When the Cleveland Indians play their first regular season game of the year on July 24, Valley Central graduate James Karinchak will be there. The Indians announced their official 30-man roster late on Wednesday afternoon, with the righty listed amongst the relief pitchers.

With rosters set to be cut down every other week during the first month of the season, Karinchak currently finds himself in a situation where if things go well, he could be the Indians closer. If they don’t, then he might find himself wherever non-rostered players end up during the coronavirus era (likely Columbus, OH).

This early in his career, it would be a success for him to simply to stay on the roster the entire season. Well, at least for what’s left of this season. He needs to show he’s able to pitch consistent innings in high-leverage situations.

Last September Karinchak made his big league debut in front of a packed house in the latter game of a double header against the Minnesota Twins. Normally at Progressive Field, fans are able to walk right up to the Indians’ right field bullpen. Baseball is going to look a bit different in MLB parks this season, but nevertheless, the game is the same.

Throwing strikes consistently seems to be too obvious to point out, so let me put it like this. Locating both a fastball and breaking pitch in very specific locations, with very minimal opportunities is something that very few people are able to do. Karinchak has proven to have the stuff. He knows better than anyone that now, it’s a matter of executing.

Prior to Spring Training being cut short in March, the right-hander had been showing improvement in his command. That was not the case during Cleveland’s first intrasquad game on July 9, when he walked four of five batters to start the inning, walking in a run.

This is what manager Terry Francona said in the Indians postgame video conference:

“That was a little difficult to watch,” he said.

“That’s a hard way to be successful. I think I’m stating the obvious. It doesn’t take much when you walk four for them to put up a crooked number. And I know he knows that. There’s going to be some of that, the growing, the maturation process. That’s not what you’re looking for, but that doesn’t mean we don’t love this kid. We think he’s gonna be really good.”

By the time Karinchak got his first inning of work in an exhibition game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, he looked like the dominating force that got him called up last year.

He struck out the side in order, in the ninth inning of the July 20^th game. Of his 16 pitches, he threw 12 curve balls, showing extreme confidence in his breaking pitch. While his fastball has been a steady 95-96 mph, it is the command of that pitch that will determine his success over time.

I’ve said the word consistent quite a bit. That is not a coincidence.  In baseball that word does not simply mean where you throw the ball, but has everything to do with how you throw the ball.

Repetition. Repetition. Repetition.

The key for Karinchak to command his fastball and curve at the same time lies in his ability to repeat his delivery. If he does, his pitches are lethal and the Walden native will be able to stay off the practice squad and travel player pool.

Due to an agreement between MLB and the Player’s Association, rosters are expanded to 30 players for the first two weeks of the 2020 season. After two weeks, that is cut down to 28 and two weeks later down to 26.

There is also an elephant in the room. The coronavirus.

MLB teams are not playing in a bubble like the NBA. Teams will be traveling to cities will all sorts of different regulations. Losing two weeks to quarantine due to an invisible threat could be devastating during a 60 game season.

During the Indians final exhibition game on July 22^nd, Karinchak again pitched the ninth inning, this time finding his ground before letting the inning get away from him.

After getting an out to start the inning, he walked the next two batters. He got out of it with a strikeout and a groundout to pick up the save.

One area that the former Viking does not lack in is confidence. The ability to locate his 95+ fastball and nasty 12-6 curveball in any count, are the qualities teams dream of in a closer. He may even mix in a cutter now and then if his command is all there.

Brad Hand, the Indians closer entering the season, has been dealing with a back issue and decreased velocity (the two are likely linked).

While you’ll see Indians superfans on social media calling for Karinchak to be the closer and even to win the Rookie to the Year, there are going to be some growing pains before any of that happens.

He has the confidence. He has the pitches and he has the talent. Now, the question is whether he’s able command them consistently and what kind of impact the shortened season will have on him during the season of the coronavirus.