The Boston Red Sox have a former farmhand and a three-time Cy Young winner to thank for John Schreiber's breakout campaign last season.
Schreiber entered the 2022 season with a career 5.97 ERA and 1.52 WHIP in just 29 games of work at the Major League Baseball level.
Last season the 28-year-old entered with little-to-no fanfare before tearing up the league and becoming arguably the most important member of the Red Sox's bullpen.
Schreiber posted a 2.22 ERA with a 74-to-19 strikeout-to-walk ratio, .195 batting average against, 0.99 WHIP and 190 ERA+ in 65 innings for Boston last season.
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The turn around can be attributed to a random conversation with a teammate in Triple-A Worcester.
"In 2021 I came in (to spring training) and was throwing 88 mph," Schreiber told ITM Podcast's Steve Perrault and Joey Copponi. "I think a big part of that was just not doing enough throwing in the offseason. I was talking to Austin Brice that '21 season, we were both in Triple-A, and we were just talking about 'what are you doing this offseason to get ready for next season' and all this stuff.
"I remember talking to (Brice) and he said the place he was working out, Max Scherzer was working out and he said Scherzer takes one or two weeks off and then gets going.
"Last season that's kind of what I did and saw some success coming to spring training and that's kind of what I'm doing this offseason."
While a repeat of last season would be welcomed with open arms to the Red Sox's revamped bullpen, he's aiming even higher in 2023.
"I feel like I'm doing a little bit more just because I've thrown way more bullpens than I did last offseason," Schreiber said. "I'm excited to get going and see what I can do and see what the Red Sox can do this season."
Schreiber is expected to be a major factor in the Red Sox's bullpen, alongside Kenley Jansen, Chris Martin, Richard Bleier and likely Tanner Houck. If those five hurlers perform as expected, the bullpen will be the strongest area on the roster.
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