Jacob Misiorowski's Slider Tweak & A Top 100 Update

Jacob Misiorowski, Nolan McLean, Tanner Bibee

• Jacob Misiorowski averaged 101.1 mph on his four-seamer for the second time this season (7 IP, 2 H, ER, BB, 12 K). He also threw the pitch 76% and zoned it 63% of the time, generating a 32% zone-whiff rate on the offering. The more interesting thing to me in this outing is that his slider shape had a lot more drop than it’s had at any point this season, even though he only threw 16. This shape averaged 3.5” vertical break and 4” glove-side movement at 93 mph, very different from his season average of 7.4” vertical break and 1” glove-side movement at 94.6 mph. This is likely more of a hand manipulation thing to generate more depth and sweep on the offering. I’d guess it’s intentional rather than accidental, given it’s not happening because of a lower slot or cutting his four-seamer more.