Danish Learning From Failure
GLENDALE, Ariz.—Righthander Tyler Danish is learning how to handle failure.
As a senior at Durant High in Plant City, Fla., Danish went 15-1 and didn’t allow an earned run in 94 innings while striking out 156 and walking just 16.
A second-round pick in 2013, he combined to go 9-3, 1.92 at Rookie-level Bristol, low Class A Kannapolis and high Class A Winston-Salem in his first two pro seasons.
Last year, Danish advanced to Double-A Birmingham and dipped to 8-12, 4.50 in 26 starts.
“I never really struggled before last year, so I definitely learned from that,” said Danish, 21. “I struggled a little bit but learned a ton. I’ll take that experience into this year and go with that.”
Danish was just 20 last season, making him the youngest regular starting pitcher in the Southern League.
“It was a bit of a challenge, but nothing I couldn’t handle,” he said. “I think the biggest problems I had were trying to be too fine and pressing. I was trying to make my pitches do more than they should—and getting behind in counts a lot didn’t help.
“This season, I want to be more consistent and be more in the zone. I want trust my stuff and go with it.”
Danish’s top pitch still is his changeup, but he needs to improve his fastball and slider. Invited to his second big league camp this spring, he was reassigned to the minors after going recording a 2.16 ERA in seven Cactus League appearances totaling eight innings.
He seems destined to return to Birmingham.
“I’m a lot more comfortable,” Danish said. “Coming in last spring, I didn’t really know how we did everything, the routine. I didn’t know a lot of the guys.
“This spring, I’ve known what to expect. I know a lot more of the guys, and I’ve been more comfortable asking questions and everything else.”
CHI-LITES
• Shortstop Tim Anderson, the No. 1 prospect in the system, was reassigned to the minors late in camp. He will play for Triple-A Charlotte this season.
• The White Sox optioned righthander Erik Johnson to Charlotte after he got shelled in two Cactus League starts. The International League pitcher of the year last season joined Chicago in September.
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