Since joining the Los Angeles Dodgers at the 2016 non-waiver trade deadline, Rich Hill has revitalized his career while emerging as one of the better left-handed pitchers in all of baseball.
Hill made his first start of the spring against the Cleveland Indians on Monday, facing 11 batters in the contest. Across three innings pitched, he yielded just one run on two baserunners while striking out four.
After the outing, Hill revealed that he intends to focus on improving and using his fastball and curveball this season, via Ken Gurnick of MLB.com:
“This year things are much more cleaned up and efficient,” he said. “As I’ve gotten older and understand what’s best for me, I see a consistence in the way I throw, I see the carry of the ball. Creativity builds and grows from that. You can shape the curveball, and that comes as the season goes along. You can accelerate and decelerate the fastball.”
At various points last season, Hill utilized five different pitches. Though, he primarily deployed a fastball and curveball, much like recent years.
In 2017, Hill’s fastball once again proved to be his most efficient pitch. Per FanGraphs, his fastball value checked in at a career-best 16.5 — an increase of more than three points from the previous year.
While he enjoyed success with his heater, Hill saw a drop of production in his curveball. After posting a value of 17.4 in 2016, the southpaw saw that mark diminish to -0.5 last season.
With Hill looking to refine those two specific pitches, he can tinker with different speeds and drop angles to give batters different looks throughout the year.
Keeping a simple approach on the mound can only lead to further success for the soon-to-be 38-year-old. Furthermore, his new routine may potentially limit his finger blister issues from recent seasons, as well.
