There should be no difference in the way a little leaguer or other youth pitcher throws a changeup, as compared to a high-level or Big Leaguer. As a right-handed pitcher myself, I threw more changeups to lefties, because I didnt want my curveball breaking down and in, into their happy zone. High school and college pitchers should try to master just three pitches. Watch the short video below to see what I believe is the modern changeup: If all other parameters are equal, a pitch that has movement is harder to hit than a pitch that is straight. Hendricks' grip is one of the factors that allows him to kill as much spin as possible and achieve this above-average sink. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. A curveball has defined spin, topspin moving in a 12-6 or 1-7 orientation with as true a spin axis as possible. And technology like Edgertronic cameras can help us appreciate his success more than ever. Looking at the most effective changeups of 2016, a trend emerges. So it's not a coincidence that the pitch was at the root of shutting down the San Diego Padres on Tuesday. How Kyle worked diligently to develop his changeup and how players can better develop this feel pitch How throwing a quality changeup actually helped Kyle learn to throw a two seam fastball How grip, specifically pinky position on the baseball, impacted the effectiveness of his changeup If we compromise on a goal of 10% speed reduction, which will be ideal for the majority of pitchers, we need to understand how we obtain that reduction. What is an appropriate age? youtube.com/watch?time_con 0:09 1.3K views Hey, thanks for the article! The change up is more effective in college and pro baseball because the hitters are stronger, more aggressive and can handle a good fastball. Throwing a changeup when a hitter expects fastball is a great way to get a quick rollover ground ball for an out. The ball is gripped deep in the hand, balanced and held loosely. Armed with his devastating changeup and an unshakable quiet confidence, the Dartmouth alum is ready to take his place as one of the games most elite aces. First, he averaged just 5.5 mph of separation between his fastball and changeup, with the latter clocking in at an average 88.5 mph. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Steele found himself forcing the fastball, his upper body getting ahead of his lower body. Spiking a changeup is caused by the finger tips hooking it into the ground. So, its less visually fun to throw for young players and gives less feedback as well. FanGraphs had Michael Pineda throwing a two-seam fastball 3.7% of the time, which is more than zero. One of the biggest frustrations for pitchers new to the changeup is that they bounce it too much. So you could call him a two-pitch guy. All of which is a lengthy preamble to guide you to the point of this whole piece, which was Hendricks' changeup usage and results from Wednesday. Overturning the wrist to make it. RHP Kyle Hendricks assigned to SOU North Division All-Stars. Its critical to remember that early on in the learning process, bouncing your changeup will be somewhat normal. He was a good-though-not-great pitcher . In my years as a baseball academy owner and professional pitcher, Ive taught this pitch with equally great effect to 11-year olds and 25-year old pros. Dropping the hand and elbow and short arming across the body. His arsenal has included a fastball around 88 mph, a changeup at 80, a sinker to deceive between his heater and off-speed and. Would love to compare - similar movement 2 Rob Friedman @PitchingNinja Replying to @dcor_25 Greg Maddux's two seam grip and changeup grip. Its important to understand WHY a changeup is slower. Call it what you will, its a different pitch. The Changeup should be 10-12% slower than a fastball. If you called his Cut Change a slutter, you might best get across what hes doing with the pitch. Dan Blewett is a former pro pitcher, baseball academy owner and author of, https://elitebaseballperformance.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/1-1.png, http://Elitebaseballperformance.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/ebp-green-transparent-horizontal-logo-300x96.png, The Modern Changeup: The Best New Pitch In Baseball. So technically, it does break. Kyle Hendricks and Greg Maddux also share the same nickname: "The Professor". 