SAN DIEGO - There are myriad reasons a middling pitching prospect becomes a bona fide big-league rotation candidates. It could be velocity, a new pitch, a new grip or simply experience.
Or, it could be a willingness to use his ears.
At 25, left-hander Ty Blach has emerged as one of the top candidates to compete for the fifth spot in the Giants rotation in 2017, with Matt Cain, Albert Suarez and perhaps Tyler Beede.
Even in 2016 Blach is helping his cause and the team's. In two games as a September callup, he has pitched six shutout innings, allowing one hit while pounding the strike zone.