Just how fierce can Jhoan Duran be on the mound?<\/p>\n
His electric triple-digit heater is already one of the hardest pitches to square up in the sport. But what if he has one more look to layer in?<\/p>\n
After his outing Wednesday, Duran spoke about the pitch that showed up twice during his strikeout of Tyler O\u2019Neill, a \u201csplit-change,\u201d as he called it.<\/p>\n
When asked why it might help him, Duran laughed.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can’t tell you,\u201d he said. \u201cThis is a secret pitch.\u201d<\/p>\n
Duran\u2019s typical mix is a splitter, four-seamer, curveball and sweeper. One more option, even if it\u2019s still in the trial stage, can\u2019t hurt. Duran said he last threw a changeup-type pitch back in the Minors in 2021, and he hasn\u2019t committed to bringing it back full-time.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe,\u201d he said. \u201cOr maybe not committed yet. Just trying it out.\u201d<\/p>\n
If it sticks, it\u2019s a different layer for hitters to consider. Duran already leans heavily on his splitter against right-handed hitters, and flips the usage more toward the fastball against lefties. <\/p>\n
It\u2019s not news that pitchers vary their repertoire depending on a hitter\u2019s handedness. The goal is the same: keep the overall look from getting predictable. Duran can still get predictable at times, but his power is often enough to overwhelm hitters anyway.<\/p>\n
The idea of a fifth look makes his entrance that much tougher to game plan for, especially when the fastball sits at 100.6 mph on average.<\/p>\n
Prospects healing up?<\/p>\n
Rob Thomson didn\u2019t have anything new on Aidan Miller’s back injury, outside of reiterating he\u2019s \u201cin the pool running,\u201d plus a throwing program.<\/p>\n
But Thomson did note outfield prospect Gabriel Rincones Jr. is trending toward a step forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s going to hit outside for the first time [Friday],\u201d Thomson said.<\/p>\n
Rincones entered camp as one of the more intriguing bench-bat options, even before the Johan Rojas situation changed the shape of the competition. <\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMiller, the Phillies top ranked prospect has his locker next to Bryce Harper’s in Clearwater this season, and he’s ready to learn from the former MVP.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Rincones has some of the loudest raw power in the organization, and the production backed it up last season: he slugged 18 home runs with an .800 OPS at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. All 18 of those homers came against right-handed pitching.<\/p>\n
During his recovery process, Rincones said he\u2019s been leaning into a \u201chigher-rep, lower weight\u201d regimen as he builds back his left knee. He also noted he\u2019s focused on improving against left-handed pitching.<\/p>\n
Thomson\u2019s main message on the top prospects remains consistent: get them healthy, then let the work dictate the rest, specifically for Miller.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a really good player, so we\u2019re gonna make sure he\u2019s healthy,\u201d Thomson said.<\/p>\n
Painter faces 41-year-old mentor<\/p>\n
It\u2019s hard to put much weight on Spring Training results, but whenever Andrew Painter takes the ball, the attention follows.<\/p>\n
His next start will come Saturday at BayCare Ballpark against the Blue Jays \u2014 with Max Scherzer slated to start for Toronto. The two are 19 years apart.<\/p>\n
Painter knows Scherzer well. They\u2019ve worked out together in the offseason for the past four years in Florida, and Saturday\u2019s matchup will give Painter another big-league look as he continues building toward a possible Opening Day roster spot.<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJes\u00fas Luzardo joined Spencer McKercher and Sean Kane on the Phillies Talk Podcast and discussed the upside of top pitching prospect Andrew Painter.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Painter said he\u2019s looking to work on his changeup in that outing, noting the two he threw in his two scoreless innings against the Yankees were \u201cuncompetitive.\u201d <\/p>\n
He has the big-league repertoire, but it begins with command. If Painter continues getting ahead, he threw four first-pitch strikes to six hitters in his last outing, everything else plays up.<\/p>\n
Phillies get after the WBC<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a busy day across the World Baseball Classic.<\/p>\n
Cristopher S\u00e1nchez is scheduled to start for the Dominican Republic in their first pool-play game against Nicaragua. Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber will face Brazil, and it\u2019s still unclear when Team USA will use Brad Keller out of the bullpen.<\/p>\n