1 ago. But it's not like Hendricks abandoned the contact game, either. You can also change some of your preferences. If they want to learn to throw a changeup well, they need feedback. Cubs facing a bleak situation with the luxury tax in 2020. dark. How much should I be concerned. The ball should rest up against the top ridge of the palm or at the base of the fingers. We tilt the axis of rotation of the ball to a diagonal axis, which will result in angled downward movement a mix of both arm-side lateral movement (run) and sink. [In the regular season], I would have started flipping a lot more breaking balls or tried something a lot different, Steele said. There. But today, well bust some changeup myths and give you all the tools to throw a great one. I mean, he throws a cutter and a curve about 10% of the time combined, but both pitches are fairly substandard by whiffs and grounders, and with two strikes, they all but disappear. Marshall threw his two-seam fastball similar to this Edgertronic footage, but from a left-handed release. By pronating the hand onto the inside of the ball just before release (think pouring out a can of soda), we accomplish two things: And with that, we have given the changeup a reliable set of characteristics just like any other pitch. This counteracts the idea that killing more spin automatically means more downward movement (multiple factors go into the movement of every pitch). In 2016, he threw his changeup 8.5% of the time, according to Pitch F/X data. First, definitely check out this video below, as it delves deep into the philosophy of throwing a changeup behind in the count. Whats the best way to start throwing this critically important pitch? But, the output is fine for him its different, but still exceptionally effective. These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features. He reminds me of Brad Lidge, who threw a slider that appeared to have mostly downward movement. Hendricks has a conventional change that gets unconventional whiffs, perhaps because he shows identical arm speed or has some deception in his delivery. It gets confusing. Cole was sharp, and the King has returned. His repertoire made him more of a pitcher than a thrower, making Wright wary whether pro scouts eventually would. If Michael Pineda never puts it together, no one will ever be able to say that it was due to a lack of effort from internet analysts trying to diagnose his problems. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. Although other factors come into play, less spin means less resistance to the downward force of gravity, which allows the ball to drop more than expected. The way I teach the modern changeup in this article, it will produce movement to the armside, with sinking action as well. Provided the speed reduction is there, anomalies in movement are okay, and to be expected no two pitchers are alike. Category Baseball Content, Podcasts | Tags: Baseball Training, Chicago Cubs, Cressey Sports Performance, Elite Baseball Development, elite baseball development podcast, Kyle Hendricks, Pitching Coach, Pitching Mechanics, 2023 Cressey Training Systems, LLC Privacy Policy | Terms of use On the follow through, collapse the body slightly. Id say Stephen Strasburgit has such crazy sink and armside run, Im not sure how anyone ever hits it. This is crucial, as yes, any changeup grip could work, but not all grips will help a pitcher easily spin the ball and produce excellent movement. Hes a little bit higher up on the horseshoe [of the baseball].. Its a little slower than your traditional slider, without as much vertical break as most sliders, but it looks a bit like a slider. He rarely walks anyone, strikes out enough to get by, and will induce weak contact. The fact is Hendricks and Maddux share numerous similarities - mechanics, stuff, statistics, and even a nickname. check out my proven programs for pitchers of all ages, check out my proven programsfor pitchers of all ages. Chosen by RHP David Robertson, LHP Justin Steele, LHP Wade Miley, RHP Adrian Sampson and LHP Brandon Hughes. Ive lost count of how many Ive read a report that says a pitcher throws a straight change and that he uses the pitch for the same effect. It was extremely helpful. Steele and his girlfriend, Libby Murphy, are expecting their first child, a boy, in July. We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. Josh Breaux becomes the latest Yankee catcher to go down to injury; the Yankees are on the lookout for replacements behind the plate; a profile of super-prospect Anthony Volpe; how players react to becoming Yankees. The end goal, rather, is a mis-hit or swing and miss. Kyle Hendricks of the Chicago Cubs was a bright spot for the Wrigleyites this summer. . One of the tools used by the Cubs is known as an Edgertronic camera. Kyle Hendricks entered his Sunday Night Baseball start on June 19 against the Pirates never having registered a double-digit strikeout game in his 57 starts. The Mets had a prospect in their system with a solid repertoire but he was having trouble adding an off speed pitch. The ball should rest up against the top ridge of the palm or at the base of the fingers. 07/16/2013. Rather, the pink and index finger comfortably rest on the side of the ball, as they dont have a strong role. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site. nhs covid pass netherlands; clash royale clan recruitment discord; mexican soccer quinella If so, then stick with me! His fastball command issues led to four walks in less than three innings. If you can just mix that in there, its gonna make his stuff even better.. Steeles slider and curveball are his go-to secondary pitches, resulting in whiffs 29.3% and 34.6% of the time last season, respectively, according to Baseball Savant. Switching grips could save Michael Pinedaschangeup, Yankees 3, Tigers 5: Michael King is back, baby. Kyle Hendricks purposefully cuts his changeup sometimes. Next. