Luis Yendis: RHP former A Rays - Team Colombia

 

 

 

 1. Could you tell us your story on dropping down?

My story started when I was with the Tampa Bay team in 2010, they decided to lower my angle only in 3 outings, then I returned to my normal angle because they said that I was too high for that again in 2015, I signed a contract in the Colombian league and the Piching Coach Daniel Mavarez told me that my arm was very flexible that if they had never lowered the angle, I said yes but not much and he told us to work on it, it helps a lot and you will be much longer and more likely to be in baseball since there are not many such pitchers from there.

 

 2. What are some of the advantages you have from your arm angle?

 the advantages are that my ball always has some movement especially the straight in sinker style and along my arm when he hits the batter he almost always sees the ball on top of him.

 3. If you didn't drop down, do you think you would have had the same success?

If I had maintained and developed even while I was with Tampa Bay, I think that if I had been more successful because throwing from that angle is not just a mechanic, it is a gift not everyone has an arm that can withstand throwing the ball that way.

 4. What would you tell someone debating on changing their arm angle?

The first thing you have to do is study the flexibility of your arm, since as I say that is a gift, many can practice it, but the arm may not hold much or be damaged by the type of arm angle

 

 5. Are there any mechanical tips that you'd give to someone throwing sidearm/submarine?

that they strengthen your abdominal part and lower back.  That you practice a lot of the arm extension since we need it even more because when leaving the arm only a little behind it would be 80% hitting the batter.

6. What pitches do you throw?

Sinker 88 87 mph
Slider 79 80mph
Change 83 84mph
Split finger 81 82 mph

  7. How do you pitch to lefties/righties?

Most of the time I try to use the plate.  I always move towards the inside of the batter, with the right-handers I use the Sinker and the Slider a lot.  To the left-handers I work almost always change and Split.

8. What is your favorite part about pitching from down there?

 What I like the most is the way they sometimes see the pitch inside and they swing and ends up hitting them. Then with the Slider they move away from the plate and fall in the middle.