On Friday, the Phillies parted ways with Dontrelle Willis, who was battling to make the active roster as a LOOGY (i.e., "Lefty, One-Out Guy"). Willis struggled in three spring outings, giving up five runs in 2.2 innings while walking four and striking out none.
Still, this may be the last we see of Willis on a major-league mound. Willis is still just 30 years of age, but he hasn't been both healthy and effective since 2006. Once upon a time, though, he was something special.
Willis won NL Rookie-of-the-Year honors in 2003, when his Florida Marlins went to claim the belt and the title, and in 2005 he racked up five shutouts and finished second in the Cy Young balloting. But Willis worked almost 600 major-league innings before his 24th birthday. Perhaps it's the heavy usage that undid him.
Over the years, Willis endured knee, forearm and elbow problems. He battled split fingernails and hip strains, and for a long time he suffered under an anxiety disorder. If nothing else, Willis doesn't give up easily. For that reason, maybe this isn't the last we'll see of him.
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