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. Follow him on Twitter @enosarris if you can handle the sandwiches and inanity. Either way, it is hard not to feel like Pineda is one small adjustment away from something special. Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks waves as he leaves the field following a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals Monday, Sept . Instead, hes thrived on the tactics long employed by a former Cubs ace, Greg Maddux, in control and movement. No, Im not blowing smokeIve taught lots of pitchers over the years, and its not hard to produce a heavy sinking changeup. Hendricks threw his changeup 58.2% of the time in two-strike counts, registering a whiff rate of 17.9% in those situations . Among 112 pitchers who have thrown at least 50 sinkers or two-seam fastballs entering Mondays slate of games, Hendricks is tied for the fifth lowest average spin rate (1878 rpm). The finger tips and pads are raised slightly and the finger pressure is between the first and second finger joints. Check to enable permanent hiding of message bar and refuse all cookies if you do not opt in. We need 90mph arm speed with a 79-83mph output. Hendricks grip is one of the factors that allows him to kill as much spin as possible and achieve this above-average sink. Controlling the Running Game: Should Young Pitchers Slide Step? I also loved Felix Hernandezs changeup and Kyle Hendricks as well. Same scenario but different pitch. He wasnt particularly bad at locating his changeup, as shown by a heatmap from FanGraphs: However, hitters were particularly good at hitting his changeup. Hold the ball at the base of your middle and ring fingers, then put your thumb on the bottom. "I just didn't have it last year," Hendricks said. I did it earlier today, when I called him a two-pitch pitcher. Forcing the fingers down the sides of the baseball are one of a few culprits that cause undue hand tension. The power finger, or [index finger], is off the ball, Marshall said. Common theories as to why he isnt pitching at an ace-caliber level include poor fastball command, a lack of a third pitch, and not attacking the corners as much with runners on base. But, this starts with education on what a changeup is and why it does what it does. Your goal as a catch partner for someone learning a changeup should be to give feedback over and over, so that they can connect how it feels and looks as they throw it. Remember this: Even though this site describes a method of throwing five or six different pitches, it does not mean any pitcher should attempt to learn or throw all these pitches. Theres too many questions, too much confusion with the changeup. All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. His reliance on movement and location could, at least in theory, help him age better than someone whos sole focus on the mound is blowing heaters past opponents. Aside from slowing the arm or hand down, or not finishing the pitch, theres no reliable way to reduce the speed of a changeup when force is applied through the center. We reduce speed because less force is applied to the center of the ball; we are converting speed into spin just like a breaking pitch. Its an effective pitch pretty much anytime its thrown, but throwing a changeup in fastball counts is the most effective. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain. Cubs lefty Justin made his third start of spring training against the Diamondbacks on Tuesday. Its not easy developing a great changeup (or any offspeed pitch for that matter). Hendricks' focus on the mound is utilizing his below-average velocity in conjunction with the excellent movement on his pitches, specifically his elite changeup. This allows coaches like Tommy Hottovy or Craig Breslow to examine the minutia of how a pitcher releases a pitch. Itll help you a ton. It was awesome. Heres what David Adler had to say about the right-handers elite offspeed stuff. When Hendricks broke out in 2016, it was keyed by catching coach Mike Borzello and advanced scouting and run prevention coordinator Tommy Hottovy showing him data that he was becoming. Three-finger? Milwaukee starter Corbin Burnes won the NL Cy Young last year and was supposed to be the. Sink is good, right? The velocity data doesnt help a ton, but by movement, you can see it. Okay, so once you learn this shiny new pitch, itll be important to understand when and why you should throw a changeup. A few of my high school pitchers threw to the Rapsodo device and turned in spin-efficiencies of 90% or better, indicating a very clean diagonal spin axis on their changeups, confirming that what I believed was happening. Cubs Spring Training Notebook: Swanson's winning mentality, Lester's mark on Steele, Cubs make some spring history. The wrist and hand are pronated a little early which stops the wrist from popping forward. I have one collegiate pitcher