It’s pitching preview time, women and gents. Over the subsequent a number of days, I’ll be writing 10,000 phrases or so about everybody you may see pitching for the Crimson Sox to begin the season. We’re performed with the rotation choices and are transferring on to the bullpen. We’ll begin on the again, with the high-leverage choices.
Aroldis Chapman is coming off arguably the very best season of his profession, imagine it or not. He posted a 1.17 ERA over 67 appearances. He was so good that it’s nearly inconceivable for him to repeat that efficiency, and that’s okay. If he’s even 90% of the pitcher he was in 2025, he’s nonetheless one of many sport’s greatest closers.
The important thing for Chapman is throwing strikes. Final season, he posted a profession low 6.6% stroll fee. I nonetheless have a tough time believing that he was capable of begin finding for the primary time in his profession as a result of he actaully began aiming, however regardless of the motive for his newfound management, it made him nearly unhittable. His fastballs, a four-seam and sinker, are what he’s recognized for. They averaged 98 and 99 mph, respectively,
He used a fastball and sinker most regularly; they averaged 98 and 99 mph, respectively, and had strike charges of 74% and 67%. The four-seam had a swinging strike fee of 15.6%, whereas the sinker had an insane 21.5% swinging strike fee. These two pitches accounted for about 75% of his choices, with extra four-seams early and sinkers late. Forward in counts, he turned to a slider that was untouchable, returning a 34% putaway fee and a whiff on about one in each three pitches. He additionally used a splitter that triggered hitters to chase at a 42% fee and whiff on one in each 4 pitches. The stuff is overpowering, and Chapman was within the zone sufficient to harness it. It’ll be laborious for him to publish one other 1.17 ERA, however he’ll deal with the ninth inning so long as he’s wholesome.
As dominant as Aroldis Chapman was in 2025, the mere proven fact that he’s Aroldis Chapman is inherently nerve-wracking. He might throw nothing however strikes for 2 months straight, I’d nonetheless be barely afraid he’ll fully lose management and begin handing out walks to everybody. With Garrett Whitlock, that isn’t the case.
Whitlock moved again to the bullpen full-time in 2025 and made 62 appearances with a 2.25 ERA. From August 19 via the tip of the common season, he didn’t permit an earned run. I cannot be elaborating on what occurred within the postseason.
He was equally efficient in opposition to each side of the plate, holding each lefties and righties to an OPS beneath .600. He each struck out and walked extra righties, however the variations had been negligible. Whitlock is a strike-throwing machine. Every of his three pitches maintain a strike fee over 65%, led by his sinker at 70%. The sinker, because of its form, features extra like a four-seam fastball. It has two-plane motion with excessive velocity and elite extension that enables it to overlook bats on the prime of the zone. Righties see his sinker about 50% of the time, whereas lefties see it about 40%. He makes use of a slider and a changeup as secondary pitches, 31% and 21%, respectively.
In opposition to righties, Whitlock goes to his slider most frequently, and it was glorious. The 2-strike chase fee was 35% whereas the putaway fee was 30%. He’s additionally one of many few pitchers on the Crimson Sox employees who makes use of a changeup in opposition to same-handed hitters. They predominantly got here with two strikes, however he’d often flip one in early to steal a strike. It was a stable providing and bought righties to increase the zone, however was fouled off greater than he’d like in two-strike counts. I’m most likely nitpicking, however his pitch plot reveals he might need been within the zone or too close to the zone, costing him whiffs. As I write this, I understand I’m criticizing a pitcher with a 30% strikeout fee. Ignore me.
Alright, focus again up. We’ve nonetheless bought his strategy in opposition to lefties to speak about. Lefties swing and miss at his sinker usually, although the contact is louder after they do join. His changeup is his go-to secondary pitch, and it’s principally nice. It generated a chase fee close to 50%, an 18% swinging strike fee, and a paltry 20% best contact fee. I say it was “principally” nice due to its efficiency with two strikes. In 54 two-strike counts, he solely recorded three strikeouts. Regardless of good areas, lefties both fouled the ball off or took pitches simply off the plate. His changeup is the one pitch he throws away from lefties, so throwing low two-strike fastballs may be capable of freeze opponents and make them respect the changeup. Once more, I’m nitpicking a 30% strikeout fee pitcher, however it’s a place to enhance. Whatever the changeup’s ineffectiveness in placing hitters away, his fastball and slider every pulled their weight. Every pitch had a putaway fee of 25%, permitting him to maintain that strikeout fee excessive.
Whitlock was one of the crucial dependable relievers in baseball and may proceed to be in 2026.
David Bednar was born in Pittsburgh and went to highschool in Japanese Pennsylvania earlier than transferring throughout the state to play faculty ball at Lafayette School. He walked out to Renegade by Styx when closing video games for the Pirates, they usually nonetheless traded him to the Yankees. Kinda tousled if you happen to ask me.
Bednar’s arsenal is just like Craig Kimbrel’s. It’s excessive 90s fastballs up, after which he’ll pull the string with a 75 mph within the filth and make you appear to be an fool. He struggled for a stretch in 2025 and was briefly demoted to the minor leagues, however was fully dominant upon returning. I’d like to be a fan of his, however he was compelled to placed on pinstripes, so I’ll wait till 2027 when he turns into a free agent.
Hoffman was up and down in 2025, most notably permitting a game-tying residence run within the ninth inning of Recreation 7 of the World Sequence. His fastball, slider, and splitter every miss bats at a excessive fee, however the fastball specifically was hit laborious in 2025. Walks had been a problem as effectively; Hoffman handed out free passes to 9.4% of hitters. He additionally surrendered 15 residence runs, though his 37.5% residence run per fly ball fee ought to regress to the imply in 2026. Whereas he’s slotted in because the Blue Jays’ nearer now, he is likely to be on a brief leash to start the season.
Ryan Helsley comes over to the American League East after spending the second half of the season with the New York Mets, the place he actually struggled. He throws as laborious as anybody, however opponents had been capable of deal with his fastball final season. Whereas his four-seam has all the time allowed some laborious contact, 2025 was an outlier when it comes to best contact fee. His slider is superb, returning a 23% swinging strike fee. The Orioles paid him like a better, so the ninth inning is probably going his to lose to begin the season. He’s a serious bounce-back candidate after a rocky 2025 season.
Edwin Uceta/Griffin Jax (TBR)
Pete Fairbanks took off for Miami, so the Rays have a gap behind their bullpen. Whereas they doubtless gained’t have a delegated nearer, Edwin Uceta and Griffin Jax are two names more likely to get late-game alternatives. Uceta throws a flat fastball from a near-sidearm launch with a loopy supply that provides hitters a extremely troublesome time, and follows it up with a changeup with nice fade. He will get a ton of strikeouts, however was susceptible to the house run ball in 2025. He additionally has a lingering shoulder damage that places his standing for opening day in query.
Jax came to visit from the Twins, and I do not know why Minnesota let him go. His sweeper and changeup every have swinging strike charges over 20%, whereas his fastball has a stable form and nice velocity. He leaves the ball over the plate some, which was punished in 2025, however his strikeout numbers are off the charts. Plainly the Rays need to use him within the bullpen, however you possibly can persuade me that he might reach a rotation. He’ll additionally signify Crew USA through the World Baseball Basic.
