There might not be a better name for a potential Indians closer than that of J.P. Feyereisen.
Pronounced Fire-RISE-EN, it literally translates to “fire iron,” which is an occupation nickname for a smith or steelmaker from the Middle High German era.
He is truly a master of his craft as an end-of-the-bullpen right-hander for the RubberDucks.
“He is in attack mode out there and I love that,” Ducks manager Dave Wallace said. “Sometimes you see guys — especially late in the game — let the situation dictate their effort level and their aggressiveness. That’s not the case with J.P.
“He’s going to be aggressive. He’s going to go after hitters whether it’s the bottom of the ninth or bottom of the sixth inning. That’s what we like about him. He’s got good stuff. It’s easy for him to trust in it because he knows he’s got good stuff.”
With a fastball that has been clocked at 98 mph, the 23-year-old, averages between 93-96. Add a wicked slider and he has been a vital part to a pitching staff that came into Tuesday’s game against the Reading Fightin’ Phils that had a 3.60 ERA and one that was holding opponents to a .235 batting average.
Feyereisen is 2-0 with a 2.82 ERA and four saves in 22⅓ innings. The University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point product has struck out 27 and has a 1.07 WHIP.
Success is nothing new for Feyereisen. Taken in the 16th round of the 2014 draft, he didn’t give up a run at Mahoning Valley his first season, going 3-0 with four saves in 17 innings.
That number eventually grew to 31 consecutive scoreless innings when he moved to Lake County in 2015. He has a career record of 6-1 with a 1.86 ERA and 20 saves in 87 innings pitched.
Experience alone has shown Feyereisen he belongs. His arm backs up that notion.
“It helped a lot, especially when you get to Mahoning Valley and the first guy I see throwing is like 95-97,” Feyereisen said. “Coming out of college I wasn’t throwing that hard. Just being able to get my outs with the stuff from the mental standpoint really helped.”
Feyereisen has become one of the most reliable relievers the Ducks have. Wallace sees the trust his team has in Feyereisen when times are tight.
Catcher Jeremy Lucas backs up that statement and sees a strong mental approach combined with physical ability.
“It’s a combination of both,” Lucas said. “He’s got really good stuff, obviously. He just pitches with a lot of intensity and he’s got a lot of confidence in his stuff.
“That’s everything a pitcher wants when he’s on the mound and everything a catcher wants when he’s on the mound. He makes it easy to call the game because you know whatever he throws, he’s going to throw with confidence and everything he’s got.”
Some of that confidence came from watching Ben Heller succeed with the RubberDucks earlier in the season.
Heller has since been promoted to Columbus after going 1-0 with a 0.55 ERA and seven saves with the Ducks.
“Ben taught me a lot,” he said. “Especially being from Wisconsin, he and I kind of clicked and became friends, too. Being able to attack hitters with his stuff because his stuff is so dominant. Showing that’s how you have to go at hitters in order to get guys out in this league, he’s unbelievable.”