Inan era where information and scouting tools are seemingly limitless, it’s not uncommon for players to make significant changes either during a season or come the offseason. Depending on the goal and player, those can be either minor adjustments or a complete overhaul.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have seen multiple players report for Spring Training with new approaches, perhaps most notably when Joc Pederson ditched the leg kick in his batting stance, and Alex Wood moved to pitch exclusively out of the stretch.
Kenley Jansen also falls into that category as he began to incorporate a pause in his delivery. He learned the tactic after studying Clayton Kershaw, and sought to occasionally use it in attempt to throw off the timing of opposing batters.
Jansen — er, Kershaw — has now inspired Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Carl Edwards Jr. to follow suit. Edwards unveiled his hitch during a bullpen session at Cubs camp, via Jordan Bastian of MLB.com:
Carl Edwards Jr. said, yes, he studied Kenley Jansen’s delivery this offseason and incorporated the hesitation over the rubber. Hope is that it helps hone his command of the zone. pic.twitter.com/QtsGnUoxtd
— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) February 14, 2019
Edwards saw his strikeouts per nine innings decline last season from 2017, while he also walked 32 in 52 innings pitched last season. That increased his walk rate to 5.5 per nine innings and WHIP to 1.31, both of which are career highs.
Assuming Edwards sticks with the pause in his delivery, the Dodgers may first see it on Monday, Feb. 25, when they face the Cubs at Camelback Ranch. Their first meeting in the regular season is April 23 for the start of a three-game series at Wrigley Field.
