For Portillo the long and winding road heads to Portland
By Charles Kelce
March 27, 2023
Earlier today knuckleballer Danny Portillo was assigned to the Red Sox AA affiliate Portland Sea Dogs. The assignment marks a milestone for him, but he's also made it clear that his aspirations are set much higher.
"After all that's happened these past three years it definitely feels like an accomplishment and like we're finally on the right track but there's a long to go to get where I'm trying to be." Portillo said.
Portillo is referring to the past three years he has spent in the Red Sox organization after being taken in the fifth round of the 2020 MLB Draft that was heavily truncated due to the Covid 19 pandemic. Portillo was drafted as a potential closer with a fastball that allegedly topped 100 mph.
Shortly after being drafted Portillo suffered an ulnar injury during a questionable workout. Portillo worked hard to beat the expected timeline for his return and joined the Rookie league FCL Red Sox for the start of the 2021 season. Three pitches into his first appearance in a live game Portillo re-aggrivated the same ulnar injury.
Again there was a grueling rehab process but Portillo found that although he was back to being able to pitch with no pain his delivery had changed and the velocity that had scouts so excited was gone. Portillo was unable to consistently top 85 with his fastball.
"When you can hit 100 plus they don't work with you on much else." Portillo explained. "Velocity was all I really had."
Portillo spent 2022 away from the organization developing a whole new arsenal of pitches, focused primarily on the knuckle ball.
"It's easy on the arm. I used to have maybe 20 or 30 pitches in me but I feel like I can throw all day now."
Portillo, who got the idea while watching old Red Sox games featuring Tim Wakefield with his father, impressed the Red Sox coaching staff enough to be slated in as a starter in Portland despite not pitching in any live games since his reinvention.
"It's the middle." Portillo said of where he's at in his journey. "It's definitely not the end but it's not the start either. I've got to remember and appreciate all it's taken to get here."
Portillo is expected to start against the Fisher Cats on April 12th.