Verlander Debuts New Curveball Grip with 'Added Sweep'

A group of Giants prospects faced a tough challenge when they squared off against Justin Verlander in a simulated game at the club’s Player Development Center at Papago Park on Saturday afternoon. The young players were surprised when Verlander used the opportunity to debut a new pitch. Giants pitching coach J.P. Martinez revealed that Verlander decided to try throwing a curveball with "added sweep" during his second outing of the spring, where he gave up two runs on two hits over three innings. This curveball, which was his primary secondary pitch last season, had previously allowed opposing batters to hit .340 against it, the highest mark of his career. However, Verlander, who held opposing batters to a .158 average with the same pitch in 2022, is now experimenting with a new grip to add more horizontal movement and recapture the pitch's effectiveness.
​
Martinez explained that Verlander was eager to utilize the team's internal Hawkeye tools to tweak his grip and gain more movement. "He was really interested in that tool and wanted to try it out in a kind of a low-leverage environment," Martinez said. "I thought it was pretty good. ... I think it’s just something he’s exploring to see if he wants to add it or if he just goes back to the same curveball he’s had for 20 years." As Verlander continues to refine his new curveball grip, the Giants' prospects will have to stay on their toes, anticipating even more challenging pitches from the veteran pitcher.