Kyle Hendricks Baffles Diamondbacks with Filthy Change, Wicked Curve
Kyle Hendricks was masterful Friday afternoon, shutting the Diamondbacks out on three hits and notching 11 strikeouts over seven innings. Most of those K’s came on the change as Hendricks floated his offspeed offering up to the plate to tumble away from bats.
Out of the eight total whiffs Hendricks got on the change, five resulted in a visiting hitter taking a seat. One of his two called strikes on the change had the same result. Just nasty.
10 Kyle Hendricks Changeups (all swinging/looking strikes) from today in 15 Seconds. pic.twitter.com/XvZ3AQPgRf
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 19, 2019
Kyle Hendricks, Disgusting Back-to-Back Changeups, Overlayed. 😯 pic.twitter.com/D6yURthUWJ
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 19, 2019
But it wasn’t just about the change. Hendricks had the sinker dialed in and working much better than he has to this point.
Kyle Hendricks Two-Seamer grip/release for @PitchingNinja pic.twitter.com/esDeYe6YhY
— Nick Pollack (@PitcherList) April 19, 2019
Hendricks’ early struggles with the sinker, which we just noted was working better Friday, may have had him looking to do more with the curve. Though he only threw the bender six times, he was able to keep the Arizona hitters off balance and earned a pair of called strikes. Like this one.
Kyle Hendricks, Curveball.
Now he's just trolling us. pic.twitter.com/OcvXsce4ew— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 19, 2019
Sweet emotion, that’s fun.
