Sunday Notes: Jacob Misiorowski Throws a Sinker-Like Changeup… Only Sometimes

Jacob Misiorowski has a fastball that constantly reaches triple digits, and he augments it with an efficient curveball-slider mixture. Utilization-wise, the 24-year-old Milwaukee Brewers right-hander is throwing his high-octane heater at a 62.3% clip, whereas his breaking-ball percentages are 16.6 and 17.3 respectively. Given the lethality of these pitches — his xBA is a paltry .168, and his Okay-rate an MLB-best 41.8% — he has no use for a changeup…

… however there may be one in his arsenal. Sometimes, he’ll even present it to a batter. Of the 289 pitches Misiorowski has delivered to date this season, 11 (3.8%) have been changeups. The story behind his only-sporadically-used weapon?

“I’ve had a changeup my complete profession,” Misiorowski instructed me previous to throwing three of them in a 101-pitch begin at Fenway Park on Tuesday. “That was one of many first pitches I actually realized. However then as I began throwing tougher, I started going away from it, and it clearly obtained worse and worse the much less I threw it. By the point I obtained drafted [63rd overall in 2022], I mainly didn’t have a changeup any extra. I needed to relearn it, re-figure it out. So, yeah, it’s at all times been there, nevertheless it hasn’t at all times been there.”

Misiorowski went on to inform me the grip was initially a extra typical four-seam circle, however that he now has his pointer and center fingers collectively, and his thumb beneath. He additionally stated that he likes the quantity of horizontal he will get on it, which is usually round 18 inches and has been as much as 20. After I instructed him that the motion profile sounds slightly like a two-seam sinker, he agreed that it does.

A couple of extra issues Misiorowski instructed me in regards to the pitch are sadly misplaced, attributable to glitches I’ve just lately encountered on my iPhone’s recording app (I discussed this teeth-gnashing, hopefully-resolved-soon, situation in Monday’s piece on Padres’ broadcaster Mark Grant.) Fortuitously, I used to be in a position to seize a couple of minutes with Brewers pitching coach Chris Hook, who made up for the lacking phrases along with his personal perspective.

How would he describe Misiorowski’s changeup?

“It’s horizontal-moving, it’s probably not depth-y,” replied Hook. “Within the small quantity of developmental time he’s had with us, his huge key has been getting on time. The changeup is sort of detrimental in a means, as a result of in his head he thinks he’s throwing one thing gradual. His changeup is within the 93-94 [mph] vary. He doesn’t get on time for it, so he by no means will get to the purpose the place he can get in entrance of it the best way that he needs to get in entrance of it.

“It’s nearly like a sinker,” continued Hook, negating the necessity for me to ask if he feels that it profiles as such. “It’s what, 18 and 5, 18 and 6? Actually, it’s a very good sinker. It’s one thing we’re going to attempt to implement extra this 12 months as we go alongside, however regardless of what you noticed final night time with him sort of obtained hitting with a ton of bricks and working out of gasoline [in the seventh inning], he’s been on time. He’s throwing the ball the place he needs to — there are fewer sprays — so there is a bit more rely accessibility to throw the changeup. We’re going to look to try this.”

———

RANDOM HITTER-PITCHER MATCHUPS

Nelson Cruz went 15 for 25 in opposition to Kendall Graveman.

Fred Kendall went 11 for 26 in opposition to Jim Barr.

Jason Kendall went 19 for 42 in opposition to Woody Williams.

Hank Bauer went 10 for 23 in opposition to Hal Woodeshick.

Elbie Fletcher went 16 for 34 in opposition to Russ Bauers.

———

Sticking with the Brewers, I had a query for Jake Bauers that circles again to one thing he stated a number of years in the past. Again when he was a younger participant with the Tampa Bay Rays, the now-30-year-old outfielder/first baseman instructed me that he would quite not know which pitch was coming. Furthermore, he would have a greater likelihood of hitting a slider if he was merely sitting fastball.

Does he nonetheless really feel that means?

“Towards sure pitchers, it may be higher to be extra reactionary than anticipatory,” replied Bauers, who’s in his third season with the Brewers. “However as I’ve matured through the years and developed sort of my very own type of hitting, that has most likely modified slightly bit. I feel I’m slightly higher at anticipating, after which placing myself able to place a very good swing at that pitch, versus perhaps promoting out.”

The reasoning behind his previously-stated mindset?

