VIDEO: Lucas Giolito Explaining the Art of the Changeup is Offseason Gold for White Sox Fans
By Nick Porr
Sometimes, a pitcher throws an off-speed pitch so well that you're led to question whether or not it's even possible for a ball to move the way it just did. Chicago White Sox fans are in luck, as 2019 All-Star Lucas Giolito has given them treat by describing the art and science behind his changeup in a recent interview with Rob Friedman, a.k.a. "Pitching Ninja."
Lucas Giolito's Changeup Grip. ?
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 13, 2020
-How it's different from Castillo's or Strasburg's release
-Why Giolito doesn't care if it has ride to it/throws it up in the zone (contrary to what most coaches look for)
From @LGio27's interview w/ me & @JRudd_Scout (will be out soon!) pic.twitter.com/zNj3FrudW1
Giolito will surely be Chicago's staff ace if/when the 2020 MLB Season gets started. In 2018, Giolito disappointed with a 6.13 ERA in his first full season in the bigs. That number was almost halved to a 3.41 ERA with a huge turnaround in 2019.
That leap was largely due to an increase in use and accuracy of his changeup.
Look at the massive difference in consistency in Giolito's changeup release point, 2018-19. pic.twitter.com/spXifMtspC
— Mike Petriello (@mike_petriello) June 6, 2019
It's a gift for White Sox fans to peek behind the curtain and see how Giolito works his magic. By releasing the pitch like it's a fastball and letting the ball hang more, he leaves batters whiffing and wondering what hit them.
Lucas Giolito, 80mph Changeup and 95mph Fastball, Overlay pic.twitter.com/6QAzqQdlpw
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 21, 2019
Looking at his fastball and changeup side by side, there's not a lot of differences between the two as they approach the plate. That similarity make it difficult for batters to discern what's coming at them, leading to plenty of sneaky strikes.