Corey Black is used to being underestimated. Is that odd to say about a fourth round pick by the Yankees in 2012 who then came to the Cubs in the Alfonso Soriano trade the following year? Maybe, but most folks don’t expect much from a pitcher who goes 5-foot-11 and 175 pounds. And sitting out an entire season following Tommy John surgery has a way of removing one from the public consciousness.
But Black’s got a message for anyone who’s forgotten that he was knocking on the door after averaging 10.55 K/9 over his last two seasons at AA and AAA, and that he did so despite pitching through elbow troubles.