A.J. Minter, now with the Mets, learned to adapt his pitching strategy after struggling with velocity and enduring hip surgery. He realized he needed to focus less on overpowering hitters and more on effective pitch placement and variation. By working with former teammate Jesse Chavez, who excels with a lower velocity, Minter transformed his approach, successfully utilizing pitch mix and strategy. His improved performance in the second half of the 2023 season has carried into 2024, demonstrating that adaptation rather than sheer velocity can lead to success in baseball.
"I just started to realize I am not going to worry about velocity...I have to find a way to get outs differently instead of just rely on just my stuff."
"Chavez was a big mentor to me... throws 88-89 [mph] and finds a way to get guys out, I just worked with him a little bit and learn how to tunnel and work off your misses."
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