2024 Spring Training

Red Sox Garrett Whitlock made some mechanical changes. There’s a massive extension drop here year over year for Whitlock and a lowering of his release height. He went from extending 7.5’ on his sinker last season (99th percentile) to just 6.3’ extension this season (42nd percentile). His release height is down 5” as well (also a lot). If he kept the same arm angle with the lower extension, his release height would rise. Because we see the opposite, I guess that there was some deliberate attempt to lower his arm slot, which could be a byproduct of the lowered extension?

Whitlock is flashing a new cutter too, which is just 86 mph with 0” glove-side movement. I expect models not to like this pitch, wanting more velo or glove-side movement. He made a changeup tweak too. He’s averaging 3-4” less induced vertical break compared to last season at a slightly higher velocity (the pitch is dropping more). The overall package here is a bit perplexing to me. Striking to see a massive extension drop, but I like the changeup and sinker shape changes. Need to know more on whether there’s a deliberate mechanics tweak here. 🤷‍♂️