By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. ? The list of names synonymous with the Los Angles Dodgers is historically impressive in both length and stature among the all-time greats in Major League Baseball history. When you trim that list down to include just those that have taken to the mounds of Dodger Stadium and Ebbetts Field, you come up with a short list of some of the most dominant hurlers ever to play the game.
Monikers such as Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale, Don Sutton, Orel Hershiser and Fernando Valenzuela bring back memories of the game of yesteryear, while Clayton Kershaw resonates with the best the game has to offer today. Even a name like Eric Gagne, who set a major league record by converting 84 consecutive save opportunities, will get fans twitching in their seats when talking about some of the most impressive accomplishments by a pitcher in the history of the league.
Aside from donning the Dodger blue, these men all share one interesting and somewhat surprising trait. Not one of them ? ever ? accomplished what former Tennessee Tech southpaw Adam Liberatore (LIB-er-ah-toor) did last Saturday afternoon.
Amidst a plethora of the most historical names in the game, the former Golden Eagle carved his initials into the lore of one of the most recognizable brands in the sport, setting a franchise record with his 24th consecutive scoreless appearance in a 4-3 victory over the San Diego Padres.
"It's very humbling to set a record in this great organization," Liberatore said. "That's an impressive list with so many great names and it's an honor to share a place in history with them."
It seems fitting that the 29-year-old be humbled by his impressive accomplishment, particularly when he has spent the majority of the 2016 season humbling each batter he's faced when called on out of the bullpen by Dodger manager Dave Roberts and pitching coach Rick Honeycutt.
Liberatore's first half was especially eye-opening to those around the league not so familiar with the Tennessee Tech product, as he quickly established himself into one of the top setup men, let alone left-handed specialists, in the game. In 38 appearances, the former 21st round selection of the Tampa Bay Rays has been dominant, boasting an 0.61 ERA with 33 strikeouts and just 10 walks in just over 29 innings of work.
Opposing hitters just haven't been able to solve the command of the left-handed hurler, mustering a meager .153 average against a man that presents a WHIP of 0.85, ranking in the top 10 in all of baseball among pitchers to make at least 30 appearances. Liberatore has been so untouchable, in fact, that among all twirlers in the league to have made at least five appearances, he ranks No. 1 in ERA. And he's managed that in 38. Purely remarkable.
The journey hasn't been an easy one, however, as the former Blackhawk High School letterman and Beaver Falls, Pa. resident had to overcome several bumps in the road and challenges to get the place he finds himself now.
"This is a young man that didn't really pitch a lot before he got to college," Tennessee Tech head coach Matt Bragga said. "He was a high school outfielder that had a really good arm. We saw a lot of potential in him because his high school coach, Bob Amalia, gave him such a glowing recommendation and because left-handed pitching is a premium. We felt like he was a good fit and he felt the same way about us."
The fit proved great in long run, but it definitely took some time for the southpaw to adjust to his new position, serving in mostly a relief role as a freshman and sophomore. His first taste as a starter also proved to be a work in progress, as the then junior struggle a bit with an 8.68 ERA and 1-2 mark in just over 37 innings and eight starts.
"I really was not all that great at Tech," Liberatore explained. "Really the biggest thing I learned was to not let failure bother me and to keep striving to get better. I had so many fantastic teammates at Tech; we just all pushed each other and wanted each other to have success. It's so easy to keep working hard in an environment like that."
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| Liberatore offers against Buffalo in his redshirt senior season. |
The hard work appeared to have paid off by the time his senior season rolled around. Pegged as the Friday night starter for the Golden Eagles, Liberatore proved nearly untouchable throughout his first three starts, tossing 17 consecutive scoreless innings. He tallied seven innings of work in each of his first two starts, posting 17 strikeouts and allowing just 12 total base runners.
He continued to roll at an All-American caliber pace in his third start, scattering just one hit with four punch-outs, including a K to the last batter of the third frame. But just as the senior seemed to have finally found himself on the mound, another speed bump hurdled into his way.
That third-inning strikeout turned out to be the final batter Liberatore would face in the 2009 season, thanks to a tear in his ulnar collateral ligament (UCL).
Not only did the Tommy John surgery put and end to what may have been one of the best starts to a season by a pitcher in program history, it also forced the hurler to watch from the dugout as his teammates went on to win the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament and earn a berth to the NCAA Tournament. It also put question marks in the air about what chances he'd have to be taken in the upcoming MLB First Year Player Draft.
