Tom Windle moves to the bullpen

READING - Tom Windle, acquired this offseason as part of the Jimmy Rollins trade, has transitioned to the bullpen after a difficult start to his first season in the Phillies farm system.

Windle, 23, went 2-5 with a 5.35 ERA in 14 starts at double-A Reading. He was told at the end of June that he would become a reliever. The lefthander pitched two scoreless innings on Wednesday and has allowed one run through his first five innings of relief. His new role allows him to throw just his fastball and slider, while he continues to develop his changeup.

"That's always been my third pitch," Windle said. "It was there some nights and most of the nights it wasn't. Just going five innings, I was having a tough time staying in it for that long and going through the order."

Windle had success as a relief pitcher in college at the University of Minnesota. He had a 2.40 ERA in 82.2 innings as a freshman and sophomore. Windle moved to the starting rotation as a junior and was drafted after the season by the Dodgers.

Reading manager Dusty Wathan said the move to the bullpen is a change of scenery and could provide Windle a "quicker route to the big leagues."

"This allowed me to slow down and have some more positive thoughts," Windle said. "It changed my role and I'm not looking too far into the future. Just trying to stay in the moment and get better.'