Were excited to welcome Chicago Cubs pitcher Kyle Hendricks to this weeks podcast. Kyle Hendricks had an April surprise ready for fans who braved the frigid conditions at Wrigley Field. Hendricks, in a way, sacrifices that extra killed spin on his changeup for a nearly identical arm slot and release point to his sinker, creating a superb amount of deception. Sign up for the Marquee Sports Network Newsletter today to catch all the latest news and sports stories. By his mid-30s, Verlander had all but abandoned his fourth pitch. If a changeup is dead-straight, being closer to a 12% reduction is ideal (79mph off a 90mph fastball). Most pitchers cant throw an effective changeup, curveball or slider. Learning how to maximize the effect of the pitch, and minimize its weaknesses is what takes a pitcher to the next level. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. The table below shows the qualified pitchers with the 10 highest pitch values for changeups, in terms of FanGraphs Pitch Values metric. One of the biggest frustrations for pitchers new to the changeup is that they bounce it too much. Six miles per hour? 07/31/2012. Hendricks is predominantly a sinker (42.4 percent of his pitches in 2019) and changeup (27.8 percent) pitcher, mixing in the four-seamer and curve as well. Focus on leading your release with your index finger. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. The goal is to not make the hand tense by stretching the pink or index down the ball this is why making a circle with the index finger is detrimental, at least on this grip, as it will make the whole hand tense. Design by DAYO, *I hate spam too, only the best for my subscribers, CSP Elite Baseball Development Podcast: Kyle Hendricks, I will never spam you or share your email, Why different athletes need different approaches to power development, Why its essential that you learn to train outside the sagittal plane, Which medicine ball and plyometric variations I use with baseball players, Why not all throwers have identical deceleration patterns or training needs, How your arm care programs can be improved to reduce the risk of injury and improve throwing velocity, Why Kyle chose to move across the country out of high school and attend Dartmouth College, How Kyle has developed his ability to manipulate the baseball to create movement, 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, What Kyles thought process is when throwing his changeup and how late hand speed out front trumps early, forced pronation with the pitch, How Kyle developed a cut changeup, which is differentiated from his regular changeup, How Kyle approaches attacking hitters and why he emphasizes throwing first pitch strikes and controlling counts against hitters, Why Kyles four seam fastball usage increased in 2016 and why this change allowed him to have more margin for error and improve the effectiveness with his fastball, How Kyle learned to read swings and bat paths in pro ball and how this has influenced how he competes against hitters, How Kyle prepares by utilizing coaches scouting reports along with video to develop a plan for success against the opposition, Why Kyle has always been intrigued by the mental side of baseball and how he has used it to develop an edge in the game, How simplification has revolutionized Kyles ability to master his mentality, control the game, and play to his highest ability, Why Kyle works to find a balance between using analytics and relying on his intuition, What pitch clicks in the bullpen when Kyle is set to have a great game and how Kyle knows when he is locked in, How Kyle attacks throwing his various pitches in his daily throwing progression, How individuals who lack elite velocity can identify their strengths and learn to separate themselves from the competition, Avoid the most common deadlifting mistakes. Itll help you a ton. Kyle Hendricks Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More | Baseball-Reference.com Kyle Hendricks Position: Pitcher Bats: Right Throws: Right 6-3 , 190lb (190cm, 86kg) Team: Chicago Cubs (majors) More bio, uniform, draft, salary info 2016 World Series ERA Title 28 Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. Pull the string! Despite slight differences in grip, most other pitches are thrown in the same way across pitchers. Tyler Chatwood seems likely to rejoin the rotation after a year of serving in a swingman role, alongside southpaw Jose Quintana and the elder statesman of the group in Jon Lester. In this free 47-minute presentation, you'll learn: Written on December 18, 2019 at 4:51 am, by Eric Cressey. June 7, 2022 . Breaking pitches are slower than fastballs not because they are thrown with less intensity. When Hendricks is on, weve seen this in action. This usually happens for a few reason: Watch the video below for some more great troubleshooting tips related to bouncing it. Jun 9, 2022 26 Dislike Share Chicago Cubs 206K subscribers Cubs pitcher Kyle Hendricks talks about when in his career he developed what he calls his most important pitch: the changeup. The grip will be the same and the arm and hand action applies just the same no matter the age of the player. Thats always a plus. As for the changeup, Steele wanted a bigger drop in velocity from his fastball. With a phone full of pictures of pitchers' fingers, strange beers, and his two toddler sons, Eno Sarris can be found at the ballpark or a brewery most days. 1 Anthony Volpe, The 25 Most Surprising Seasons in Yankees History. best cars to camber in forza horizon 4 kyle hendricks changeup grip. Youll learn everything you need to know to throw one that sinks and runs with great deception and arm speed. Two Common Curveball Mistakes Pitchers Should Avoid, How to Throw the Modern Change Up - Elite Baseball Performance, Excellent arm speed that appears identical to the fastball, Speed reduction of 8-12% (miles per hour value varies depending on fastball velocity). This sinking, running action is critical in giving the hitter not only a speed change to try to figure out, but also a moving pitch to content with. Hes done all this despite lacking the overpowering velocity that most teams aces boast. Its just gonna be a game-changer for him, Hendricks said. The mailbag zeroes in on the infield jam with a particular solution being pitched. 