Team swap doesn't faze Hillcats' Dubee

Two years ago, Phillies farmhand Michael Dubee was pitching for the Lakewood BlueClaws in the South Atlantic League when he was traded in mid-season to the White Sox organization for second baseman Tad Iguchi.

A week later, as a member of the Kannapolis Defenders, he was back in Lakewood pitching against his old teammates.

So Dubee was at least somewhat prepared for last week’s unlikely turn of events. Last Tuesday, he threw one inning for Winston-Salem at City Stadium in a 7-4 Dash defeat. Four days later, he turned in his purple Dash duds for Hillcats green and gold after a trade that sent Pittsburgh minor leaguer Andy Phillips to Chicago.

“It’s kind of the same deal,” Dubee said. “It’s a little freaky that it’s happening again.”

Dubee made his Hillcat debut Saturday in Wilmington, pitching two innings in relief of starter Paul Mildren, who ran into pitch-count issues and didn’t make it to the third inning. Dubee allowed a home run and a walk and struck out two in his Lynchburg debut.

Dubee said he was “shocked” by the news of the trade, mostly because it came so early in the season.

The Pirates’ trade with the Dodgers for outfielder Delwyn Young had a domino effect that landed Dubee in Lynchburg. Pittsburgh optioned utilityman Luis Cruz to Triple-A Indianapolis to clear space on the 25-man roster for Young. Then, citing a desire to get Cruz as many at-bats at as many positions as possible, the Pirates sent Phillips, an infielder, to the White Sox in exchange for Dubee.

“My eyes have been open for a long time,” Dubee said. “It’s how it works. I wish we could pick where we got to go. But I’m glad to have the opportunity to pitch, so let’s go get some more people out.”

The Phillies clearly had some inside information about Dubee when they made him an 18th-round draft choice in 2006. Dubee’s father, Rich, is Philadelphia’s pitching coach. Dubee was a starter at Okaloosa-Walton Community College in Florida but has shuttled back and forth between the rotation and the bullpen in three minor-league seasons.

He began as a starter in the Phillies organization in 2006, but by 2007, Philadelphia wanted to see what he could do in the bullpen. Before the trade to Chicago, he made 30 appearances for Lakewood, all in re-lief.

The White Sox gave Dubee six starts in eight appearances in Kannapolis after the trade. In Winston-Salem last season, he made 13 starts and 17 relief appearances.

“I get traded to Chicago, and I’m a starter again,” Dubee said. “Then blisters happen, and I’m back in the pen. It doesn’t matter though. As long as you can get people out and get to play, that’s all that’s important.”

Dubee spent all year in Winston-Salem last year, going 5-7 with a 4.37 ERA with one complete game and one save. He struck out 90 and walked 37.

Where the 23-year-old righthander fits in the Pirates’ long-term plans is anybody’s guess.

“I saw him last week for an inning and for two innings the other night,” Hillcats pitching coach Wally Whitehurst said. “I’m in the process of getting some more information about him. From what he showed, it’s fastball, slurve, and a split-finger fastball. I just need to see him a little more.”