Developing a Pitch?

Gai1997 · 08-13-2015, 02:06 PM

So I have a 27 year old Starting Pitcher who's a prospect I've been trying to develop into the starter he can be. He's currently someone who can be a dynamite reliever, he's got 75 stuff, 60 movement, 65 control, 75 fastball, 75 curveball. He can easily be a fantastic reliever for me, however, he's got a 65 potential changeup that is currently only 35. I am having trouble getting him to refine his changeup into a half-decent 3rd pitch so he can be a viable starter.

Is there any way I can possibly get him to get that Changeup to become better? I've tried keeping him in Triple A for 2 years where he straight up dominated, under 3.00 ERA in both years with around 260 IP. However, any pitcher with 2 plus-plus pitches and a bad 3rd pitch can do extremely well in the Minors and then get exposed in the Majors. He's getting shelled in the Majors to a 5.50 ERA currently in May and his Changeup isn't getting any better.

What can I do to help him get that Changeup to be at least a 50 rating? Is he just "doomed" to be an elite reliever and that Changeup just won't ever get better?

TomVeal · 08-13-2015, 02:15 PM

So far as I've ever observed, he'll have to learn on his own, which will depend primarily on his intelligence and work ethic, though a good pitching coach may help.

Westheim · 08-13-2015, 02:16 PM

He is 27. Let it be. Use him in the seventh or eighth.

kingcharlesxii · 08-13-2015, 02:29 PM

At 27, he's likely just a good reliever. Any further development on the pitch might happen but treat it as a pleasant surprise.

Wingedlion14 · 08-13-2015, 09:05 PM

Have you tried having him start in the bigs? In my current GM game, I had a pair of pitchers that didn't fully develop until they were brought up at around 27, and the only reason they were still up was a bottleneck at the position (I wasn't going to trade them because I was just waiting for contracts to expire after a year).

08-13-2015, 02:06 PM	#1
Gai1997 Major Leagues Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 370	Developing a Pitch? So I have a 27 year old Starting Pitcher who's a prospect I've been trying to develop into the starter he can be. He's currently someone who can be a dynamite reliever, he's got 75 stuff, 60 movement, 65 control, 75 fastball, 75 curveball. He can easily be a fantastic reliever for me, however, he's got a 65 potential changeup that is currently only 35. I am having trouble getting him to refine his changeup into a half-decent 3rd pitch so he can be a viable starter. Is there any way I can possibly get him to get that Changeup to become better? I've tried keeping him in Triple A for 2 years where he straight up dominated, under 3.00 ERA in both years with around 260 IP. However, any pitcher with 2 plus-plus pitches and a bad 3rd pitch can do extremely well in the Minors and then get exposed in the Majors. He's getting shelled in the Majors to a 5.50 ERA currently in May and his Changeup isn't getting any better. What can I do to help him get that Changeup to be at least a 50 rating? Is he just "doomed" to be an elite reliever and that Changeup just won't ever get better?

08-13-2015, 02:16 PM	#3
Westheim Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Germany Posts: 11,890	He is 27. Let it be. Use him in the seventh or eighth. __________________ Portland Raccoons, 83 years of excell-.... of baseball: Furballs here! 1983 * 1989 * 1991 * 1992 * 1993 * 1995 * 1996 * 2010 * 2017 * 2018 * 2019 * 2026 * 2028 * 2035 * 2037 * 2044 * 2045 * 2046 * 2047 * 2048 * 2051 * 2054 * 2055 1 OSANAI : 2 POWELL : 7 NOMURA \| RAMOS : 8 REECE : 10 BROWN : 15 HALL : 27 FERNANDEZ : 28 CASAS : 31 CARMONA : 32 WEST : 39 TONER : 46 SAITO Resident Mets Cynic - The Mets from 1962 onwards, here.

08-13-2015, 02:29 PM	#4
kingcharlesxii Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 2,730	At 27, he's likely just a good reliever. Any further development on the pitch might happen but treat it as a pleasant surprise. __________________ OTBA - Stockholm Royal Squirrels of Sweden OOTP Grand League Champion 2015

08-13-2015, 02:15 PM	#2
TomVeal All Star Starter Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Spanaway, Washington Posts: 1,181	So far as I've ever observed, he'll have to learn on his own, which will depend primarily on his intelligence and work ethic, though a good pitching coach may help.

08-13-2015, 09:05 PM	#5
Wingedlion14 Minors (Double A) Join Date: May 2015 Posts: 170	Have you tried having him start in the bigs? In my current GM game, I had a pair of pitchers that didn't fully develop until they were brought up at around 27, and the only reason they were still up was a bottleneck at the position (I wasn't going to trade them because I was just waiting for contracts to expire after a year).