ApL Johnson City Doughboys

Jays' Greene Gets Message

Published on August 28, 2014 under Appalachian League (ApL)
Johnson City Doughboys News Release


Conner Greene is 1-1 with a 2.65 ERA over his last three Appy League starts. (Bluefield Blue Jays)

Conner Greene realized the only way for his career to start moving forward was to pitch his way to another level. Now that he's in the Appalachian League with the Bluefield Blue Jays, he senses there's some traction to the work he's put in.

"Maybe it was to test my will," said Greene, a 19-year-old right-hander, "to see what I can handle."

A seventh-round pick out of high school in 2013, Greene spent his first one-plus pro seasons in the Gulf Coast League. Others had moved on, but he remained at the Toronto organization's Florida headquarters when teams were divvied up after the latest Draft a couple of months ago.

"I don't know why I was in the Gulf Coast. I worked hard to get out," Greene said. "It was a disappointment, but it was also motivating at the same time. ... My buddies were moving up. I was thinking I was ready to go to the Appy League."

Since he arrived at this next stop in late July, he's taking advantage of it.

Bluefield manager Dennis Holmberg said the path for Greene has been reasonable.

"That's not an uncommon stepping stone for a high school [Draft] guy," Holmberg said, though he noted some quirks. "I think he's a left-hander trapped in a right-hander's body."

Of his first four outings with Bluefield, only one came at home -- and that was on a rainy night in southern West Virginia. Greene said he didn't let that bother him in a five-inning stint in which he allowed only one hit and one run while striking out eight Danville Braves, the league's top offensive team.

"He uses his pitches," Holmberg said. "He changes speeds."

Green following that impressive outing with another solid effort Aug. 12 in Burlington, yielding one run on four hits over six innings without walking a batter, though he did suffer the loss.

Before he was drafted out of Santa Monica, Calif., Greene didn't have to develop multiple alternate pitches to be effective. Since turning pro, that process has been in full swing.

With a fastball that tops out at 96 mph but routinely is clocked from 90-95 mph, he worked on a changeup. He's become comfortable with that and considers it among his accomplishments of the past several months, which included a 1.99 ERA across seven games in his second stint with the GCL Blue Jays.

Greene also uses a different grip when tossing a curveball. He used to break it off at the index finger, but he said he has learned better technique.

Now that he holds a spot in Bluefield's rotation, his confidence has been restored as well.

"This year, I've started to become a real pitcher," Greene said. "Now, I have an approach. ... The whole year I felt like I've dominated. I met my expectations."

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Appalachian League Stories from August 28, 2014


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