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tzill
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Carson Whisenhunt is cooking this May, going seven innings in all of his outings with just 4 ER allowed and 28 Ks alongside 2 BBs. Most point to his CH & strike-throwing as the secrets to his success, but the REAL key that's fueling the big-league convos is overlooked.
Whisenhunt has primarily been a fastball-changeup guy, but he has picked up his slider usage over his last three starts while reducing the usage of his fastball. He now has a pretty even split of pitch usage across the board, making him tougher to make a game plan against.
The improved slider is the reason.
You can see a bit of a tweak in his slider year over year -- blue dots are 2025, orange 2024. More y axis break, a little more x axis. It has even been tweaked ever so slightly after fully integrating the pitch in his current arsenal:
First six starts: 82.1 mph, 2595 rpm, -5.2" IVB, 3.9" HB
Last three starts: 81.5 mph, 2701 rpm, -6.9" IVB, 5.3" HBIt
It would be a good pitch in a vacuum, but in context of an even mix, it has helped turn the changeup from a plus-plus offering into something otherworldly. The reduction of his fastball usage did not improve its production, proving that the pitch itself is a liability on its own. The changeup, the strike-throwing, and the home/away splits have their merits, but I feel the usage adjustment is the biggest reason for his current form. His worst pitch is now seen less, and hitters have another pitch to respect.
TL/DR: Bro is COMING.
Whisenhunt has primarily been a fastball-changeup guy, but he has picked up his slider usage over his last three starts while reducing the usage of his fastball. He now has a pretty even split of pitch usage across the board, making him tougher to make a game plan against.
The improved slider is the reason.
You can see a bit of a tweak in his slider year over year -- blue dots are 2025, orange 2024. More y axis break, a little more x axis. It has even been tweaked ever so slightly after fully integrating the pitch in his current arsenal:
First six starts: 82.1 mph, 2595 rpm, -5.2" IVB, 3.9" HB
Last three starts: 81.5 mph, 2701 rpm, -6.9" IVB, 5.3" HBIt
It would be a good pitch in a vacuum, but in context of an even mix, it has helped turn the changeup from a plus-plus offering into something otherworldly. The reduction of his fastball usage did not improve its production, proving that the pitch itself is a liability on its own. The changeup, the strike-throwing, and the home/away splits have their merits, but I feel the usage adjustment is the biggest reason for his current form. His worst pitch is now seen less, and hitters have another pitch to respect.
TL/DR: Bro is COMING.
