The Slammers were clearly in need of pitching last season — and wins — after the All-Star break.
One pitcher had just been placed on the suspended list and another on the injured list. The team was 24-34 in late July and out of playoff contention in the Frontier League.
Desperate for arms, the Slammers signed left-hander Spencer Medick.
“We took a chance to take him,” Joliet manager Jeff Isom said of Medick. “He was coming off an arm injury. We didn’t know what we were going to get, but we needed somebody to cover some innings and he said, ‘Give me the ball.’ He did a nice job for us.”
The same thing has happened this year.
The 25-year-old Medick (6-2, 4.94 ERA) is tied for the team-high in starts with 12 and is second in wins for the East Division leaders. He spent much of 2015 on the injured list with the Southern Illinois Miners.
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“Thankfully, ‘Ice’ (Isom) took a chance on me, invited me back for spring training this year,” Medick said. “Hopefully I can reward his faith in me.”
Medick had a resurgent outing in his most recent start Thursday against Evansville. He allowed one run and four hits in six innings in a 5-2 victory at Silver Cross Field.
“The biggest thing is working ahead, keep the pitch count down, try to avoid those walks so you can go a little deeper in games,” Medick said.
“It’s always been fastball command, establishing inside early in the game. That’s going to set up my off-speed pitches later and be able to get some tough swings. My changeup has been pretty effective this year.”
It hasn’t always looked smooth for the 6-foot-3, 220-pound Medick. He has 38 walks to go with 34 strikeouts, numbers that indicate control can be an issue at times.
“I’m walking a few too many guys right now,” he said. “Walks have never been a part of my game. I think I’m just a tick away from getting over that.”
Thursday’s victory was the first for Medick since he went 8 2/3 innings on June 30 against River City in O’Fallon, Mo. He had two no-decisions and a loss in his next three starts.
The Slammers struggled along with Medick. They had a 2-10 stretch this month after they reached 10 games over .500 (28-18) for the first time since 2011.
Joliet has since rebounded to win four in a row going into Friday’s series opener against River City at Silver Cross Field. The Slammers swept Evansville to start the nine-game homestand Friday night and sought their 20th home victory.
“When things are going well, we kind of don’t get in the way of ourselves,” Medick said. “We just let the good things roll.”
The Slammers are hosting a reunion for the 2011 championship team at Saturday’s game against River City. Center fielder Charlie White wants another one for Joliet.
“Everyone in the locker room has got their eyes on the postseason and winning the championship here in Joliet,” White said. “It would be awesome to do that again, bring it back here.”
Medick likely would play a key role.
“When we’re winning as a team, you see Liam (O’Sullivan) go out there and throw like he can, it elevates you,” Medick said. “It makes you want to get the win.”
Tim Tierney is a freelance writer for the Daily Southtown.