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. very good and useful article I thank you. And I was able to, so it was good to end on that note.. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. He started playing with changeup grips, burying the ball deeper into his hand. 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. Kyle Hendricks assigned to Daytona Cubs from Tennessee Smokies. You can check these in your browser security settings. 15% will throw get the same speed reduction with predominantly lateral movement, and another 15% will get the same speed reduction, but only sinking movement. The means by which Hendricks has found success is well documented. Now Available! You want something with different speed, Marshall said. Examples of fastball counts are 0-0, 1-0, 2-0, 3-0, 2-1, 3-1, and 3-2. If you can just mix that in there, its gonna make his stuff even better.. Others choose pitch types that just dont make sense, which I cover in the video below. This pitch, in comparison to the deGrom one above, exhibits how a changeup's effectiveness isn't about how fast or slow one is thrown, but rather how well it plays off a pitcher's fastball. Not to mention he has a baby on the way. The middle and ring finger do the job of turning the ball inward (pronating over it), and the thumb holds it in place. If you called his Cut Change a slutter, you might best get across what hes doing with the pitch. The average velocity differential was 11.1 mph. Maybe this was unique to Clement. Right-hander Kyle Hendricks' changeup has been a staple of his big-league success. My pitchers dont spike changeups very much. The main criticism. Sign-up Today for our FREE Baseball Newsletter and Receive Instant Access to a 47-minute Presentation from Eric Cressey on Individualizing the Management of Overhead Athletes! Hendricks runs his fastball up to 94 MPH, mixing in a slider, curve, and changeup. 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 try to tell the difference when he tunnels those two pitches.". The incredible thing about Hendricks is that in his Game 1 quality start in Mondays doubleheader, neither his sinker or changeup were his best pitch. But Scherzer dominated, limiting opponents to a .126 average in at-bats ending against the pitch - 12 points lower than deGrom's average. AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, (select parishes), MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY, CA-ONT only.Eligibility restrictions apply. If the thumb is not beneath the ball, as in the circle change grip, the fingertips will tense up to prevent the ball from simply falling out of the hand. Hendricks achieved a season high in curveball usage (25%) and whiffs (5), finishing off two hitters with the pitch. If they want to learn to throw a changeup well, they need feedback. Per Brooks Baseball, Hendricks gets a lot of swings-and-misses and a ton of popups when he puts the changeup in the lower part of the strike zone. Two distinct clusters. Kyle Hendricks assigned to Tennessee Smokies from Daytona Cubs. Pingback: "Going JUCO" - Is Playing NJCAA Baseball a Risky Move? Hendricks predicts the slower changeup will throw off hitters timing even more. On the follow through, collapse the body slightly. 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 You can also change some of your preferences. What Causes A Mental Meltdown in Baseball? Kyle Hendricks and Dallas Keuchel have made careers out of their prolific sinkers, and based on 2020 data, it appears as though those pitches have gained additional movement through a SSW. 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. All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. 1 - Kyle Hendricks (Cubs) - 19.7% Whiff rate, 62 Adjusted Contact Score For my money, Hendricks throws the best changeup in the game. But, we need to do this at a 100% intensity, which is difficult. His fastball command issues led to four walks in less than three innings. This second 5% is important not only in reducing the pitchs speed, but in also making the the changeup sink and run to the armside. OK, so maybe it wasn't the complete game shutout we saw on Opening Day in 2020. He strikes out right-handers regularly with that thing. 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. Provided the speed reduction is there, anomalies in movement are okay, and to be expected no two pitchers are alike. A special thanks to this shows sponsor, Rawlings. All major league baseball data including pitch type, velocity, batted ball location, Alternatively, switching to a four-seam grip might save his offspeed pitch if he can find a way to take some velocity off of it as well. Pitchers want to create as many variables as possible to prevent the hitter from getting barrel to ball. I explain to my pitchers that speed reduction comes from two factors, making up a 10% reduction in speed: Its important to not think about the changeup as having a set MPH reduction, because this couldnt possibly be the same for a 13-year-old pitcher and a 19-year old. I was too busy trying to find the fastball, he said with a smile. The harder a changeup is thrown, the more it matches fastball arm speed, and initially fools the hitter into thinking that 90mph arm speed = 90mph output. RHP Kyle Hendricks assigned to Iowa Cubs from Tennessee Smokies. 