The Long Island Ducks continue to tinker with their roster with all eyes on opening day. This time the Ducks added three bullpen pieces to their team when they announced the signings of right-handed pitchers Trevor Bettencourt and Sam Delaplane as well as left-handed pitcher Emilio Marquez.
You might call this a complete overhaul of the pen as all three pitchers will be in their first season with the Ducks. Although it's only the first season with Long Island, that doesn't mean they are inexperienced arms. Bettencourt is entering his seventh season in professional baseball and both Delaplane and Marquez will be starting their sixth.
Bettencourt spent five seasons in the Philadelphia Phillies organization and last season with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He had solid numbers at AAA ball and plenty of back end of the pen experience with 12 saves and 215 strikeouts to 60 walks over 191 innings of work.
Delaplane comes to Long Island after pitching three seasons in the Seattle Mariners organization and the last two in the San Francisco Giants system. He made 136 appearances during those five seasons with a 2.91 ERA, 18 saves and 348 strikeouts in 210 innings.
Marquez spent five seasons as a member of the Kansas City Royals organization. Like the others, Marquez has very solid numbers in the minors, including some backend experience. In 104 career appearances, he has a 3.26 ERA, nine saves and 318 strikeouts in 251 innings.
The Ducks bullpen changes certainly gives manager Lew Ford options in the back end of the pen, especially with all three relievers having closing experience.