, and another bloop hit to left before he got out of the jam.
He allowed a double in the third, but also fanned two. He ended his three-inning stint with 50 pitches -- 35 for strikes. He allowed five hits and struck out four and didn't factor in the decision in the 6-4 PawSox win.
"Definitely had [butterflies]," Buchholz said. "I get nervous before every start anyways. I was always told that if you don't get nervous before games you shouldn't be playing anymore. There's definitely a little adrenaline rush. I saw a couple of pitches that were up in the zone. I usually don't stay up there. They were a little high because of the rush I had going."
Buchholz said the balk was the second one that's been called on him this season for the same reason.
