One of the biggest parts of development in pitchers is mastering the changeup. Being able to effectively throw the pitch can make a difference between staying in the rotation and becoming a reliver.
It can sometimes take a couple of years for a pitcher to get comfortable. Other times, the process is a lot quicker.
The Bradenton Marauders happen to have multiple players that have flashed great off-speed pitches, a couple of which could be in the discussion as to being the best in the entire system. Even better, since they are in Bradenton, we get the statcast numbers on the pitch so we can get an idea just how good the pitch is.
Sergio Umana
| Velocity | 83.31 mph |
| Spin Rate | 2033 rpm |
| Vertical Break | 31.67 inches |
| Horizontal Break | 15.15 inches |
| Swing Whiff% | 31.1% |
| Total Pitch Whiff% | 15.25% |
The traditional whiff percentage statistic is based off how many times the pitch is swung at and missed. To get a better idea at just how many times the pitcher has been generating misses, I also added what their whiff percentage based off the total amount of times they have thrown the changeup.
Umana was featured here on the Tuesday drop, so his numbers and video are a little fresher in the mind. The righty doesn’t have the most overpowering fastball, so he has relied on his changeup and breaking pitches on his way to a sub-1.00 ERA on the season.
At 22-years old in second year with Bradenton, Sergio Umana isn't ur normal 'prospect', but he's having a great year regardless. A big part has been the change-up, highlighted here. I'll have more on him this week. #LetsGoBucs pic.twitter.com/GtxTzzsJBo
— Anthony Murphy (@__Murphy88) July 4, 2022
His whiff rate (31.1%) would rank 63rd among all major league pitchers right now, according to Baseball Savant. Umana has really ramped up his performance in his second season with the Marauders, and while he doesn’t get the strikeout numbers you would hope, he has been amazing generating ground balls this season.
Po-Yu Chen
| Velocity | 82.36 mph |
| Spin Rate | 14.51 rpm |
| Vertical Break | 31.95 inches |
| Horizontal Break | 13.25 inches |
| Swing Whiff% | 50.43% |
| Total Whiff% | 32.96% |
While Baseball Savant categorizes the pitch as a change-up, Chen’s off-speed pitch is a splitter, and it’s one of the best in the system. Half of the time that batter’s swing at it they miss it, and his whiff rate would be third in the majors right now, according to Baseball Savant.
Chen threw his splitter 29 times in his June 10 start, inducing five whiffs on 21 swings, one of his lower swing and miss nights on the season, and since then he’s backed off the usage a bit.
It remains one of the better pitches in his arsenal, and as far as off-speed pitches go, far more advanced than the level he’s pitching in.
Carlos Jimenez
| Velocity | 85.96 mph |
| Spin Rate | 1738.68 rpm |
| Vertical Break | 30.56 inches |
| Horizontal Break | 29.08 inches |
| Swing Whiff% | 59.42% |
| Total Whiff% | 29.08% |
Looking at the rate in which Chen gets whiffs, that seems to be a hard mountain to climb, but Carlos Jimenez was still able to do that. His near 60% whiff rate on his changeup is just incredibly and would be the highest mark among major league pitchers right now, according to Baseball Savant.
Jimenez really came out of nowhere this year and quickly established himself as one of the pitching prospects in the lower levels with the biggest upside, largely in part to his changeup.
He isn’t shy about throwing it at any point, any count, or any situation. It could really be one of the best singular pitches in the system right now and considering he’s 19 and it’s a changeup, makes it that much more impressive.
Honorable Mention: Anthony Solometo
The left-handed 2021 second round pick is on the shelf right now with an injury, and the amount we’ve been able to see him is small, but he’s shown a good off-speed pitch for someone with as little experience that he has.
Going through the draft process, we didn’t hear much about the changeup, not surprising for a prep pitcher. In his first start, most of the pitches he threw were off-speed.
His changeup tails a bit, and pairs well with his sinker, helping with the deception.
The changeup is a pitch that usually comes later in the development stage, but is crucial for players trying to stay in the rotation. It takes a while to master the grip and everything that goes with it, so it’s encouraging that not just one, but multiple players are showing such a great feel for it this early in their minor league career.
THIS WEEKEND ON PIRATES PROSPECTS
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Pirates Roundtable: What Are Your Thoughts on Ben Cherington’s Rebuild?
Bradenton Marauders: Three Pitchers Ahead of Game In Changeup Development