"Libby [Liberatore] is a bulldog," Bragga said. "He's the type of guy that if you tell him he can't do something, he's going to prove to you that he can. He was having just an unbelievable senior year and between his numbers, his size, and his velocity, I still thought he would get an opportunity in the draft, despite the injury. Of course he didn't and that can be so hard and demoralizing to a guy."
But he wouldn't allow that setback to change his approach. Liberatore put in the work necessary to come back and return for his redshirt senior season as the Friday night man. He compiled a 6-4 mark with a 5.30 ERA and 74 strikeouts in 74 2/3 innings in 2010, leading the Golden Eagles to an OVC regular season title.
His next challenge came at the complete opposite end of the spectrum however. Taken by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 21st round of the 2010 MLB Draft, Liberatore gradually and methodically worked his way through the farm system. Actually earning a spot at in Triple-A in just his second full season at the big league level.
In those final 16 appearances of 2012 ? all with the Durham Bulls ? he toted a 1.29 ERA, a 1-1 record and 21 strikeouts in 21 innings. A stacked Rays' organization meant a September call up to The Show would be unlikely so soon, even with numbers of that caliber, but the youngster had definitely proved he had what it would take to get there by the next season.
After one quick outing at the Double-A level to kick off 2013, Liberatore quickly returned to Durham, spending the rest of the year racking up a 5-3 mark with a 3.58 ERA in 43 appearances. He held opponents to just a .228 average in 60 1/3 innings on the hill, fanning 69 with 25 walks ? but again, no call up to the major league club.
What could have stopped several players in their tracks, the lefty used as motivation, turning in an absolutely dominant 2014 campaign, once again for the Durham Bulls. In his fourth full season in professional ball, Liberatore took everything to a whole new level.
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| Liberatore peers in while pitching for the Durham Bulls during the 2014 season. |
Making a league-high 54 appearances, he cruised to a 6-1 record, unreal 1.66 ERA and 86 strikeouts to a miniscule 15 free passes in 65 innings. He also earned a selection as a MiLB.com organization All-Star. And yet, still no call up.
"Both of those situations were tough for me," Liberatore recalled, "especially mentally. Coach Bragga made sure we were a mentally tough group though, and I was able to use a lot of those skills to help me stay focused during some of the hardest times in my career."
"The Rays' organization did such a good job of putting together a great roster," Bragga said, "he just kind of got stuck. And again, especially in the minor leagues, it's easy to develop the mindset of 'maybe this just isn't going to or supposed to happen.' He didn't allow that to happen. He continued to fight and persevere."
And perhaps that relentless will to continue working towards his goal led to what occurred Nov. 20, 2014. With the Rays' former general manager, Andrew Friedman, taking over in Los Angeles following the 2014 season, the Dodgers immediately made a trade to acquire the former Golden Eagle.
Five years into his professional career, Liberatore finally got his chance, making his Major League debut on April 17, 2015, with a 1-2-3 inning against the Colorado Rockies. He spent time at both Triple-A Oklahoma City and with the big league club during the year, finishing with a 4.25 ERA and 39 appearances in the latter situation.
After three quick appearances in Oklahoma City to start the 2016 campaign, Liberatore made his way back to Los Angeles, seemingly for good. And now as the All-Star break eases its way out of the picture, the southpaw can get back to by all means the best season of his embattled career.
"I just try to stay even keeled and in the moment the best that I can," Liberatore said. "The break was nice. I got to go home and hang out with friends and family before making my way to Arizona for our first game back in action."
"As we watch this young man develop, he just keeps getting better and better and better," Bragga claimed. "The first word that comes to mind in perseverance. He was drafted back in 2010 and now we're in the 2016 season and he's just continued to preserver season after season towards his dream of reaching the big leagues. And sure enough, he's done it. And now that the door's been opened, he hasn't settled or been satisfied. He's taken full advantage of the opportunity and with all that he's accomplished, he's totally just taken the bull by the horns and it's been really fun to watch."
His journey has been lengthy and is far from over. What lies ahead? More organizational records? Maybe a Major League record? A World Series? That's the beauty of baseball. No one knows.
And now one will work harder to strive to be the absolute best that they can be than a young man that has never let difficult times derail his plans or his career.
"It just proves that sometimes when you give someone an opportunity," Bragga said, "they are going to take advantage of it and that's what he's doing in Los Angeles."
Photos courtesy of Kristen Schabert, TTU Sports Information & Justin Lafleur, Lehigh Media Relations
