Why Kiermaier thinks his ‘unorthodox’ method will help the Blue Jays’ outfield flourish

Baseball

Published 10.03.2023

Why Kiermaier thinks his ‘unorthodox’ method will help the Blue Jays’ outfield flourish

DUNEDIN, Fla. — Kevin Kiermaier has the identical dialog each time he meets a participant he’s going to share the outfield with. And although it nearly all the time evokes a confused response, the brand new Toronto Blue Jays centrefielder by no means shies away from the dialogue.

“Any time I talk to new outfielders about it, guys are like, ‘Oh I’ve never heard of that before,’” Kiermaier stated. “Guys look at me a little weird, but I’m like, ‘Look, it’s not complicated. Just hear me out. It works, I’m telling you.’”

The 32-year-old signed a one-year, $9-million take care of the Blue Jays this previous December after spending his complete 10-year profession with the Tampa Bay Rays. He arrives with a licensed repute as one one of the best defensive outfielders within the sport, having collected three Gold Gloves whereas main all centrefielders with 71 Outs Above Average through the Statcast Era.

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He’s set to be flanked by George Springer in proper discipline and December-trade acquisition Daulton Varsho in left — a novel scenario as a result of all three are bona fide centrefielders. Players manning the place are sometimes tasked with taking cost within the outfield and pursuing balls extra aggressively than the nook fielders.

However, Kiermaier figures his “unorthodox” methodology will flourish with the Blue Jays’ gifted alignment. The passionate defender shared his ideas throughout an extended dialog contained in the clubhouse on the Blue Jays’ participant growth advanced Friday morning, hours earlier than his membership shut out the Boston Red Sox, 2-0, throughout Grapefruit League motion in Fort Myers, Fla.

***

When Kiermaier was within the decrease ranges of the Rays’ minor-league system he encountered just a few conditions the place balls dropped in between himself and the left- or right-fielder. Typically, gamers are taught to name out, “I got it,” for the ball when it’s within the air, however there generally is a difficult gray space when it’s hit in the midst of two gamers and no person yells out.

“Guys were like, ‘I thought you were going to catch it,’ and I was over there thinking the same thing,” stated Kiermaier. “We’re each within the mistaken collectively. And then I stated to myself, ‘What can I do to fix this?’”

He improvised a system: As quickly as Kiermaier realized he was not going to have the ability to snag a ball within the air, he’d empathically level to his fellow outfielder and yell, “You, you, you,” then proceed to again them up. If he meant to pursue the ball, he’d keep targeted on it and that might be a sign for the opposite participant to again off.

“Sometimes we’re just running for the ball that’s perfectly placed in between us and then we’re just kind of waiting for the other guy to call it. You got to take initiative,” he stated.

“It allows them to be in an aggressive mindset right away rather than thinking, ‘Oh, I got Kiermaier next to me. He wants to catch everything.’ I just want them to know as soon as possible.”

Kiermaier believes his methodology — which requires one of many outfielders concerned within the play to shortly look on the different — removes any likelihood of a collision and likewise negates the results of crowd noise. Phrasing is crucial when a stadium’s decibel ranges rise and that’s why he factors as a substitute of utilizing the time period, “You got it.” It will be too simply confused with “I got it.”

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He perfected the tactic whereas within the minors and at last broke into the big-leagues because the Rays’ right-fielder in 2014. Desmond Jennings was the centrefielder for many of that season and thus, chief of the defence. But as soon as Kiermaier took over the place in late August, he applied his means and by no means seemed again.

***

Devon White laughs when advised about Kiermaier’s system.

What was it like in his day?

“I just say, ‘I got it, I got it, I got it,’” White responded with a smile.

The Blue Jays particular assistant to participant growth was a premier centrefielder in his personal proper, capturing seven Gold Gloves whereas profitable three World Series rings, two of which had been with the Blue Jays.

The “I got it” means was how White was taught, however he stated an outfield’s composition can dictate how a lot a centrefielder is relied upon to chase down balls within the gaps. The Blue Jays’ present alignment is comprised of three aggressive, athletic fielders. Meanwhile, at one level in his profession, White was a part of a troika with the offence-first Joe Carter and Dave Winfield.

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“They were like, ‘Hey, you take it, I’mma do the hitting and then you catch those balls,’” stated White. “Because they were big guys on the corner and I never wanted to run into them, there were times where I would take balls from the right fielder or the left fielder. We’d laugh about it and I’m like, ‘Hey that’s what I do. If I can catch it, I’m going to catch it.’”

Kiermaier says he’s studied how different groups function and hasn’t noticed anyone do it his means. He’s additionally always asking teammates and opposing gamers about what they’ve been taught up to now.

When he had his preliminary dialog with Varsho on the topic, Kiermaier was met with a well-known response.

“I’ve never really done that,” Varsho stated. “But, it’s truly a very easy method to talk as a result of clearly with 40,000 followers within the stands, you’re not capable of yell and scream and the particular person is just not going to have the ability to hear you.

“[Kiermaier’s system] makes it an entire lot simpler.”

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Varsho has spent over one third of his major-league video games in centrefield and constructed his personal spectacular repute as a defender, backed by an Outs Above Average that ranked within the 99th percentile in 2022. This spring, although, he’s adjusting to a distinct place along with new outfield mates. He plans to spend loads of time with Kiermaier, ironing out the “system” throughout batting apply and through video games.

“We got dudes out there who want to make plays and who have a very aggressive mindset,” stated Kiermaier. “Those are the guys I want to play next to. And we’re going to be great this year. We’re going to be one of the best, if not the best outfield. That’s what I’m aiming for defensively.”

Kiermaier has solely encountered one one that strongly pushed again towards his approach throughout his profession. He declines to disclose the participant, however stated for some cause, it simply didn’t work for the person, so that they needed to decide a workaround.

For each different outfield associate, although, it’s labored simply wonderful.

“I’m unorthodox with my teaching, but I know that unorthodox works,” stated Kiermaier. “I don’t have to go by the book.”