Logan Gilbert offered some revealing insight into his offseason work during a recent appearance on Seattle Sports, outlining a renewed focus on refining his secondary pitches and experimenting with new options in his arsenal. “I’ve been focusing on my curve and slider a lot, trying to get those where I want them to be,” Gilbert said. “I’m messing around with a cutter and a changeup, where if I’m behind in the count, something that can help me out could be good — could be good to lefties too. Sometimes I’d get too rotational, slow my arm down, and my four-seam would run a bit. I want to get more north-south.”
Seattle Mariners’ Logan Gilbert’s Search for an Escape Pitch in 2026
Gilbert, a former All-Star, is best known for his fastball. Still, his splitter emerged as one of the most effective individual pitches in baseball last season, generating a .099 expected batting average and a 50% whiff rate. His slider has traditionally been his primary secondary offering, and in 2024, it was the most frequently used pitch in his arsenal, with the curveball also playing a consistent role.
Slider Regression
However, the effectiveness of the slider took a step back. Opponents’ slugging percentage against it jumped from .385 to .510 from 2024, and while the pitch posted a strong run value of 14 in 2024, that figure dropped to negative one in 2025. Getting the slider back to where it needs to be, as Gilbert put it, will be instrumental if he is to return to ace-level production.
Adding an Escape Pitch
More intriguing were Gilbert’s comments about potentially adding a cutter or leaning more heavily on a changeup. While he maintained his high strikeout totals and elite chase rates, he struggled to pitch deep into games consistently. At times, his arsenal lacked a reliable option to turn to when pitching from behind in the count or when looking for a quick out or double play. His hard-hit rate climbed to 42% after sitting below 40% in 2024, and his ground-ball-to-fly-ball ratio fell from 1.20 to 0.93. Finding a pitch that can run away from barrels and keep the ball on the ground could be key to regaining efficiency. Whether that answer ultimately comes in the form of a cutter or a more trusted changeup, the goal is clear: Gilbert needs a pitch he can lean on when he needs weak contact, as he can rely on his splitter for swing-and-miss.
Bryan Woo’s Changeup Development
Gilbert also touched on offseason developments elsewhere in the rotation, highlighting work Bryan Woo has been doing on his changeup.
“Woo’s been working on a changeup, tweaking it,” Gilbert said. “Cal [Cal Raleigh] was working with him in Arizona and said it was good, which is a huge deal.”
Woo was the Mariners’ most effective starter last season, relying heavily on his fastball, which accounted for nearly 75% of his usage, while primarily pairing it with a sweeper as his main offspeed pitch. He already carries a changeup in his repertoire. If he can elevate that offering and diversify his pitch mix, it could allow him to take another significant step forward next season.
Back to the Heights of 2024
The offseason is always a time when pitchers talk about adding new pitches, but for someone with Gilbert’s ceiling, this feels less like experimentation and more like necessity. Gilbert was still elite in many categories in 2025. 95th percentile in strikeout%, and 86th percentile in walk rate. As a team, Seattle is looking to improve on the margins to put them over the top. Gilbert seems to be a microcosm of that. If Gilbert can add a pitch that helps him escape counts and generate weaker contact, it could be the difference between another good season and returning to the peak of his powers, leading Seattle’s rotation.
Main Photo Credits: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images