Ulloa was such a HUGE low-key portal pickup

I've got to be honest--I didn't know this human being existed until the last couple weeks of intra-squad. But man, he is really good, and we really needed him. Unlike years past where we we really right-handed heavy--one year where I don't think Paul even had a LHP on the entire roster--it's flipped this year, particularly in the bullpen (and maybe even in the starting weekend rotation if the rumors of Jump and Coleman joining Holman with Hurd probably moving to the pen, at least temporarily).

It looks like Jay is going to really rely on Ack and Herring as the 1st guys out of the pen on Friday and Saturday for extended relief. And Loer hasn't looked great so far, but I think the plan is to be able to use him in high-leverage relief. Same thing for DJ Primeaux. And who knows what Anderson's ultimate role will be, but I think he's gonna wind up throwing in big weekend spots. All lefties.

Which leaves us with only Dutton and Guidry that Jay currently thinks he can trust in late-inning, high-leverage situations from the right-side. And neither one of them are high-veto guys, which I think you really need in the back of the pen, not only for matchups--you want a high velo RHP to come in in close games with inherited runners to be able to get a big strikeout or 2 against RH hitters in the middle of lineups--but to give hitters a different look if they're facing mainly guys from the left side all weekend.

We've got Moffett, who looks really good so far, and Little, who may just be who he is. I know Jay hopes for them to keep developing and to be able to trust them in big spots later in the year, but I think he still wants to see more before him puts them in big spots in the SEC. Which is where Ulloa comes in and comes in huge. High velo RHP who throws strikes and the moment doesn't look to big for him. He is simply a HUGE piece of the pen right now, rounding it out as much more complete, giving that high-velo guy that Jay already trusts from the right side. Even if 1 of Moffett or Little--preferably both--do develop into guys he can trust later on, and maybe Noot comes back by the end of the season and becomes another RH arm to come in late, and Hurd sticks in the pen, Ulloa is still gonna be a guy who comes in in big spots all year.

And I'm not sure Jay knew it when he got him, but we really, really needed him. Thank God he did. What a huge, under-the-radar, get from the portal. Excited to watch hm throughout the season.