When the Los Angeles Dodgers acquired Mookie Betts and David Price from the Boston Red Sox in February 2020, they added a former MVP and Cy Young Award winner to their roster in one fell swoop.
However, Price did not pitch at all that season after opting out because of concerns over the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. He returned to the team last year and filled a hybrid role, making multiple starts and relief appearances.
Price reported to Camelback Ranch this year with higher expectations for himself and a goal of earning a permanent spot in the rotation. However, it appears he is primed for another year in the bullpen.
Now in his 14th MLB campaign, Price revealed that he is throwing with a higher arm slot to get more up and down movement on his pitches, per Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
Price said he made the adjustment to get more “north and south” movement (up and down) on his pitches. “The higher it is, the better I can get behind the baseball,” Price said, adding that he had probably slipped into the lower arm slot “just for comfort” the past few years. “I was always probably three-quarters. I probably was lower than three-quarters last year,” Price said. “It’s probably been a while, to be honest. That was probably from throwing the changeup and the cutter which is trying to get the ball to move east and west – which is easier from a little lower, not being behind the baseball, spinning it that way.”
Price began the 2021 season in the Dodgers bullpen, but eventually moved back to the starting rotation as injuries piled up. In 39 games (11 starts), he went 5-2 with a 4.03 ERA, 4.23 FIP and 1.43 WHIP across 73.2 innings pitched.
Price spent some time on the 10-day injured list with a hamstring strain and showed signs of rust, but now that he is healthy again, he could potentially emerge as a valuable multi-inning arm for Roberts.
Price also figures to have a real shot to log innings as a starter at some point this season, given the volatility at the backend of the Dodgers rotation.
Price recovered from ‘annual elbow soreness’
Price didn’t make his first Spring Training appearance until the final week of Cactus League play when he entered in the sixth inning and struck out two batters against the Cleveland Guardians. The left-hander’s fastball velocity touched 93 mph during his perfect inning of relief.
Part of the delay with Price appearing in a game was the customary elbow soreness he battles each Spring Training.
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