Dodgers strength coach made impactful change with Emmet Sheehan

"The right-hander completed six innings while holding the Giants to just two runs and collective six strikeouts. Sheehan relied on the slider early and effectively mixed in the fastball, but perhaps most encouraging was his velocity holding up much better. "Yeah, it's definitely nice to have that later in starts," Sheehan said. "It's pretty important to maintain it, so felt good about it.""

"Sheehan attributed that to Dodgers athletic development coordinator Eric Yavarone having him throw a medicine ball in between innings. "It was a really good idea, and I think it helped," Sheehan said. His fastball velocity topped out at 96.6 mph and averaged 94.8 mph. Though, it dropped to 93.6 mph in the sixth inning."

"Sheehan also acknowledged an improvement in overall consistency with his delivery that meant less of falling off the mound on the first-base side and being more directional toward home plate. "I think that's kind of a byproduct of a couple other issues that were going on. So fixed those, and then the direction gets better," Sheehan explained."

"The 26-year-old additionally believed he benefitted from watching three games between the Giants and Dodgers before taking the mound. "It was nice to get to watch three righties go up against the lineup. Obviously we all have different stuff," he said. "I mean, I don't throw an 88 mile-per-hour sweeper like Shohei, but it was good to see those reps before I got out there to face them.""

Emmet Sheehan pitched six innings and allowed two runs with six strikeouts to help the Los Angeles Dodgers split a series with the San Francisco Giants. He used his slider early and mixed in his fastball, with encouraging velocity that held up better later in the start. His fastball reached 96.6 mph and averaged 94.8 mph, though it fell to 93.6 mph in the sixth inning. He credited athletic development work involving a medicine ball between innings for helping maintain velocity. He also improved delivery consistency, reducing falling off toward the first-base side and improving direction toward home plate. He added that watching prior games against the Giants helped him prepare for their hitters. Through five games, he held Giants hitters to a .057 average.

Read at Dodger Blue