Short Dev Lab program for pitchers

RobSox · 03-22-2026, 12:56 AM

Since the dev lab came out, and especially since it expanded to 30 slots, I've longed for even just one useful short program I can put my pitchers through, so that I can do 1 long and 1 short like I do with batters.

A couple of ideas I had:
"Induce Groundballs" - a program where coaches work with pitchers to get the ball down a little to get their GB/FB rating more towards the GB end of the spectrum.

"Raise Arm Slot" - pitchers work on a mechanical change to make their delivery angle higher (e.g., from Sidearm to 3/4), which closes the gap in some of their L-R splits.

These are small enough that they wouldn't have an outsized impact for a short program, but significant enough that training in them would be worthwhile.

Currently I'm running waaaaay too many pitchers through Improve Infield Defense, which helps their Hold Runners. It's not nothing, and I'd still use it occasionally even if there were new options, but it's not like with batters where I can improve stealing, baserunning, defense, OR learn a new position in a short period of time.

kq76 · 03-22-2026, 01:33 AM

I love it! Yeah, I was lamenting the same thing. When it got to the end of the dev lab time I was pretty much just entering batters because improve infield defense for most pitchers just doesn't seem worth it to me. I'm not sure these examples should really be short programs either (maybe, I'd trust the devs' judgment either way), but if even if they're not short program worthy, I'd still like to see them and I'd also definitely like to see some kind of seemingly worthwhile short program for pitchers. Good request!

snepp · 03-22-2026, 04:04 AM

Here's another possibility, instead of trying to come up with a short program that makes sense for a pitcher, make some of their programs a new medium length instead with slightly reduced benefits to compensate appropriately.

Half the offseason working on movement, the other half on control, etc.

03-22-2026, 12:56 AM	#1
RobSox Bat Boy Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 14	Short Dev Lab program for pitchers Since the dev lab came out, and especially since it expanded to 30 slots, I've longed for even just one useful short program I can put my pitchers through, so that I can do 1 long and 1 short like I do with batters. A couple of ideas I had: "Induce Groundballs" - a program where coaches work with pitchers to get the ball down a little to get their GB/FB rating more towards the GB end of the spectrum. "Raise Arm Slot" - pitchers work on a mechanical change to make their delivery angle higher (e.g., from Sidearm to 3/4), which closes the gap in some of their L-R splits. These are small enough that they wouldn't have an outsized impact for a short program, but significant enough that training in them would be worthwhile. Currently I'm running waaaaay too many pitchers through Improve Infield Defense, which helps their Hold Runners. It's not nothing, and I'd still use it occasionally even if there were new options, but it's not like with batters where I can improve stealing, baserunning, defense, OR learn a new position in a short period of time.

03-22-2026, 01:33 AM	#2
kq76 Global Moderator Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 12,009	I love it! Yeah, I was lamenting the same thing. When it got to the end of the dev lab time I was pretty much just entering batters because improve infield defense for most pitchers just doesn't seem worth it to me. I'm not sure these examples should really be short programs either (maybe, I'd trust the devs' judgment either way), but if even if they're not short program worthy, I'd still like to see them and I'd also definitely like to see some kind of seemingly worthwhile short program for pitchers. Good request! __________________ My OOTP Wishlist \| My FAQ List OOTP Wiki \| Your Recommended Team Nicknames, By City (A Crowdsourced Project) For Beta/Devs: Full screen (1920x1080)

03-22-2026, 04:04 AM	#3
snepp All Star Starter Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,793	Here's another possibility, instead of trying to come up with a short program that makes sense for a pitcher, make some of their programs a new medium length instead with slightly reduced benefits to compensate appropriately. Half the offseason working on movement, the other half on control, etc.