El Paso Chihuahuas reliever Robert Stock finds his niche as closer

El Paso Chihuahuas reliever Robert Stock has seen plenty of ups and downs in his professional career to get to where he is today. 

At the age of 19, he was a second-round pick in the Major League Baseball Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals out of the University of Southern California in 2009 as a catcher. Then, in 2012, the Cardinals had him make a career change from behind the plate to become a pitcher. 

Stock later played Independent League baseball with the New Jersey Jackals, pitched in the Cincinnati Reds organization and is now with the San Diego Padres. 

At the age of 28, he is in his first stint on the Triple-A level. So far, it's been a success. 

"When I converted to pitcher, it was tough, but there was no alternative at that point," Stock said. "The Cardinals wanted me to switch and I had to do it. It took time to adjust and I'm still growing as a pitcher. I'm more consistent now. I've just tried to stay positive and keep working. It's still a learning process, a growing process, but the goal is the same and that's to make it to the big leagues. I do miss catching. It was a position that I had success at and it helped me get to the professional level. But in sports, in life, you have to adjust and that's what I have done."

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Stock, who did have experience as a pitcher growing up, was very good in 2017 in 41 combined pitching appearances with Class A Daytona Beach and Double-A Pensacola in the Cincinnati Reds organization.  He went a combined 9-5 with a 2.82 earned run average. 

This year in El Paso, he has five saves in six opportunities with 23 strikeouts and a 2.11 ERA in 21.1 innings pitched. He began this season at Double-A San Antonio, where he had a win and a save in nine innings. 

"I'm having fun and there's been some success for me and the team," Stock said. "I'm enjoying my time here in El Paso. I've learned so much being a part of the team. It's a good baseball town."

El Paso catcher Brett Nicholas said Stock has been pitching well and has potential to be a solid contributor as a reliever. 

"He throws 100 miles per hour and that automatically gets your respect," Nicholas said. "What he's been able to do is throw his secondary pitches for strikes and have command of those pitches. I think being a former catcher helps him. He has been very good for us this season and he's someone we can count on."

Stock has been almost exclusively a relief pitcher and besides his fastball, he throws a change-up and a slider. 

Stock was a standout at Agoura (Calif.) High School and graduated after his junior year in high school in order to attend USC. He was also a member of Team USA's Junior National team in 2004 and 2005. His younger brother, Richard, also played professional baseball for a few years but gave up the sport. The two played with the New Jersey Jackals. Richard Stock also played catcher. 

"It was great to be able to play with my brother on the pro level. Even when I was with New Jersey, I got to catch as well, so that was fun to be able to do that again," Robert Stock said. "I'm still enjoying the game; I have always loved the sport. I've learned something at every stop along the way and I still have that dream of being able to pitch against the very best in the major leagues. That would be a dream come true."

Felix F. Chavez may be reached at 546-6167; fchavez@elpasotimes.com; @Fchavezeptimes on Twitter. 

The 411

Who: Robert Stock

What: Relief pitcher for the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas

Height, Weight: 6-1, 215 pounds

Of Note: Is 28 years-old ... was drafted in the second round of the Major League Baseball Draft in 2009 by the St. Louis Cardinals ... converted from being a catcher to a pitcher in 2009.