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. Pitches that got more arm-side run went into the Fade basket, and the everything that got more glove-side movement than -3 went into the Cut basket. When the batter is ahead in count - 1-0, 2-1, or 2-0, When a hitter is trying to pull or is out in front of the pitches. Just head to www.Rawlings.com and enter coupon code CRESSEY20 and youll receive 20% off on your order. 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. Steele has yet to fully highlight the changeup in three spring starts. 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. This allows coaches like Tommy Hottovy or Craig Breslow to examine the minutia of how a pitcher releases a pitch. So, its less visually fun to throw for young players and gives less feedback as well. Some may add a specialty or fourth pitch as they get more experienced. The changup I teach has heavy sink and armside run. Hes looking for closer to a 10 mph difference. I searched for extreme examples of each so that we could best see the difference, so the one on the left had 11 inches of arm-side fade, while the one on the right had two inches of glove-side cut. Hes a little bit higher up on the horseshoe [of the baseball].. The Changeup should be 10-12% slower than a fastball. But, this is just another iteration of his changeup, a different way for a him to manipulate hitters. Copyright - EliteBaseballPerformance.com, Part of The Advanced Continuing Education Institute -. More and more pitchers in the Major Leagues are throwing changeups with hard sink and run. Twitter: https://twitter.com/cubs Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Cubs/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cubs/ Snapchat: http://Snapchat.com/add/Cubs TikTok: http://bit.ly/3jRYPkM Situational pitching is huge. A relaxed hand applies spin more fluidly and evenly, and allows the pitch to more closely resemble a fastball at release. *This article may contain product links which pay me a small commission if you make a purchase. However, this doesnt necessarily mean that Pineda should switch grips. Essentially, its no different than a slider or cutter Think about Noah Syndergaards extra-hard slider, and how hard it is to hit. Just about everyone understands that a southpaw throws a circle change to a RH batter so it will sink and tail away from the plate. Otherwise you will be prompted again when opening a new browser window or new a tab. He knows he hasn't looked like "The Professor" that . If so, then stick with me! The change up is supposed to be. Entering his second season, Steele is lined up to pitch third in the order to start the year while veteran Wade Miley continues to ramp up. If youbelieve adding velocity could be critical to your success,check out my proven programsfor pitchers of all ages. Depending on the pitcher and his unique way of executing the pitch, the output will vary slightly. Rather, that arm speed and velocity is lost into the baseball by spinning it. But over the course of 162 games, you lose weight, he said. This is why we need a defined hand action that converts speed into spin. The changeup Hendricks threw at the time notably wasn't the same as the one he uses in the majors. When they do, the brain apparently defaults to the average changeup. When you have a successful changeupyoure not trying to slow down your body at all.. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. Most people just arent on board with this yet. Kyle Hendricks' Changeup . This week, MLB.com had a team of writers pen a piece on the games nastiest changeups and you can be sure Hendricks name showed up on said list. The problem is that he doesnt throw a two-seam fastball to go along with his two-seam changeup. By movement, it's almost exactly average. Yankees Mailbag: Managing the infield and Domnguez hype. 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. This converts some of the arm speed into spin, which reduces the balls speed in the same way as a curveball or slider (except the spin is applied to the opposite side of the ball). His arsenal has included a fastball around 88 mph, a changeup at 80, a sinker to deceive between his heater and off-speed and. The problem is just that if two 13-year-olds are playing catch with their changeups, they dont get a lot of feedback on how well theyre doing. But, how much slower? The odd thing about Hendricks is that his changeup actually spins more than his fastball, roughly 300 rpm more on average in 2020. Lawmakers and others should not seek to undo laws meant to protect people from gun violence. Steele found himself forcing the fastball, his upper body getting ahead of his lower body. His excellent strikeout numbers and walk numbers, combined with his below average ERA have perplexed many, with a few explanations floating out there. But it's not like Hendricks abandoned the contact game, either. Your email address will not be published. Gerrit Coles first spring start comes against Detroit. Turn the hand on the inside of the ball to apply spin. So you could call him a two-pitch guy. Even many major league pitchers are successful with three basic pitches. Palm ball? You should be tinkering with this grip and any other you try and see what works best for you to produce the best possible result. Love the video. Dan, I was a Baseball Ops consultant for the Red Sox and did an analysis of changeup effectiveness. The more speed we remove, the more the pitch must deviate from a fastballs initial trajectory, thus making it look less like a fastball out of the hand. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer. By movement, its almost exactly average at least its a little slower than most changeups, but so is his 89 mph fastball.