Rockies pitcher Jordan Lyles has seen a rise in strikeouts this spring largely due to his split-finger changeup, a pitch he developed last summer and honed during the offseason, MLB.com reports.
"Of my strikeouts this spring, I want to say 75 percent [of the put-away pitches] have been changeups," Lyles said. "That tells me it's a little more difficult to see. I don't necessarily think I'm a strikeout pitcher now just because of that one pitch, but it adds something for the hitter to respect. A good changeup can make the other pitches better."
Lyles has been a ground-ball pitcher throughout his career but has a 1-to-1 ground-to-fly ratio this spring. However, the changeup can allow him to put batters away and not extend at-bats.
"It was primarily to keep hitters off his fastball and create more margin for error," Weiss said. "He's embraced [the changeup]. It's become more than that. It's become a pitch he can finish hitters with so the at-bats don't get extended against him -- foul ball, foul ball, foul ball, and now you're at eight- and nine-pitch at-bats."
Lyles has surrendered two runs (one earned) in seven innings this spring.