SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Justin Verlander is aiming for a comeback season with the San Francisco Giants. And part of that process might involve coming down.
A few inches, anyway.
“It just kept creeping higher and higher and getting more tilted,” Verlander said of his vertical release point, which has ranked as the highest among major-league starting pitchers in each of his full seasons since 2017. “I’m definitely an outlier. But I don’t need to be as high as I was. I’m working on it. We’ll see.”
Verlander, a three-time Cy Young Award winner and nine-time All-Star, is exceptional in any number of respects. That includes the extreme height at which he releases the baseball. His average release point was 83.6 inches when he won his most recent Cy Young with the Houston Astros in 2022. It ticked up to 83.9 inches in 2023. He was up to 85.5 inches last year, surpassing 7 feet for the first time in his career, while attempting to compensate for a neck injury that left him with a 5.48 ERA in 17 starts and no place on Houston’s postseason roster.
How much of an outlier is Verlander’s release height? Consider that his average release point last season was 8.3 inches higher than that of new Giants teammate Sean Hjelle, who stands 6-foot-11 in socks.
Giants pitching coach J.P. Martinez explained that Verlander’s unique mechanics work for him because his release point creates a steep vertical approach angle to his slider, which is effective because of its downward movement. And it makes his four-seam fastball more effective because the pitch starts high and stays on plane.
“When you have that high release, it’s like playing keep away with the heater,” Martinez said. “It makes it tough for hitters to get on top of that pitch. There’s no way for them to tailor their swing to hit it. It’s like an up-and-away hot basketball against righties. It’s a pitch that beats you with the (velocity) and the shape and the release. And if you have some depth-y pitches off that, whether it’s a slider or curveball or changeup, then it’s really tough for a hitter to cover both (up and down).”
The problem with Verlander’s release point reaching new heights last season is that it might have begun to take some of the finish off his slider. So he and Martinez are working this spring to reduce the right-hander’s release height to 82 inches — still likely to be the highest among major-league starters but perhaps a sweeter spot to maximize all his pitch shapes.
It’s a work in progress but there were positive signs in Verlander’s exhibition debut on Monday. His fastball velocity held steady at 94 mph and touched 96, which was a welcome sight at this point in the ramp-up stage and an improvement on his average four-seam velocity of 93.5 mph last season. His sliders on Monday were less effective and one of them resulted in a home run to Colorado Rockies slugger Michael Toglia. The pitch also served as Verlander’s unofficial welcome to the Cactus League after he’d spent his entire 19-year career reporting to spring training in Florida.
“The ball just never came down,” Verlander said. “I wasn’t sure if it would go out or not and it went out by a fair bit. … I was told not to over-concern yourself with pitch shapes here, but I’m hypercritical. … Everyone’s like, ‘Hey man, it’s different out here.’ But you’ve still got to be honest with yourself.”
The Giants are penciling in Verlander to start the second game of the season at Cincinnati on March 29, which would line him up to start the Giants’ April 6 home opener against the Seattle Mariners. Much has been made of the impact he is having on his new staff mates in spring camp. But the Giants are counting on Verlander to be much more than a mentor and drawing card. They need him to be a co-ace with Logan Webb to compete in the rigorous National League West.
Martinez is encouraged by what he’s seen thus far.
“We’ve talked a little bit about it: Things change in your delivery over time and you have to set up some guardrails to keep the best version of it,” Martinez said. “He spent a lot of time on his mobility this offseason so mechanics and his shoulder aren’t an issue. But sometimes you learn patterns when you’re hurt that carry over to when you’re healthy again. So most of his work in the offseason and in the early going here is feeling out what’s the best delivery for him.
“It was just good to see him have two strong innings velo-wise, and have more in the tank at the end. So I know he’ll be excited to get out there next time.”
When Verlander turned 42 last Thursday, the Giants rookie sang “Happy Birthday” to him in their morning meeting and third baseman Matt Chapman rolled him onto the patio in a wheelchair. Team participation was robust that night for a laser tag battle that Verlander had organized for the group. It wasn’t intended as a birthday outing, he said. Regardless, his new teammates weren’t inclined to take it easy on him.
Is Verlander still any good at laser tag?
“It seems no,” he said, smiling. “The guys made it fun. it’s like anything. It’s a group of people and if they get into it, it’s going to be a good time. I appreciate the attitude from the guys. It was a blast.”
Bryce Eldridge is asking several questions about the finer points of playing first base, according to special instructor J.T. Snow. (Andy Kuno / San Francisco Giants / Getty Images)
The Giants are easing top hitting prospect Bryce Eldridge into Cactus League action as a designated hitter and he’ll get his first start on Tuesday. But Eldridge’s first base mitt is receiving plenty of action as well.
Special instructor J.T. Snow arrived in camp over the weekend and the six-time Gold Glove first baseman has Eldridge as his disciple. The 20-year-old prospect received individualized early work with Snow, third-base coach Matt Williams and emeritus infield coach Ron Wotus — more than 100 years of baseball experience between the three of them — doing drills and picking balls in the dirt while also going over the basics of positioning.
Eldridge is a special talent with the bat. His major-league readiness is likely to be predicated on when he gains proficiency as a first baseman. While there’s plenty of work to be done, Snow expressed confidence that Eldridge’s time will be soon.
“He’s engaging, he asks good questions,” Snow said. “He’s a great kid and to think, he’s only 20. We’ve been keeping it simple, basic stuff. He was a pitcher and DH in high school, so I’ve been impressed. He’s been doing well. He’s been an open mind. You can tell he believes in himself, and at that age, that’s good.
“His instincts are really good. His setup and positioning when he gets ready for a pitch, I was impressed.”
Eldridge is 6-foot-7 so he’ll be challenged to get down to field ground balls. But Snow said the tools and athleticism are there.
“Patience is the biggest thing,” Snow said. “He’s young and learning a position. But he’s further along than I thought. He’s kind of a clean slate, which is good. He doesn’t have any bad habits yet.”
Catcher Tom Murphy was diagnosed with a herniated disc and was receiving an epidural injection. Manager Bob Melvin acknowledged that it’s likely Murphy will open the season on the injured list, which would give the Giants a choice between non-roster invitee Max Stassi and Sam Huff to back up Patrick Bailey.
(Top photo of Justin Verlander: Andy Kuno / San Francisco Giants / Getty Images)
