Pablo Lopez's Pitching Makeover: From Miami to Minnesota

[Parker Hageman]

Today’s start is what the Twins envisioned when they traded for Pablo Lopez.

Image courtesy of © Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports

It was a steep price for them to part with Luis Arraez. After all, Arraez became a fan favorite and an excellent contact hitter. Batting Title Kings/ Short Kings get traded less often. Early in the season, many fans lamented missing out on that type of hitter, but it's hard to disagree that the Twins had a plan when they acquired Lopez from the Miami Marlins. 

He said so himself.

"I'm extremely grateful for all the resources the Twins made available when it came to pitch developing and understanding the benefits behind why a pitch moving in that direction could give us the options we were looking for," Lopez told reporters after his final regular-season start. The right-hander said the organization gave him stats, facts, numbers, and information. These were very appreciated and embraced.  

The Twins have a system that has grown quite good at identifying, building, and developing pitchers. Lopez was already a reasonably outstanding pitcher from outside of the organization. He was worth about two wins each season with Miami. The Twins, however, were able to tap into more. 

Pablo Lopez said that with Miami, he concentrated on being a north-south pitcher, focusing on his fastball up in the zone, pairing it with his excellent changeup, and breaking ball down in the zone. The Twins offered a different path for Lopez - they saw he could be more of an east-west pitcher, getting hitters to chase on pitches running away from the strike zone.

The Twins could take what was an outstanding pitcher and build on it.

Let's start with the mechanics. Returning to Lopez's statement about deviating from being a north-south pitcher, we can see how he's altered his delivery to help add more east-west movement. 

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[roger]

Excellent article, Parker.  Thanks!

Got me thinking about what we all were hoping for/expecting when the Twins brought Falvey into the organization from the Guardians.  Yet, many have been disappointed, some vocally, that it hadn't happened sooner. 

But as we sit here this morning, excited about this afternoon's game, maybe they have delivered what we expected.  It just didn't happen overnight.  Your explanation of how they helped Lopez become that long soft after ACE sure makes it sound like they have.

 

[terrydactyls]

The clip showing how Lopez' hand is a couple inches further towards 1B is interesting.  Assuming that this alignment is a permanent alteration (and I have no reason not to believe it), I find it amazing that: A) a small adjustment produces a major change, and B) how anyone figured this out.  Kudos to the coaching staff or Driveline or whoever figured this out.

[Parker Hageman]

34 minutes ago, terrydactyls said:

The clip showing how Lopez' hand is a couple inches further towards 1B is interesting.  Assuming that this alignment is a permanent alteration (and I have no reason not to believe it), I find it amazing that: A) a small adjustment produces a major change, and B) how anyone figured this out.  Kudos to the coaching staff or Driveline or whoever figured this out.

Their biomechanics staff is truly amazing. They have the technology and knowledge to identify a lot of inefficiencies and their coaching staff does a great job of incorporating drills/workouts to aid in getting players to move better.  

[Rod Carews Birthday]

I think it’s pretty amazing that they were able to add the pitch that quickly.  I’m also impressed that such small adjustments in his delivery were so effective.  There are some very smart people working for the Twins.  Bravo!  We need him to have to make about 5 or 6 more starts now!