Parker Frazier
Former AAA RHP Several teams
1. Could you tell us your story on dropping down?
I had 10 years of playing professional and I had come off shoulder surgery. I got back to completely healthy and emailed all 30 teams saying I was back and ready to go and I got 30 rejection emails or calls from all 30 clubs. I had a few coordinators ask me to drop down later in my career due to the fact they thought I can handle maintaining my control and breaking ball. I tried it out for about a week in 2017 and I asked a few scouts if they could come watch me and let me know if I had what it took to pitch down there. I ended up sitting 85-86 that day just under my normal 88-91. I worked for about a month and then I signed with an independent ball team to see if it would work and in the first game I was 88-92 so I thought I could compete with this arm angle with that velocity.
2. What are some of the advantages you had from your arm angle?
I felt like I was very deceptive in the fact that I maintained a consistent break on my slider and it was late and hard. I made batter uncomfortable with my arm slot and got late movement as well.
3. If you didn't drop down, do you think you would have had the same success?
I did have success without dropping down and I do wish I went down a little earlier in my career. I found out with my arm being able to throw there once my stint as a reliever was about to happen I think I could have used my last portion of my career to drop and throw the same velocity.
4. What would you tell someone debating on changing their arm angle?
Do it for the right reasons. If it is better for your body and success on the mound I would always recommend moving arm slots to see if you would have more success. I think lowering an arm slot Is because you cant get velocity and need to create deception.
5. Are there any mechanical tips that you'd give to someone throwing sidearm/submarine?
It’s a full body delivery. You cant use the same mechanics as a normal pitcher and your body has to match your arm angle.
6. What pitches did you throw?
FB 88-92 SL 80-83
7. How did you pitch to lefties/righties?
I pitched both the same way but being side arm, you need to pitch in to lefties because they will dive more.
8. What was your favorite part about pitching from down there?
Making people buckle. I haven’t made someone buckle since high school and I had batters moving out of the way and stepping in the bucket. The reactions after I threw my slider were the best parts of being sidearm.