"Duran's success comes from throwing his "splinker" frequently, a hybrid pitch confusing hitters with its unique velocity and movement. Opponents are slugging just .238 against it."
"Twins manager Rocco Baldelli commended Duran's splinker, stating, "I don’t know how you prepare or game-plan or think about a pitch like that as a hitter. I’ve never seen anything like it in my life.""
Jhoan Duran's 2023 season was disappointing, marred by injury and subpar performance after the All-Star break. Despite a strong start, his ERA inflated due to poor luck and a high batting average on balls in play. However, Duran's elite strikeout-to-walk ratio indicated potential for improvement. His 2024 season began positively with a 1.52 ERA and only two blown saves, showcasing his evolving pitching strategy. The splinker pitch, a splitter-sinker hybrid, contributed significantly to his success, yielding low slugging percentages against it, further enhancing his effectiveness as a closer.
Read at Pinstripe Alley
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