Blue Jays’ Yusei Kikuchi has a new look — and it’s not just his wispy beard

DUNEDIN, Fla. – There’s a distinct look to Yusei Kikuchi early in spring coaching and it’s not simply the wispy beard he’s rocking.

The Toronto Blue Jays lefty spent the low season engaged on methods to realize extra constant command of a fastball that may be dominant, selecting an arm slot adjustment that’s made an early impression in camp.

Should his robust bullpens translate into video games, Kikuchi will retain his maintain on the within monitor to the fifth starter’s spot in what might develop into a non-race because of a January shoulder impingement that’s slowed Mitch White’s development.

The right-hander is throwing and GM Ross Atkins stated the membership is “exceptionally confident that he is going to be in the mix,” however added that “like with any pitcher, you never know for sure,” making an efficient Kikuchi all of the extra vital. 

“People say my arm slot looks a little shorter,” Kikuchi says by means of interpreter Keito Ebino throughout an interview. “It’s not like I’m actually trying to make it short. It’s just I’m trying to put my momentum straight towards the catcher. If that works really well, my arm slot will come to the right spot. That’s what I’m trying to do right now.”

Struggles together with his command had been a relentless in Kikuchi’s enigmatic first season with the Blue Jays, throughout which he fluctuated between intervals of dominance and futility. His uncooked stuff is just nasty, beginning with a fastball that averaged 94.9 m.p.h., a slider batters whiffed at 33 per cent of the time and a changeup/splitter used much less however missed 39.6 per cent of the time.

All that led to a career-best strikeout proportion of 27.3 per cent that was undermined by a walks fee of 12.8, which was among the many backside three per cent of the league.

Hence his give attention to command over the winter, when he labored out of the yard bullpen in his Arizona dwelling, broke down his mechanics utilizing a slow-motion edgertronic digicam and tracked progress utilizing Rapsodo information.

Helping him was a change in mindset that got here together with his August transfer to the bullpen, resulting in 12 appearances by which he struck out 33 batters in 18.1 innings but in addition gave up 4 homers.

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Still, absent a starter’s ample prep time, Kikuchi discovered himself in additional of an assault mindset and mixed with the brand new arm slot, believes he’s on monitor to extra constantly be one of the best model of himself.

“There were times that I could only throw like 10 pitches in the ‘pen and then I had to go out to the game,” stated Kikuchi, who has additionally been experimenting with a brand new curveball grip that’s proven promise. “When you’re a starting pitcher, you get to prepare for like an hour or two hours but I was able to make the same pitches even though the preparation time was totally different. I’m trying to put that into my preparation time this season, try to make it shorter because that worked really well.”

White, the out-of-options swingman acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers on the commerce deadline final summer season, ought to nonetheless have the time to make a push for the fifth spot within the rotation, however he’s definitely in catch-up mode now.

“I love what I’ve seen out of Yusei so far,” stated supervisor John Schneider. “He’s made some small tweaks with his arm path and spent a lot of time in the off-season working on it. We’ve got to base it on both of their workloads and their ramp-up in camp and thankful that we have six weeks instead of three to evaluate that.”

ALWAYS ON THE HUNT: Save for one spot on the bench, the Blue Jays roster because it stands is actually set and there are few apparent wants, though a case may very well be made for the addition of a right-handed outfielder.

Is that an space GM Ross Atkins is trying to deal with?

“I think it’s a fair question,” he stated. “Even if you’re not looking specifically at that 26th spot, feeling really good about the players that can contribute in that (right-handed hitting outfielder) role without having to add another player. We feel good about the depth that we have, and that includes options to fill that 26th spot.”

Whit Merrifield is one candidate to play left discipline in opposition to harder lefties, with Santiago Espinal slotting in at second base in these video games. That would nonetheless imply one in every of Kevin Kiermaier or Daulton Varsho performs in centre, a possible sacrifice of some offence to retain elite defence.

Switch-hitting nook outfielder Robbie Grossman, somebody the Blue Jays have had previous curiosity in, makes for a powerful match, though barring harm, his pathway to enjoying time can be restricted.

Speaking generally phrases, Atkins stated “we’re always in talks, I’ve had three (conversations Thursday), several yesterday. A little bit more focused on free agency. But we do not feel like we need to make any additions, feel very good about the team that we have.”

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As for inside choices for the 26^th spot on the roster, outfielder Nathan Lukes and utilityman Otto Lopez look like the main candidates, though Atkins declined to call anybody particularly.

“I think you know who they are,” he stated. “The guys that have performed at triple-A, some guys who have had some major-league time.”

QUOTEABLE: “He’s been targeted a little bit with his delivery. As of right now, he’s well aware of the rules and he wants everyone to be on the same page and be uniform. He has six weeks to work it out. We know that he’s going to be totally fine with being in the confines of the rule.” – John Schneider on Kevin Gausman adjusting the toe-tap in his supply to make sure there’s a transparent cease when he comes set.

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