In a span of a year, Josh Fleming went from rehabbing his elbow to pitching professional baseball with the Tampa Bay organization.
On his way to becoming the first player in Webster University history to be drafted by a major league team, Fleming set the school record for ERA and lowest opponent’s batting average.
The biggest change for Fleming was adjusting to the level of competition from Division III baseball to the Rookie League.
“Instead of facing two or three good hitters every game like in college, you’re facing a whole lineup of guys who batted third or fourth on their teams,” Fleming said. “It’s pretty noticeable too. Every guy in the lineup has the ability to hit the ball 400 feet.”
Fleming said the coaching staff were key in helping with the adjustment to Rookie League level baseball. He said he became friends with the other pitchers on the staff, who helped show him some tips.
“It was really exciting, actually,” Fleming said. “It reminded me of going into my freshman year at Webster again. Seeing new faces and getting to meet my future teams, and learning about where they played at in college and high school.”
According to Fleming, he was able to adapt to a more rigorous schedule with more travel than college.
“Road trips and bus rides were always fun,” Fleming said. “The furthest trip we had was only about three hours, so it was not bad at all.”
In his first appearance for Princeton, Fleming pitched two scoreless innings and earned a win. However, he endured a stretch in July in which Fleming allowed ten runs in three straight outings.
Fleming would only allow ten more runs in his final seven starts after his rough stretch. He struck out a Rookie League season high five batters in his final start.
While the competition was better, Fleming said he went with the same approach on the mound.
“You just kind of have to have the same mentality you had in college,” Fleming said. “Just go after the hitter and have confidence in all of your pitches.”
Tampa Bay scout Matt Alison said the organization sees Fleming as a starting pitcher. He also said it takes time for a starting pitcher to develop the stamina to handle a long schedule.
“Typically you are trying to get guys built up over time,” Alison said. “You don’t want a guy going from throwing 40 innings one year to 200 innings the next year. That is not optimal for trying to keep guys healthy and strong.”
Fleming threw 127.2 innings between college and professional baseball last season. It was more innings than he had thrown in the prior two seasons combined
Tampa Bay will give Fleming some time to rest his arm before starting an offseason workout program, according to Alison.
Alison said Fleming has good attributes and just needs to work on bettering his craft. He also said he thinks Fleming will continue to progress and learn to execute all of the pitches in his arsenal.
“He has always been a really good fastball command guy,” Alison said. “The change up is good and I think it will continue to get better. I know he has been working on his breaking ball this summer from my conversations with him.”
Fleming said he hopes to build on the momentum of the past season.
“My goal is to come back, bigger, stronger and faster,” Fleming said. “I would like to put on some muscle and get to spring training feeling better than ever.”
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