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Get A Grip – American Team Pitchers

To get a better feel for what pitchers are trying to do with the ball, it helps to get a look at how they grip each pitch. During our morning workout, all eight pitchers on the American staff gave us a preview of their stuff.

Mike Nikorak

4-seam FB held slightly angled across horseshoe

4-seam FB held slightly angled across horseshoe

2-seam FB held in a unique way, more like a breaking ball grip

2-seam FB held more like a breaking ball

CH back in palm

CH back in palm, thumb underneath

CB with spiked knuckle to help get overspin

CB with spiked knuckle to help get overspin

Ashe Russell

Pretty standard 4-seam FB grip

Pretty standard 4-seam FB grip

2-seam FB with no seam contact

2-seam FB with no seam contact

Sort of a circle CH type look

Sort of a circle CH type look, down the tracks

In position to drive the horseshoe over with CB

Into the corner of the horseshoe with CB

Luken Baker

4-seam FB, large hands make the ball look small

4-seam FB, large hands make the ball look small

All the way past the tracks with the 2-seamer

Rides the tracks to the end with the 2-seamer

CH

CH sits well back in his hand

SL

SL grip similar to 2-seamer, just more off-center

Can easily get his fingers on the front of the ball for CB overspin

Can easily get his fingers on the front of the ball for CB overspin

Hunter Bowling

4- seam FB right across the horseshoe

4- seam FB right across the horseshoe

CH

CH comes off first two fingers of pitching hand

CB

Spikes CB to help generate overspin

Juan Hillman

4-seam FB

4-seam FB

2-seamer right across the tracks

2-seamer right down the tracks

CH

Classic circle, or “OK”, change grip – note the 2-seam look

CB vs. LHH has break down and across the zone

CB vs. LHH has break down and across the zone

Fingers get more on the front of the ball to RHH, giving CB more 12-6 action

Fingers get more on the front of the ball to RHH, giving CB more 12-6 action

Cole Sands

4-seamer across horseshoe

4-seamer across horseshoe

2-seamer

2-seamer right down the tracks

CH

Circle CH grip across the horseshoe

Breaking ball

Breaking ball grip along arm side track

Bryan Hoeing

4-seamer

4-seamer

2-seamer

2-seamer with some width on top of tracks

CH

CH set to roll off last two fingers, thumb underneath

CB

Fingers along the outside edge of the horseshoe, thumb directly underneath

Gray Fenter

4-seamer

4-seamer

2-seamer, fingers close and on inside edges of tracks

2-seamer, fingers close and on inside edges of tracks

CB

Middle finger across edge of horseshoe, ready to generate overspin on CB

CH

CH set with middle fingers across tracks and thumb on a seam in 2-seam orientation

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