I've been watching RHP Jonas Dufek since I saw him last year pitching in the starting rotation for Class A Lexington. The 2011 ninth round pick out of Creighton University certainly stands out in a crowd, at 6'5" 215#, but his stats never quite stood out in the increasingly crowded ranks of Astros minor league starting pitchers.
Then at the beginning of the 2013 season, Dufek was moved to the bullpen. After struggling a bit to start the season in the very hitter-friendly confines of The Hangar in Lancaster, Dufek settled in nicely putting up a 0.95 ERA and a 1.263 WHIP from June through his promotion to Corpus toward the end of July. During those final 16 games, he walked only nine batters while striking out 27 in 25+ innings.
Fast forward to today. In Dufek's first 11 appearances out of the Hooks bullpen, he is 6-0 with three saves, a 0.55 ERA and a 0.735 WHIP. He has allowed only one run in 16 and a third innings. He has struck out 17 batters and has yet to walk a batter. I think it's safe to say that Dufek's stats now definitely stand out from the crowd.
Jonas Dufek - June 2013 in Lancaster
Photo by Jayne Hansen
I have spoken to Jonas a few times, but I caught up with him via email for this interview. Here is what he had to say ~
WTH: You spent your first two seasons as a starter and got converted to the bullpen this year. Do you feel like that is a good fit for you?
JD: Moving into the bullpen this year took a little time getting used to, but now that I am comfortable with it I feel like it was a good move for me. I feel like the move has allowed me to pitch more off of my slider since I don’t have to worry about facing the batters more than once a game, compared to when I was a starter.
WTH: Everyone knows that Lancaster and High Desert in the California League are notoriously hitter-friendly ballparks. Tell me a little about the experience pitching there and what you learned from it.
JD: Pitching in Lancaster and the California League isn’t the easiest on pitchers, but it does really make you focus on each one of your pitches and to not take a batter off. Hitters can easily hurt you on mistakes and pitches you don’t locate, but the main takeaway I learned was that if you execute your pitches you can pitch anywhere.
WTH: How does pitching in the Texas League compare to pitching in the California League?
JD: The Texas league is more of a pitcher friendly league than the California league, but the higher level of competition is noticeable. The hitters are more disciplined around the plate and have a better ability to lay off of pitches out of the strike zone. One of the benefits to the Texas league for me is the humidity. Growing up and always playing in humid areas, the dry desert of California made it hard to get good grips on the ball sometimes. After playing in Corpus for a month, I can tell I don’t have to worry about that anymore.
WTH: At the risk of jinxing you, you have been lights out in your outings since the promotion and have yet to walk a batter. To what do you attribute your early success in the league?
JD: I really have just focused on going out, throwing quality pitches in the strike zone and not giving anything free to the hitters. When you come out of the bullpen you might only be in there for an out or two so you really have to focus and make those couple of batters count. Of course, working with catchers like Max Stassi, Ryan McCurdy and Cody Clark have helped me make the transition since each of them are so solid behind the plate.
WTH: Tell me a little about your pitch repertoire.
JD: Well my pitches are a four seam and two seam fastball, a slider and a change up. Since coming out of the bullpen I have really worked off my fastball and slider but still mix in a couple change ups. My slider has really been my go to pitch and I feel comfortable throwing it in any count for a strike.
WTH: What have you accomplished so far this year and what do you still need to work on?
JD: One of my biggest accomplishments has just been adjusting to being a reliever. The early part of the season I was still trying to figure out a role, and then as the year went on I was really able to settle into a groove. Pitching coach Donnie Alexander was a big help in adjusting but some of the best advice came from the guys in the bullpen. They talked with me about past experiences and just getting the right mind set for coming into the later innings of the game.
WTH: What fellow Astros pitcher you've seen over the last three years has a pitch you'd like to steal?
JD: I would love to have Nick Tropeano's change up. The pitch just bottoms out and is so hard for hitters to pick up. I’ve watched him for three years now and his change up has worked against every level.
WTH: What Astros hitter would you least like to face?
JD: Matt Duffy. I have faced Duffy one time in spring training and he roped a double off the wall the first pitch I threw him. But really it’s because he is such a complete hitter and always has a solid approach every at bat. I’ve seen him be an all-star three years in a row now and his abilities have just gotten better every year.
WTH: Is there a player in the Astros system that you like to just sit back and watch pitch/play?
JD: Ryan McCurdy. I have played on and off with McCurdy every one of my pro seasons and he is one of the most consistent guys I know. He works extremely hard on and off the field and never takes a play off. He’s also one of my favorite catchers to pitch to just because of his intelligence behind the plate and effort he gives you on every pitch.
WTH: Who on the JetHawks or Hooks teams can really make you laugh?
JD: Both the teams have had great guys on it, but spending most of the games in the bullpen I would say any of the relief pitchers. Ballew, Dimock, Lamb, Geith, Walters… the list goes on. It has been a fun season with these guys and they are always cracking jokes with each other.
WTH: What would you do if you couldn't play baseball?
