Ryan Walker has emerged as a top closer in baseball, showcasing outstanding statistics with a 1.91 ERA overall and a mere 0.92 ERA post-August 10. His unconventional pitching style, which incorporates a distinctive delivery and reliance on lower-body mechanics, results in significant horizontal movement, particularly on his slider. This approach deviates from traditional pitching norms, focusing on creating slant and unpredictability rather than straightforward delivery, making it difficult for hitters to adjust. As a result, Walker's effectiveness has positioned him among the elite in the league.
Nothing straight - a simple logic at the core of Walker's approach. The Emily Dickinson school of pitching: throw the ball, but throw it slant.
For Walker, the answer to the question How do I get the ball to move? is found in his mechanics.
The horizontal break on Walker's slider, measuring out to be more than a foot of glove-slide run (on average), proved to be the most drastic in the Majors last season.
Pitching coach J.P. Martinez describes the movement as less of a break that loops out of his hand, but a late snap.
Collection
[
|
...
]