PORT CHARLOTTE (WDAE) -- The Tampa Bay Rays have been known in the past to throw a wrinkle into how things are normally done. Tuesday, Rays fans in Port Charlotte saw something that brought pause.
Starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow, throwing his first live batting practice session of the spring, unveiled a new motion in his windup, which included a pause at the top of it. The tall right-hander explained after the session that the pause helps him gather himself at his center of gravity.
"My biggest thing has always been drifting too early, and for most tall guys that's kind of the case," Glasnow said. "So in order for me to get into my hips and feel right, the hesitation has really helped me a lot and that carries over into the quick step too, just feeling the right kind of hip patterning."
Glasnow says he's already seen good results from the hesitation.
"As I've been able to see through Rapsodo [pitch tracking technology] and stuff, my spin efficiency has gone up doing it and spin rate's gone up a little bit and velo's been good," the right-hander said. "So just something I've been doing all offseason and I'm going to stick with."
WEDNESDAY'S SCHEDULE: The Rays will hold their third of four full-squad workouts prior to Friday's Grapefruit League opener. Pitchers will again throw live batting practice, though Cash said Tuesday that LHP Blake Snell and RHP Charlie Morton will not be among the pitchers facing hitters because neither will pitch in the opening weekend of the Grapefruit League. Wednesday's practice will begin at 11:00 at Charlotte Sports Park, and will last approximately two hours.
Listen to comments from Cash, Glasnow, catcher Nick Ciuffo below!