Jeremy Bonderman's second rehab start with the Toledo Mud Hens didn't begin very well, with the Norfolk Tides scoring runs in each of the first two innings. He seemed to settle down from there, allowing just one more run over his final four innings. But the Tides put a runner on base in each frame.
Bondo's final line: Three runs (two earned) on seven hits in six innings, with four strikeouts and three walks. He threw 97 pitches, 60 of them for strikes.
But how hard was Bonderman throwing last night? We had some comments in last night's GameThread from those listening to the Mud Hens-Tides broadcast that said Bondo was throwing around 85 m.p.h., but that may have been early in the ballgame. The recap in the Toledo Blade confirms that, while reporting that he topped out around 90 m.p.h. And Bondo didn't seem too happy with that himself:
"The first two innings I was a little frustrated with the way I was throwing. After the second inning I settled down and just tried to use what I had better.
"My velocity will be there when it's there - I can't control that. I'm just going to go out, try and pitch and be successful."
No word yet on where Bonderman goes from here, though with his velocity and stamina still down, you have to think he needs at least one more rehab start. According to Jason Beck, the Tigers can keep Bondo in the minors until June 15, when the 30 days on his rehab assignment would run out.