AUBURN - It might be tough for fans to remember any names from the Auburn Doubledays bullpen this year. Three of its best members from earlier this season - Ron Lowe, Edgar Estanga and Adam Rogers - have been promoted. In the last month, Ryan Bird, Pat McGuigan and Nate Melek have been added. But somewhere in the mix of the 16 Doubledays pitchers is a name fans should be familiar with - Joe Wice.

The Salt Lake City native has been moving his way up the Toronto Blue Jays system since he was drafted in the 22nd round out of Dixie State College of Utah in 2004. He spent nearly two seasons with Pulaski before jumping up to Lansing to finish out last year. In 30 games with Pulaski, Wice earned a 5-5 record through 81 innings but didn't earn a decision in his one appearance with Lansing that lasted two innings.

Through his first 11 games with the Doubledays, Wice has proven to be one of the better relievers in a bullpen with more than a few of them. With 21 2-3 innings of work behind him, he is ranked third among active relievers and with a 3-0 record (and one save), Wice has the second best record among relievers with at least three decisions. His 3.74 ERA has been steadily declining since his first appearance on opening day. His season highlights include 3 2-3 of work against Aberdeen on July 8, a career best, and 2 1-3 innings without allowing a walk or a hit, but throwing five strikeouts in his most recent win over Jamestown on July 31. That included 11 pitches in the ninth to strike out batters in order.

Here, the lanky southpaw talks about spending a brief time playing college baseball, moving through the Blue Jays system and into the bullpen.

What made you decide to leave college after just one season?

“School wasn't really my thing. I just really wanted to come and play pro ball. I always wanted to and as soon as I got the opportunity, I just took it. (College) was fun, but short and I was young then. It's been a whole different ballgame coming up here. My first year in pro ball, it was a big jump and I'm still learning.”

How so?

“As soon as I got into pro ball, I knew it was going to be a progression. For me, it's been leaps and bounds different since my first year. The stuff I did in college worked there, but then I came to pro ball and just got beat up a little bit (in Pulaski) the first year. It was a big learning experience.”

What was it like moving to the bullpen after being a starter through your school days?

“It's a lot different. In the bullpen, you never know when you're going to play from one day to the next, you're just on call. When you're a starter, you're in a five-day rotation and you've got your routine planned out. It's been better for me (in the bullpen), I started my first year in Pulaski and I really didn't have any idea how to pitch, I was really raw. Now it's coming along and it's been good so far.”

You've played for three teams in the Blue Jays organization, what has that been like for you?

“The biggest thing is that this league is a lot better than the Appalachian League, from a pitching standpoint. Instead of having one or two good hitters in the lineup, there are four or five better hitters that you're facing. Other than that, the defensive play has also been better up here. Stuff like that.”

With pitchers leaving and new ones coming in a lot lately, what has it been like in the Doubledays bullpen this year?

“Well, we've got Melek that just came up and he's been doing a pretty good job, but everybody out of the pen has been doing just an awesome job. The starters have been getting their innings early and we haven't really had to put anyone in any new position since others have left. Everyone has been stepping up and doing their job. We all kind of learn from each other. The thing with pitching from the bullpen is that if you see what one of the other guys is doing with a pitch, we pick it up from him.”