ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Earlier this season former Lobo pitcher Bobby LaFromboise was designated for assignment by the San Diego Padres after spending all year at Triple-A El Paso. He was not without a team for long, however, as the Pittsburgh Pirates quickly claimed him on Aug. 24 and added him to their 40-man roster to make sure he would eligible to pitch in the postseason.
Now, there is a good chance he will get that opportunity. The Pirates host the San Francisco Giants in the National League Wild Card game Wednesday at 6 p.m. (MT) on ESPN, and LaFromboise pitched well enough in six pennant-race appearances to merit inclusion on the roster.
“I’ve tried to show them I can pitch in tight spots, and I can pitch to more than just lefties,” LaFromboise told MLB.com’s Stephen Pianovich. “I’m just glad they’ve let me go out there and prove myself.”
The lefty, who made his MLB debut last season for the Seattle Mariners, struck out four and allowed just one run on three hits and no walks in 3.2 innings for the Pirates in September. He gives Pittsburgh another left-handed option out of the bullpen in the playoffs.
It’s a far cry from where LaFromboise was just six weeks ago. He was toiling in the Padres’ minor league system and struggling a bit, posting a 4.75 ERA in 53.0 innings. But after 4.0 scoreless innings across five appearances for Pittsburgh’s Triple-A affiliate, the Pirates called him up, and he was solid in September to help them clinch their second straight playoff appearance.
LaFromboise, who was drafted in the eighth round of the 2008 draft by the Mariners, enjoyed a tremendous career for UNM from 2007-08. His 3.65 career ERA is ninth best in program history and the best of any Lobo since 1977. He finished with a career record of 13-6, was a two-time All-Mountain West first team honoree and struck out 137 batters over 28 appearances spanning 170.0 innings.
He is one of many Mountain West players that will take part in the MLB playoffs this season.