One thing Mike DeBartolo has done really well since taking over as Nationals interim GM is remodeling the bullpen. Through trades and savvy waiver claims, he has found a few interesting arms. His two best finds were nasty last night. Both Clayton Beeter and PJ Poulin threw scoreless innings while striking out two batters.
We talked about Beeter at the beginning of the month and he continues to impress. His stuff is so high octane and when he is in the strike zone, Beeter can be un-hittable. However,
it is time to give PJ Poulin his flowers too. He is a true underdog who has had to work for everything he has gotten in the sport.
Poulin was drafted by the Rockies in the 11th round out of UConn in 2018. He was never expected to be much more than a career minor league relief arm. In an era where so many relievers throw in the upper 90’s or even the triple digits, Poulin sits around 90 MPH.
That meant that nobody was going to give Poulin the benefit of the doubt. He was going to have to perform if he wanted to make the MLB. For years in the Minor Leagues, Poulin did just that. In 289 MILB appearances, Poulin posted a 3.44 ERA.
However, the years went by and that MLB opportunity never came for Poulin. He was passed up for guys with bigger stuff that looked the part, even if they weren’t performing as well as he was. In early 2024, he was traded from the Rockies to the Tigers for cash. He still performed, but never got his shot.
However, after Poulin was designated for assignment, Mike DeBartolo decided to give him a shot. He was claimed and immediately put on the MLB roster. This was a bold move for DeBartolo. Poulin was a 29 year old who had never pitched in the MLB, but the Nats thought he was ready. DeBartolo has claimed a number of relief arms, but he has sent most of them to the Minors, but not Poulin.
He was immediately given a shot and he has taken to the MLB like a duck to water. In 20 outings, Poulin has a 1.42 ERA with 21 strikeouts in 19 innings. The 29 year old rookie has come in and been a dominant piece while throwing just 90 MPH.
So how does he do this? Well, there is more than what meets the eye with Poulin. His fastball plays above its velocity due to his arm angle. Poulin is a sidearmer, so everything he throws has a ton of movement. His deception makes his four pitch mix a nightmare for hitters.
Poulin throws a 4-seam fastball, a sweeper, a changeup and a sinker. Despite the lower velocity, all of these pitches can get whiffs for him. His 26.3% strikeout rate is very good. Against lefties, Poulin throws his two fastballs as well as a sweeper. Just looking at his arm slot, it is easy to see why he is a tough at bat for left handed hitters.
However, the thing that surprised me most is that Poulin has been even more effective against right handed hitters. Righties are hitting .205 against him while lefties are hitting .222.
So how is a sidearm lefty better against opposite handed hitters? It is because of his nasty changeup. The 80 MPH change has a 41.2% whiff rate, the highest of any of Poulin’s pitches. He only throws it to righties and it is devastating. The combination of movement and a 10 MPH velocity gap from his fastball make the pitch a nightmare for hitters.
It is also why he is so unique. Most lefty sidearmers are elite against lefties but struggle to get righties out. With the three batter minimum, these kinds of pitchers are getting squeezed out. However, Poulin is the rare platoon neutral sidearmer. The funky mechanics make him tough on lefties and the nasty changeup makes him a nightmare for righties.
Besides the stuff, one thing I love about Poulin is how much he seems to be enjoying this opportunity. With his long journey, Poulin knows what an honor it has been to be in the MLB. He has given a couple of quotes talking about how happy he is, which puts a smile on my face.
With the way Poulin is pitching, he will get more chances at the MLB level. He should be a part of the Nationals 2026 bullpen. Poulin is one of those cheap, controllable and effective bullpen arms that teams love to have.
While his peripherals suggest that his 1.42 ERA is a bit unsustainable, they still think he is doing well. Poulin’s FIP sits at 3.04 and his xERA is 3.67. Sure, Poulin is getting a bit lucky. Stranding 92.9% of base runners is not sustainable long term. However, even if Poulin is a guy with an ERA in the low to mid 3’s, that is a win for the Nationals.
Mike DeBartolo has found an effective reliever for free. When he does his GM interview, this will certainly be something he brings up and rightfully so. For many years, Mike Rizzo struggled to build a bullpen. If DeBartolo can keep finding diamonds in the rough, that will change.
This offseason, the Nats spent a decent chunk of change on guys like Lucas Sims and Jorge Lopez. However, finding cost controlled relievers you can cycle through is a better approach. DeBartolo is showing that with guys like Poulin and Beeter.
PJ Poulin is a good story in a couple ways. In his long journey to the MLB, Poulin never quit. It had to have been frustrating to be passed over so many times. However, he never stopped working and eventually he got his chance.
It is also an organizational win. Moving away from the Lucas Sims types and towards diamonds in the rough like Poulin and Beeter is a good sign. It is better progress and shows the organization has a better idea of what they are doing. Right now, it is PJ Poulin’s world and we are all living in it.
