It’s not loopy to see somebody make the soar from an amazing reliever to an elite reliever. Yearly, there are a handful of stellar reduction seasons that we merely simply didn’t see coming. I used to be a fan of Alexis Díaz after his stellar 2022 debut (1.84 ERA, 3.32 FIP, 32.5 Ok%), however I didn’t count on him to be this dominant, as he’s taken large steps ahead in roughly each stat. What’s behind it?

With regards to pitching growth, it’s necessary to be distinctive; you don’t wish to seem like or throw like anyone else. In the event you’re going to be elite, you could discover what makes you particular and lean into it. For Díaz, his outlier talent is his capability to launch the ball nearer to the plate than anyone on the earth from an unorthodox angle. He doesn’t have overwhelming velocity, but his four-seamer is among the greatest within the sport, and the extension is a large purpose for it. It’s as if the ball is being shot at you from a little bit league distance by a softball pitching machine.

Right here’s how Díaz’s launch level compares to different pitchers with comparable extension:

Focusing first on launch level, you’ll see that not one of the different 4 pitchers on this small cohort will get their arm as little as the Reds nearer. Mix this with top-tier extension and constantly being up within the zone, and you’ve got the reason for a way Díaz’s Vertical Strategy Angle (VAA) is so flat in comparison with these on this listing. Horizontally talking, solely Jordan Romano is as far towards the third baseline, however Díaz’s low slot arm angle could be very totally different for hitters in comparison with Romano’s. By way of spin axis, solely Devin Williams is considerably near Díaz. The opposite three pitchers are extra excessive. From a pitch design perspective, that might be supreme for constructing the right four-seamer, however as you possibly can see, being totally different is strictly how Díaz has been profitable.

Stepping away from extension as the primary benchmark and pivoting to vertical launch level, it turns into even clearer than Díaz is in a league of his personal. Nick Sandlin, Paul Sewald, and Seth Martinez are the one different overhand pitchers who’ve such a low arm slot, however none of them compete with Díaz’s a hundredth percentile extension. On high of that, all of them throw their fastballs within the low-90s relatively than Díaz’s mid-90s. (Maybe not coincidentally, the most effective comparability for his launch level is his brother Edwin.)

With regards to evaluating pitchers, it’s necessary to put out how the pitcher is exclusive via the lens of numbers and measurements. However what’s equally necessary is seeing the sequencing in a dwell at-bat. As a two-pitch pitcher, Díaz isn’t shocking hitters all that a lot; you both get the heater or the slider. But it surely’s nonetheless necessary to maneuver your two pitches across the zone to set them up, and that’s precisely what I wish to present you. I’ll begin with an at-bat in opposition to the reigning NL MVP, Paul Goldschmidt.

Pitch 1 (0-0 rely, 4-seamer)

Pitch 2 (0-1 rely, 4-seamer)

Pitch 3 (0-2 rely, slider)

Pitch 4 (1-2 rely, slider)

Pitch 5 (2-2 rely, slider)

That is what I name carving up a hitter. After beginning with a painted four-seamer inside, Díaz follows up with a heater proper down Broadway. Most of these whiffs are completely consultant of how particular his fastball is; Díaz has the higher hand in opposition to elite hitters even when he challenges them within the coronary heart of the zone as a result of it’s not a pitch you’re accustomed to seeing.

Now that he’s forward within the rely, Díaz may go even increased with a four-seamer or change speeds with a slider. He opted for 3 consecutive sliders. The primary buckled Goldschmidt, and whilst you might consider this as a backed-up slider, Díaz routinely will get these kind of takes inside in opposition to righties as a result of the pitch tunnels so effectively along with his four-seamer. After losing the 1–2 providing, the subsequent slider was within the zone, and Goldschmidt had no probability.

Now let’s pivot to an at-bat in opposition to the left-handed hitting Christian Yelich:

Pitch 1 (0-0 rely, 4-seamer)

Pitch 2 (1-0 rely, 4-seamer)

Pitch 3 (1-1 rely, 4-seamer)

Pitch 4 (2-1 rely, slider)

Pitch 5 (2-2 rely, 4-seamer)

Luke Maile might not have been organising on within the interior third, however it’s clear that’s the place Díaz wished to dwell in opposition to Yelich. He missed two fastballs simply inside to start out the at-bat and on 1–1 however went down the center of the plate in between; Yelich didn’t look comfy on any of these pitches. Then on 2–1, Díaz bought a chase and whiff on a slider beneath the zone. Getting a hitter to broaden when they’re forward within the rely on a breaking ball is just not a straightforward process, not to mention a hitter with a 76th percentile chase price. With a 2–2 rely, Díaz as soon as once more discovered himself within the driver’s seat and went again to the fastball, fooling Yelich with a scorching four-seamer on the low-inside nook. With a low launch level and very flat VAA, known as strikes on this location may be frequent if a pitcher can spot it right here. It’s one purpose why Díaz is so efficient in opposition to left-handed hitters.

As we gear up for the second half of the season, the Reds will want Díaz to proceed his dominance in the event that they hope to carry up their playoff probabilities. Constantly successful shut video games will likely be essential for a workforce counting on a lineup stuffed with rookies. Fortunately for them, he has confirmed he’s effectively geared up to deal with the ninth and carve up the center of any workforce’s lineup. In the event you’re going to wager on anyone to shut video games for you throughout a playoff push, you possibly can’t go improper a Díaz brother.