“If I had a sense {that a} breaking ball was coming, I’d sit on it, and I had an inclination to take a seat again too lengthy,” defined Bauers, who has three dwelling runs and a 108 wRC+ over 46 plate appearances to date this season. “I’d find yourself jamming myself on it. I wasn’t getting beat on a fastball, I used to be getting beat on a slider, as a result of I used to be caught again.

“I’d say that also I’m on the fastball with 90 to 95 p.c of the pitches I see,” the lefty slugger continued. “If it’s a man I’m acquainted with, or a man that has actually apparent tendencies, I would change that. However even in these conditions, I really feel like I’m slightly higher at being extra per my timing if I’m not making an excessive amount of of an adjustment. Nearly like a gentle anticipation as an alternative of a promoting out, if that is smart.”

———

One other transient Brewers word:

“We’ll let Sal [Frelick] do it,” Milwaukee supervisor Pat Murphy replied after I requested who he’d use as an emergency catcher. “The child was a fantastic hockey participant. [Andrew] Vaughn was our third catcher; he practiced it slightly bit and is fairly good, however he broke a hamate and isn’t with us. We requested [Jackson] Chourio and he stated no. However he’s not with us both; he’s obtained a damaged hand.”

———

A quiz:

Who holds the Yankees’ single-season file for one-base hits? (A touch: a post-integration infielder, he batted .315 and had 43 stolen bases that 12 months.)

The reply might be discovered beneath.

———

NEWS NOTES

SABR introduced this week that Guardians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti, and the crew’s longtime radio voice, Tom Hamilton, will likely be among the many featured audio system at this summer time’s nationwide conference. Extra data on the occasion, which will likely be held in Cleveland from July 29-August 2, might be discovered right here.

Tom Nieto, a catcher who appeared in 251 video games whereas seeing motion for 4 groups throughout the 1984-1990 seasons, died on March 27 at age 65. A minor league coach and supervisor following his taking part in days, Nieto notched 57 of his 127 profession hits with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1985. One in every of his 5 dwelling runs was a Tenth-inning walk-off for the Montreal Expos in opposition to the Chicago Cubs in 1986.

Bob Duliba, a right-hander who went 17-12 with 14 saves and a 3.47 ERA whereas pitching for 4 groups throughout the 1959-1967 seasons, died on April 4 at age 91. Initially with the St. Louis Cardinals, the Glen Lyon, Pennsylvania native got here out of the bullpen to alleviate Vinegar Bend Mizell in his MLB debut.

Davey Lopes, who swiped 557 bases whereas taking part in for 4 groups — primarily the Los Angeles Dodgers — throughout the 1972-1987 seasons, died earlier this week at age 80. A second baseman, Lopes logged 1,671 hits and a 111 wRC+, performing greatest in opposition to opposite-handed hurlers. The Windfall, Rhode Island native batted .291 with an .831 OPS versus southpaws, and .251 with a .698 OPS versus righties.

———

The reply to the quiz is Steve Sax, who hit 171 singles for the Yankees in 1989. For those who guessed Derek Jeter, his single-season profession excessive was 169.

———

A followup word on Davey Lopes:

He was nearly a Big. One 12 months earlier than being drafted and signed by the Dodgers in 1968, Lopes was taken within the eighth spherical by San Francisco, solely to briefly forego professional ball and return to Washburn College. He wasn’t the one notable participant the Giants drafted however didn’t check in 1967. Their fourth-round choose that 12 months was Steve Busby, who opted to attend the College of Southern California. and subsequently turn into a Kansas Metropolis Royal through the 1971 draft. A two-time All-Star who tossed a pair of no-hitters, Busby went 56-41 for the Royals from 1973-1975 earlier than accidents sidetracked his profession.

——

Joe Sambito spent his first eight big-league seasons with the Astros, showing in 353 video games and tossing 536 innings from 1976-1984. A southpaw who pitched nearly solely in aid, he logged 33 wins, 72 saves, and a 2.42 ERA whereas carrying a Houston uniform. I just lately requested the now-73-year-old Brooklyn native about these groups, and about one participant specifically.

“The Astros weren’t constructed on energy,” recalled Sambito, who was at his greatest in 1979 when he saved 22 video games and posted a glowing 1.77 ERA. “We had lots of rabbits who hit line drives. It was gap-to-gap. After which we had some good arms, some good younger pitchers. I used to be lucky to be a kind of guys.”

