On Wednesday, the Carolina Blaze placed right-handed pitcher Jala Wright on unconditional release waivers. In four appearances, including two starts, Wright posted a 5.73 ERA over 7.1 innings, holding opponents to a .185 batting average while recording 11 strikeouts against 12 walks.
Wright’s season had a slow start where her command was not there, but she showed flashes of being the pitcher she’s known to be. Her season seemed to take a turn for the better during the Signature Series in Durham against the Talons.
“I finally just got back to playing free and remembering I’m meant to be here,” Wright told Southeastern Softball Wire in a recent interview. “I got drafted for a reason. So honestly, everything happens for a reason. I needed those first two outings to get my feet under me, and then my last outing against the Talons really spoke to who I am.”
The Blaze are currently in fourth place and 2.5 games behind the third-place Portland Cascade. Carolina needs more depth and diversity in the circle to help them through the last stretch.
“Jala Wright is a terrific person and a very capable arm that we believe will continue to grow in her professional career,” Blaze General Manager Dana Sorensen told Southeastern Softball Wire. “With a 10 game stretch to make the playoffs, we wanted to add a little more depth to our rotation by bringing in another pitcher that has a more diverse pitch profile.”
Who the Blaze will pick up out of the reserve pool is unknown. Stay tuned as they head to Texas for a three-game series against the Volts. I would expect an addition quickly.