JD: Hopefully something outdoors. Being in a cubicle 40 hours a week isn’t what I picture doing for a career. Maybe something like a park ranger for a national park or somewhere along those lines.
WTH: Tell me something about yourself that most people don't know and might be surprised to hear.
JD: I love to go hiking in the mountains and every fall after the offseason I have gone to Colorado to hike. It’s really peaceful and a great way to unwind after a long season.
WTH: You spent your first two seasons as a starter and got converted to the bullpen this year. Do you feel like that is a good fit for you?
JD: Moving into the bullpen this year took a little time getting used to, but now that I am comfortable with it I feel like it was a good move for me. I feel like the move has allowed me to pitch more off of my slider since I don’t have to worry about facing the batters more than once a game, compared to when I was a starter.
WTH: Everyone knows that Lancaster and High Desert in the California League are notoriously hitter-friendly ballparks. Tell me a little about the experience pitching there and what you learned from it.
JD: Pitching in Lancaster and the California League isn’t the easiest on pitchers, but it does really make you focus on each one of your pitches and to not take a batter off. Hitters can easily hurt you on mistakes and pitches you don’t locate, but the main takeaway I learned was that if you execute your pitches you can pitch anywhere.
WTH: How does pitching in the Texas League compare to pitching in the California League?
JD: The Texas league is more of a pitcher friendly league than the California league, but the higher level of competition is noticeable. The hitters are more disciplined around the plate and have a better ability to lay off of pitches out of the strike zone. One of the benefits to the Texas league for me is the humidity. Growing up and always playing in humid areas, the dry desert of California made it hard to get good grips on the ball sometimes. After playing in Corpus for a month, I can tell I don’t have to worry about that anymore.
WTH: At the risk of jinxing you, you have been lights out in your outings since the promotion and have yet to walk a batter. To what do you attribute your early success in the league?
JD: I really have just focused on going out, throwing quality pitches in the strike zone and not giving anything free to the hitters. When you come out of the bullpen you might only be in there for an out or two so you really have to focus and make those couple of batters count. Of course, working with catchers like Max Stassi, Ryan McCurdy and Cody Clark have helped me make the transition since each of them are so solid behind the plate.
WTH: Tell me a little about your pitch repertoire.
JD: Well my pitches are a four seam and two seam fastball, a slider and a change up. Since coming out of the bullpen I have really worked off my fastball and slider but still mix in a couple change ups. My slider has really been my go to pitch and I feel comfortable throwing it in any count for a strike.
WTH: What have you accomplished so far this year and what do you still need to work on?
JD: One of my biggest accomplishments has just been adjusting to being a reliever. The early part of the season I was still trying to figure out a role, and then as the year went on I was really able to settle into a groove. Pitching coach Donnie Alexander was a big help in adjusting but some of the best advice came from the guys in the bullpen. They talked with me about past experiences and just getting the right mind set for coming into the later innings of the game.
WTH: What fellow Astros pitcher you've seen over the last three years has a pitch you'd like to steal?
JD: I would love to have Nick Tropeano's change up. The pitch just bottoms out and is so hard for hitters to pick up. I’ve watched him for three years now and his change up has worked against every level.
WTH: What Astros hitter would you least like to face?
JD: Matt Duffy. I have faced Duffy one time in spring training and he roped a double off the wall the first pitch I threw him. But really it’s because he is such a complete hitter and always has a solid approach every at bat. I’ve seen him be an all-star three years in a row now and his abilities have just gotten better every year.
WTH: Is there a player in the Astros system that you like to just sit back and watch pitch/play?
JD: Ryan McCurdy. I have played on and off with McCurdy every one of my pro seasons and he is one of the most consistent guys I know. He works extremely hard on and off the field and never takes a play off. He’s also one of my favorite catchers to pitch to just because of his intelligence behind the plate and effort he gives you on every pitch.
WTH: Who on the JetHawks or Hooks teams can really make you laugh?
JD: Both the teams have had great guys on it, but spending most of the games in the bullpen I would say any of the relief pitchers. Ballew, Dimock, Lamb, Geith, Walters… the list goes on. It has been a fun season with these guys and they are always cracking jokes with each other.
WTH: What would you do if you couldn't play baseball?
JD: Hopefully something outdoors. Being in a cubicle 40 hours a week isn’t what I picture doing for a career. Maybe something like a park ranger for a national park or somewhere along those lines.
WTH: Tell me something about yourself that most people don't know and might be surprised to hear.
JD: I love to go hiking in the mountains and every fall after the offseason I have gone to Colorado to hike. It’s really peaceful and a great way to unwind after a long season.
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Well, there you have it. I would like to add that, on a personal level, I have really enjoyed talking with Jonas. We share some Midwestern roots as his home in Nebraska is only a couple hours away from my hometown in South Dakota. He is down-to-earth, exceedingly polite and just an all-around nice guy, all of which I would expect from a fellow Midwesterner. (And maybe hearkening from the flat plains of the Midwest explains our mutual love of hiking as well!)
Thank you for your time, Jonas, and the best of luck as the Hooks head into the playoffs next week!
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