Jerry Keel
LHP AAA Padres
1. Could you tell us your story on dropping down?
I have always thrown from a 3/4 slot and then when I got to college I started throwing from a lower 3/4 slot
2. What are some of the advantages you have from your arm angle?
The advantages I get from my arm slot are that I get a lot more sink and run to my 2-seam FB and it makes it a lot tougher for left handed hitters to be comfortable in the batters box
3. If you didn't drop down, do you think you would have had the same success?
I believe I wouldn’t have been as effective throughout my career from college to now pro baseball but my drop down was not drastic, just lowered it a bit
4. What would you tell someone debating on changing their arm angle?
I would tell do whatever feels natural, for me I did not go and look to drop down it just happen over my career as I got older
5. Are there any mechanical tips that you'd give to someone throwing sidearm/submarine?
Make sure you really stay close as long as you can I know for me I tend to fly open from time to time and have my ball go way more arm side than I intended.
6. What pitches do you throw?
I throw a 2-seam (sinker) FB, 4-seam that I use to go in on right handed hitters, a slider, changeup and curveball, and my FB is anywhere from 89-92 topping out at 94 last year, my slider is 79-84, changeup is 84, and curveball is 70-72
7. How do you pitch to lefties/righties?
Righties I more so look to get them out early with my sinker away and changeup off that and get ground balls, lefties I take the same approach but know I can strike them out more often than a righty, and they will see more sliders as well.
8. Lastly what is your favorite part about pitching from down there?
My favorite part for me is to see the action it allows me to get on my sinker as well as my changeup.