Probably the most notable of these of younger pitchers was J.R. Richard, a 6-foot-8 righty with erratic management and an electrical fastball. From 1975-1979, the flamethrower twice led NL pitchers in strikeouts, fanning 303 and 313 batters in back-to-back seasons. He additionally led the senior circuit in walks and wild pitches thrice every.

“J.R., on a very good day, was untouchable,” stated Sambito. “He had most likely the very best ceiling of anyone. Whether or not or not he obtained probably the most out of his capability, I feel that will have been extra for him to reply. However he was good. Guys have been afraid to get within the field generally, as a result of he had an inclination to lose the ball. You by no means knew the place it was going to go. I noticed him hit a number of guys, nevertheless it wasn’t intentional. He wasn’t a headhunter. He was what you’d name successfully wild.”

He was particularly dominant from 1976-1979. Over that four-season stretch, Richard went 74-51 with a 2.88 ERA, a 2.82 FIP, and a 22.6% strikeout fee that was second within the majors behind solely Nolan Ryan amongst pitchers who threw a minimum of 500 innings. He was as soon as once more overpowering in 1980 — a 10-4 file, a 1.90 ERA, and his first All-Star berth — however solely till his profession was tragically derailed in mid-July. Richard suffered a stroke, by no means once more to face atop a big-league mound. He died in 2021 at age 71.

———

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Hyun Min Ahn is 13-for-39 with two doubles, a triple, and two dwelling runs for the KBO’s KT Wiz. A member of Group Korea who went 5-for-15 on this 12 months’s WBC, the 22-year-old outfielder slashed .334/.443/.570 with 22 dwelling runs and a 175 wRC+ final season.

Jun Quickly Park is 13-for-33 with two doubles, a triple, and a house run for the Doosan Bears. Chosen sixth general within the 2025 KBO draft, the 19-year-old infielder debuted final summer time and slashed .284/.307/.379 over 298 plate appearances.

Ryusei Terachi is 16-for-48 with a double and a house run for NPB’s Chiba Lotte Marines. The 20-year-old catcher slashed .256/.299/.331 with an 85 wRC+ final 12 months in his rookie season.

Kensuke Kondoh is 14-for-47 with three doubles, 5 dwelling runs, and 11 walks for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks. The 32-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder has slashed .307./418/.458 over 15 NPB seasons.

Hiroya Miyage was recognized with a broken UCL and can get a second opinion earlier than doubtlessly present process surgical procedure. The 24-year-old southpaw had a 2.39 ERA over 150-and-a-third innings for the Orix Buffaloes final 12 months. He threw three-and-a-third scoreless innings for Samurai Japan within the WBC.

———

An excerpt from Robert Okay. Fitts’s e book Within the Japanese Ballpark: Behind the Scenes of Nippon Skilled Baseball, which was printed final 12 months:

“Even again within the Sixties, Japanese stadiums had these actually handsome women working round in shorts carrying these enormous containers of draft beer… They’re working up and down the steps of Korakuen Stadium, and the steps have been so steep that you simply wanted to be a mountain goat to navigate them… You would sit up there on a summer time night time with a cool breeze coming in and see the lights of Tokyo, the neon indicators, and the trains going by, after which on this pool of sunshine down beneath on the sector, Sadaharu Oh would step in with this one-legged stance and hit a house run.”

———

FARM NOTES

The New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Double-A, Toronto) tallied 10 runs whereas logging only one hit — a two-run single within the second inning — of their 12-7 win over the Portland Sea Canine (Boston) on a 35-degree Tuesday night time in southern Maine. Three Sea Canine pitchers mixed for eight walks, two HBPs, and 4 wild pitches within the body.

Jesús Made is 12-for-32 with two triples, a house run, and a 159 wRC+ over 36 plate appearances for the Double-A Biloxi Shuckers. The 18-year-old shortstop within the Milwaukee Brewers group is No. 2 on our 2026 High 100 Prospects checklist.

Max Clark is 19-for-46 with eight doubles, a triple, and a 198 wRC+ over 57 plate appearances with the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens. The 21-year-old outfielder within the Detroit Tigers group is No. 7 on our 2026 High 100 Prospects checklist.

Noah Schultz is 3-0 with a 1.29 ERA and a 40.4% strikeout fee over 14 innings with the Triple-A Charlotte Knights. The 22-year-old southpaw within the Chicago White Sox system is No. 36 on our 2026 High 100 Prospects checklist.

Jhonny Degree is 14-for-27 with two dwelling runs and a 263 wRC+ over 30 plate appearances with the Low-A San Jose Giants. The recently-turned-19-year-old shortstop within the San Francisco Giants system is No. 77 on our 2026 High 100 Prospects checklist.

