O’s Snag Fujinami From A’s in Bid To Create Their Subsequent Lights-Out Reliever

I’m an enormous fan of buying and selling for reinforcements nicely forward of the commerce deadline. If you may add a bit that can make even a small distinction, then do it early if the deal is sensible. That is precisely what the Orioles have accomplished in buying Shintaro Fujinami from the A’s, including to what was already a league-best bullpen led by Félix Bautista and Yennier Cano. In return, Baltimore despatched 26-year-old prospect Easton Lucas to Oakland.

Before leaping into Fujinami’s profile and potential, let’s study a bit about Lucas. He initially got here to Baltimore’s system from Miami in a commerce for veteran infielder Jonathan Villar in December 2019. Since 2021, he has labored his means from High-A to Triple-A as a reliever, peaking at 56.2 innings final season. But after wanting the very best he has in his profession with a 2.66 FIP and 38.7 Ok% to start out the yr in Double-A, he’s struggled after stepping as much as Triple-A, with a 7.31 FIP and 4.61 ERA in 13 innings.

Even with these latest struggles, there’s cause to consider Lucas generally is a respectable center reliever within the massive leagues. Per Eric Longenhagen, his common fastball velocity has jumped considerably, from 90.7 mph to 94.5. He additionally makes use of two gradual breaking balls: a slider that was within the high-70s, and a curve that was within the mid-70s. But like his fastball, these pitches have seen a velocity leap as nicely; the curve has become a low-80s slider, and the previous slider has tightened as much as turn into a high-80s cutter. That is basically a 10-tick bump in each breaking balls. With these modifications, Lucas has additionally pale his changeup utilization. Long story quick, he’s now a four-seamer/cutter/slider man with a big stuff increase, giving him extra of a shot to be an enormous leaguer.

Let’s pivot again to Baltimore’s facet of issues. On the floor, Fujinami has been one of many worst pitchers in baseball this season. He started the yr as a starter and allowed 24 earned runs in below 15 innings, strolling nearly everybody he confronted. He has been a lot better since transferring to the bullpen, posting a 3.90 FIP in 34.1 innings, however a lot of that efficiency may be very latest. In May and June, he nonetheless had a FIP over 4.00 with a BB% north of 10.

After back-to-back tough performances on the finish of June in opposition to the Blue Jays and Yankees, Fujinami modified his pitch combine, and it appears as if he has settled in as a four-seamer/splitter pitcher. He used his cutter a couple of occasions in a latest look, but it surely’s clear that his plan is to make use of a two-pitch combine. How has that labored out? Let’s take a look at the four-seamer swinging-strike leaders in July:

Obviously the pattern dimension right here isn’t something important, however this bump deserves consideration. Despite constant four-seamer utilization — between the high-50s and low-60s — Fujinami’s four-seamer swinging-strike price hadn’t damaged 26% in any month. The pitch wasn’t efficient, but it surely has turn into a weapon in the previous few weeks.

As I already talked about, Fujinami has used a two-pitch mixture of late, however how have the fastball and splitter tailored since his latest surge? (I didn’t embody his velocity improve between these two time intervals as a result of that’s largely because of him not beginning; his fastball jumped two ticks and his splitter jumped one as a reliever.)

At 93.3 mph, no person throws a splitter more durable than Fujinami apart from Jhoan Duran. On prime of that, you may see some concrete modifications within the pitch’s form to make it play higher with the four-seamer. Most apparently, the 1:47 tilt on the pitch has moved nearer to the four-seamer’s motion. That complicates issues for hitters: if Fujinami is throwing each pitches out of comparable launch factors with indistinguishable tilt variations, hitters are going to have hassle both getting their barrel on the splitter or catching as much as the heater. The excessive velocity mixture doesn’t provide you with a lot wiggle room to determine the place every pitch is headed.

Let’s see what this appears like in observe. Here is an at-bat from final week in opposition to Alex Kirilloff:

Pitch 1 (0-0, four-seamer)

Pitch 2 (0-1, splitter)

Pitch 3 (0-2, splitter)

Pitch 4 (0-2, four-seamer)

From Fujinami’s perspective, it doesn’t get any higher than this. Kirilloff bought his greatest pitch to hit within the 0–0 depend and handed it up. After that, he had no probability. The 0–1 splitter is a pleasant instance of how even a bit little bit of distinction in motion and placement can have an effect on a hitter’s swing. The vertical orientation of the splitter was sufficient for Kirilloff to tug off and chop a foul ball. On the next pitch, Fujinami confirmed how he can induce a bit extra horizontal break than a hitter would count on from his launch level. It’s not overwhelming, but it surely’s sufficient to idiot Kirilloff and pressure an emergency hack. Then, on the ultimate pitch, he blew Kirilloff away with triple digits above the zone. This is ideal execution and sequencing, and it’s precisely what the Orioles will probably be in search of.

Baltimore has developed a terrific popularity with regards to serving to relievers get probably the most out of their stuff and physique. If anyone is provided to assist a high-octane reliever with a four-seamer/splitter mixture, it’s the Orioles. I wouldn’t be shocked if Fujinami finally ends up making a slight tweak or two upon his arrival, however I’m assured that may be centered on propping up the two-pitch combine that he has successfully established within the final couple of weeks.