Tillman learning on the fly for Kernels

CEDAR RAPIDS - The Los Angeles Angels know what they have in Daniel Tillman, the reliever. They're just trying to figure out if he can be Daniel Tillman, the starter.

“They told me that I have a good arm, they think I have a body that could carry some innings. And they told me as a starter, I'd be more valuable if I'm successful at it,” the Cedar Rapids Kernels pitcher said Friday night after he was beaten by the Burlington Bees, 3-2, before 1,804 fans at Veterans Memorial Stadium. “So we're just kind of trying it out.”

Tillman was a second-round draft pick last June out of Division II-power Florida Southern and splashed onto the professional scene with a 10-save half season in Rookie ball. Baseball America tabbed him as the No. 14 minor league prospect in the Angels system.

But spring training brought about a new role for the 22-year-old hard-throwing right-hander. One he hadn't done since high school.

“Real nice arm,” said Kernels Manager Brent Del Chiaro. “He's just learning how to be a starter … He's learning the little things it takes to be a starter. His first couple outings, his (pregame) bullpens were like he was the closer. Just blowing it out. By the third or fourth inning, then he's just gassed. So it's been good to see him get his legs underneath him and finding that starter's routine.”

Tillman is being limited to around 80 pitches in a piggyback situation with Justin LaTempa, going into Friday night's game with a 3-0 record and 2.95 earned run average. He gave up four of his six hits in a two-run fifth inning that ended the scoring in this one.

Burlington (20-7) won two of three in this series between the Midwest League's top clubs, with every game decided by one run. Cedar Rapids (18-10) hosts Beloit Saturday night, with former West Delaware prep B.J. Hermsen scheduled to pitch for the Snappers.

“Obviously it hasn't been the smoothest transition so far this year,” Tillman said. “I'm just trying to get past all the ups and downs of starting. I was used to the ups and downs of closing … As a starter, you have a bad outing, you've got five days to think about it.”