———

A random obscure former participant snapshot:

To say that Tom Oliver wasn’t identified for his energy can be an understatement. A gifted defensive centerfielder for the Boston Purple Sox whose MLB profession spanned the 1930-1933 seasons, Oliver got here to the plate 2,073 occasions and by no means left the yard. No different participant within the fashionable period has extra plate appearances with out homering. (Invoice Holbert, who performed from 1876-1888 holds the pre-1901 file with 2,396 PAs sans a house run.)

Oliver did have an honest batting common, ending at .277 with a high-water mark of .293 in his rookie marketing campaign. His time within the minors included some glowing BAs, together with .352 with the Beaumont Exporters in 1926, and .338 with the Little Rock Vacationers in 1929. He additionally flashed occasional energy down on the farm, going deep 48 occasions in 6,470 plate appearances.

———

LINKS YOU’LL LIKE

When he was 10 years previous, Anthony Eyanson was recognized with achalasia, a uncommon dysfunction that makes it tough to swallow. Eleven years later, he’s now one of many high pitching prospects within the Boston Purple Sox system. Ian Cundall wrote in regards to the 21-year-old right-hander for Baseball America.

Detroit’s Metro Instances ran an excerpt from Adam Henig’s new e book, Baseball’s Outcast: The Story of Ron LeFlore.

At Good Grief, Luke Epplin wrote about how Gene Bearden — a 20-game winner for the Cleveland Indians in 1948 — apparently fabricated his declare of being badly injured throughout a torpedo strike of the usS. Helena throughout World Warfare II.

Len Levin. who died earlier this week at age 95, served as a proofreader for hundreds of biographies, recreation tales, journal submissions, and e book essays that have been printed by the Society for American Baseball Analysis. Jacob Pomrenke wrote a memoriam at SABR.org.

———

RANDOM FACTS AND STATS

MLB introduced this week that 6.8% of gamers on Opening Day rosters, injured lists and the restricted checklist have been Black. That quantity was 6.2% initially of final season, and 6.0% to start 2024.

Lee Smith had 478 saves and allowed 89 dwelling runs. Kenley Jansen has 478 saves and has allowed 89 dwelling runs.

Masahiro Tanaka went 24-0 with a 1.49 ERA over 212 innings with NPB’s Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles in 2013. The 37-year-old erstwhile New York Yankees hurler — he pitched in pinstripes from 2014-2020 — is now taking the mound for the Tokyo Yomiuri Giants.

The Boston Purple Sox out-slugged the Kansas Metropolis Royals 22-11 at Kauffman Stadium on in the present day’s date in 1994. Scott Cooper went 5-for-6 with a pair of doubles and a house run for the successful facet. Boston batters went deep 5 occasions on the day, Royals batters twice.

On in the present day’s date in 1932, Sammy Byrd swatted two of his 38 profession dwelling runs to guide the New York Yankees to a 12-6 win over the Philadelphia Athletics. 4 Corridor of Famers — Jimmie Foxx, Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth, and Al Simmons — who mixed for two,048 profession dwelling runs every went deep as soon as.

Gamers born on in the present day’s date embrace Chucho Ramos, who in 1944 grew to become the second native Venezuelan to play in MLB (Alex Carrasquel, who debuted in 1939, was the primary). An outfielder, Ramos appeared in simply 5 big-league video games, logging 5 hits in 10 at-bats for the Cincinnati Reds.

Additionally born on in the present day’s date was Charlie Lau, who caught for 4 groups throughout elements of the 1956-1967 seasons, then grew to become a famend hitting coach, tutoring the likes of Harold Baines and George Brett. The creator of the e book The Artwork of Hitting .300, Lau logged 298 hits and a .255 batting common over his comparatively nondescript taking part in profession.

MLB historical past contains two gamers born within the village of Evart, Michigan (inhabitants ≈ 1,700). One in every of them is Wib Smith, a catcher who went 8-for-42 whereas showing in 17 video games for the St. Louis Browns in 1909. The primary of his hits got here in his first ever plate look, in opposition to Corridor of Famer Addie Joss. The opposite Evart native is Want Egan, who made 42 appearances whereas toeing the slab for the Detroit Tigers and St. Louis Cardinals from 1902-1906. He later made a reputation for himself as a scout. Egan is credited with signing Hoot Evers, Hal Newhouser, and Dizzy Trout.