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FORT MYERS — Pete Fairbanks mused about how Friday’s high humidity was similar to what the Rays will be playing in often this season at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa.
He complained that the Hammond Stadium infield grass was too soft as he fielded a grounder, keeping him from “the chance to make the greatest play of my professional career.”
And he threw a lot of strikes during a relatively smooth inning in the Rays' 13-6 loss to the Twins.
In other words, Fairbanks seemed pretty much back to normal.
“That was probably the bright spot of the day on the pitching side,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “He came in, and the (velocity) was there. The strike-throwing was a lot better. So, happy with that.”
After a rough outing March 6 in which he walked four of six batters and threw only eight strikes among 24 pitches, Fairbanks spent a week working on recalibrating his delivery.
That was complicated stuff, as he consulted not only with pitching coaches Kyle Snyder and Jorge Moncada but also Jillian Hawkins, the team’s applied physiologist.
Fairbanks discussed adjustments to his stride to increase hip flexion and monitoring the connection between his pelvis and landing foot, keeping notes on what worked.
He also changed his plyometric routine to better “get the central nervous system really firing,” which he said would “drive the motor patterning that I need to drive, versus the motor patterning that I unwittingly had played into.”
Whatever, it seemed to work.
Fairbanks threw 14 of his 21 pitches for strikes, allowed two hits and clocked 97 mph with his fastball. He also showed off an improved change-up he used to strike out the last batter, though by pitching the seventh inning he wasn’t facing any Twins regulars.
Still, after acknowledging “there is, like, a base level of frustration that I operate at,” he said he was pleased with his outing.
“I think it was a positive step for what I expect out of myself,” Fairbanks said. “We’re going to keep driving that patterning and go from there.”
Though he primarily uses his fastball-changeup combination, he is looking for opportunities to use the changeup more, and the strikeout was a good reward.
“That was another positive,” Fairbanks said
Cash liked it, too.
“I think the changeup is going to be a bigger weapon this year than what we’ve seen in the past,” he said. “I know he’s got some confidence with it. He’s thrown it probably more this spring than I anticipated him doing that.
“But him and Kyle and Jorge have gone back and forth. It’s a quality pitch when he’s able to throw it where he wants.”
The Rays still have 57 players in camp, though that number could shrink significantly by next week after the Rays navigate split-squad games Sunday in Port Charlotte and West Palm Beach, followed by a game Monday in Port St. Lucie and an off day Tuesday.
The most recent moves came Thursday, when the Rays reassigned right-hander Cole Wilcox to minor-league camp and released lefty Jake Brentz.
Wilcox is being converted from starter to reliever, and Cash said he has shown well, allowing runs in only one of his five outings. “The (velocity) has really spiked up,” Cash said. “There’s a lot of guys in player development that are happy to get him down there and see if he can get on a reliever routine.”
Cash said the Rays just “didn’t have innings” for Brentz, who saw big-league time with the Royals in 2021-22 but struggled with strike-throwing in the minors last year, walking 52 in 30 innings.
Reliever Edwin Uceta had a rough outing, allowing three hits and a walk, and hitting a batter. … Taj Bradley will throw on a minor-league field Saturday, while Drew Rasmussen works in the major-league game.
• • •
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He complained that the Hammond Stadium infield grass was too soft as he fielded a grounder, keeping him from “the chance to make the greatest play of my professional career.”
And he threw a lot of strikes during a relatively smooth inning in the Rays' 13-6 loss to the Twins.
In other words, Fairbanks seemed pretty much back to normal.
“That was probably the bright spot of the day on the pitching side,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “He came in, and the (velocity) was there. The strike-throwing was a lot better. So, happy with that.”
After a rough outing March 6 in which he walked four of six batters and threw only eight strikes among 24 pitches, Fairbanks spent a week working on recalibrating his delivery.
That was complicated stuff, as he consulted not only with pitching coaches Kyle Snyder and Jorge Moncada but also Jillian Hawkins, the team’s applied physiologist.
Fairbanks discussed adjustments to his stride to increase hip flexion and monitoring the connection between his pelvis and landing foot, keeping notes on what worked.
He also changed his plyometric routine to better “get the central nervous system really firing,” which he said would “drive the motor patterning that I need to drive, versus the motor patterning that I unwittingly had played into.”
Whatever, it seemed to work.
Fairbanks threw 14 of his 21 pitches for strikes, allowed two hits and clocked 97 mph with his fastball. He also showed off an improved change-up he used to strike out the last batter, though by pitching the seventh inning he wasn’t facing any Twins regulars.
Still, after acknowledging “there is, like, a base level of frustration that I operate at,” he said he was pleased with his outing.
“I think it was a positive step for what I expect out of myself,” Fairbanks said. “We’re going to keep driving that patterning and go from there.”
Though he primarily uses his fastball-changeup combination, he is looking for opportunities to use the changeup more, and the strikeout was a good reward.
“That was another positive,” Fairbanks said
Cash liked it, too.
“I think the changeup is going to be a bigger weapon this year than what we’ve seen in the past,” he said. “I know he’s got some confidence with it. He’s thrown it probably more this spring than I anticipated him doing that.
“But him and Kyle and Jorge have gone back and forth. It’s a quality pitch when he’s able to throw it where he wants.”
Roster status
The Rays still have 57 players in camp, though that number could shrink significantly by next week after the Rays navigate split-squad games Sunday in Port Charlotte and West Palm Beach, followed by a game Monday in Port St. Lucie and an off day Tuesday.
The most recent moves came Thursday, when the Rays reassigned right-hander Cole Wilcox to minor-league camp and released lefty Jake Brentz.
Wilcox is being converted from starter to reliever, and Cash said he has shown well, allowing runs in only one of his five outings. “The (velocity) has really spiked up,” Cash said. “There’s a lot of guys in player development that are happy to get him down there and see if he can get on a reliever routine.”
Cash said the Rays just “didn’t have innings” for Brentz, who saw big-league time with the Royals in 2021-22 but struggled with strike-throwing in the minors last year, walking 52 in 30 innings.
Miscellany
Reliever Edwin Uceta had a rough outing, allowing three hits and a walk, and hitting a batter. … Taj Bradley will throw on a minor-league field Saturday, while Drew Rasmussen works in the major-league game.
• • •
Sign up for the Sports Today newsletter to get daily updates on the Bucs, Rays, Lightning and college football across Florida.
Never miss out on the latest with your favorite Tampa Bay sports teams. Follow our coverage on Instagram, X and Facebook.
Continue reading...
