Jeff Locke was masterful today for the second time in as many starts. Locke, a former 1st pick of the 2nd round for the Atlanta Braves, has been nearly unhittable for much of the season thus far. Locke was acquired by the Pirates (along with Gorkys Hernandez and Charlie Morton) in a trade with Atlanta for OF Nate McClouth. Locke, imprioving to 3-1 on the season, has experienced success at nearly every level of professional baseball. Some of his accolades include:* Baseball America Rookie All-Star (2007)
* Carolina League Pitcher of the Week (April 28 - May 4, 2009)
* Florida State League Mid-Season All-Star (2010)
* Eastern League Mid-Season All-Star (2011)
Locke does not have an overpowering fastball, but he locates his pitches well. His above average changeup and effective curve ball keep hitters off balance and contribute to his big league success. Locke's control is his greatest asset and he displayed that ability today while he held to Cardinals to only 3 hits through 7 shutout innings. Locke improved his ERA to 2.83 on the season and he's proving that he is more than capable of adding stability to the back of the Pirates rotation.
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