Get A Grip – American Team Pitchers
To get a better feel for what pitchers are trying to do with the ball, it helps to get a look at how they grip each pitch. During our morning workout, all eight pitchers on the American staff gave us a preview of their stuff.
Mike Nikorak
4-seam FB held slightly angled across horseshoe
2-seam FB held more like a breaking ball
CH back in palm, thumb underneath
CB with spiked knuckle to help get overspin
Ashe Russell
Pretty standard 4-seam FB grip
2-seam FB with no seam contact
Sort of a circle CH type look, down the tracks
Into the corner of the horseshoe with CB
Luken Baker
4-seam FB, large hands make the ball look small
Rides the tracks to the end with the 2-seamer
CH sits well back in his hand
SL grip similar to 2-seamer, just more off-center
Can easily get his fingers on the front of the ball for CB overspin
Hunter Bowling
4- seam FB right across the horseshoe
CH comes off first two fingers of pitching hand
Spikes CB to help generate overspin
Juan Hillman
4-seam FB
2-seamer right down the tracks
Classic circle, or “OK”, change grip – note the 2-seam look
CB vs. LHH has break down and across the zone
Fingers get more on the front of the ball to RHH, giving CB more 12-6 action
Cole Sands
4-seamer across horseshoe
2-seamer right down the tracks
Circle CH grip across the horseshoe
Breaking ball grip along arm side track
Bryan Hoeing
4-seamer
2-seamer with some width on top of tracks
CH set to roll off last two fingers, thumb underneath
Fingers along the outside edge of the horseshoe, thumb directly underneath
Gray Fenter
4-seamer
2-seamer, fingers close and on inside edges of tracks
Middle finger across edge of horseshoe, ready to generate overspin on CB
CH set with middle fingers across tracks and thumb on a seam in 2-seam orientation