who throws the pitch with a 15% reduction, no decrease in arm speed, and heavy, fork-ball like sink with no lateral movement whatsoever. In fact, his changeup whiff percentage this year is second only to Cole Hamels among starters that have thrown the pitch more than 150 times. If youbelieve adding velocity could be critical to your success,check out my proven programsfor pitchers of all ages. In the first week of camp, he weighed in at 222. Where you place your middle and ring fingers is VERY important they work together to apply the proper spin, to get the pitch to rotate much like a discoball does. Like fastballs, changeups can be thrown with either a four-seam or a two-seam grip. A fastball count is a count when its a little more high-risk to throw an offspeed pitch (which are harder to control). According to Statcast, Hendricks got 16 called strikes and 4 whiffs on his fastballs, which is just excellent and a huge reason his changeup netted an impressive 10 whiffs on just 25 offerings (40%). Were ecstatic to announce a new partnership between Rawlings and Cressey Sports Performance, and theyve set up a 20% off discount code on select products for our listeners. Fold your other two fingers down the sides, and turn the ball inside as you release like youre pouring out a can of Coke. This actually makes sense if you realize that MLB hitters pick up the changeup spin more often than not. You can do so HERE. And when they did hit his changeup, they hit the ball on the ground more often (39. . Yankees Mailbag: Managing the infield and Domnguez hype. Its not as cool-looking to throw with your buddies. He. Sign up below to receive my beloved weekly emails updates on new videos, articles and content. The breaking pitches create more stress on the elbow joint and bicep in young pitchers may not be developed enough to properly decelerate the forearm. The hand pronates inward, slightly, before release. Kyle Hendricks' Changeup . At least, thats what Chicago is hoping as theyve got Hendricks locked up through 2023 with a vesting option for 2024, his age 34 season. Yet, there is no best changeup grip. Suddenly, Kyle Hendricks is a three-pitch guy, with an elite change, a good slider, and good command of a good sinker. As a high school pitcher under Wright's direction, Hendricks added a changeup. A changeup should be slower than a fastball by 10-12%, which means if you throw 70mph, a changeup should be 7-8 miles per hour slower (62-63mph). Ive seen five different sources call one particular pitch five different things, so I figured a cut change was some grizzled old coachs slang for a circle changeup. Circle change? His excellent strikeout numbers and walk numbers, combined with his below average ERA have perplexed many, with a few explanations floating out there. He then provides tips and tricks for how to throw a changeup and make it an effective part of your pitch mix.Tickets for all 2022 regular season games are on sale now: https://www.cubs.com/tickets Follow us! Lets clear it all up. The grips here will help you create action, organically reducing stress forces on the elbow and shoulder. Thats always a plus. Learn more. When the hitters brain must deal with both speed change and movement away from the initial trajectory of the pitch, the likelihood of weak contact increases. But what creates that downward movement on Hendricks changeup is, in part, his grip. That equals 4.5mph off a 90mph much too hard to be effective. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Breaking pitches are slower than fastballs not because they are thrown with less intensity. By movement, it's almost exactly average. The arm action is just like the fast ball until the pitcher comes into the acceleration phase, then: Bring the hand in closer to the head which causes the elbow to lead longer. This is not to say they miss up the in zone; rather, they are able to control the ball in the strike zone most of the time, with the same frequency as their fastball, with fewer egregious misses. They put up a .903 OPS against Pinedas offspeed pitch, and it didnt seem to matter if he located it down and away against lefties: Pinedas poor changeup shouldnt come as a surprise. When thrown the above way, we will reliably achieve a 10% (plus or minus) speed reduction that can easily be repeated at any intensity. But, thats much more of a thing Big Leaguers do to stay effective, and much less the rule we teach an amateur or minor leaguer who needs consistency more than anything. Although Kyle Hendricks is not a pitcher in need of change given his prolonged success with below-average velocity, comparing him to other pitchers with the footage from Edgertronic cameras provides insight into how he succeeds. Lawmakers and others should not seek to undo laws meant to protect people from gun violence. At the same time, it is such a small number that it might just be a result of their Pitch F/X algorithm falsely classifying 111 of his pitches as two-seamers. So the answer here is kind of, but the changeup really isnt technically a breaking ball.