Impressed by Shohei Ohtani, Angels pitcher Tucker Davidson breaks out new slider

Tucker Davidson, one of many pitchers Angels supervisor Phil Nevin mentioned is within the combine for the ultimate rotation spot, added a sweeper slider to his repertoire.

It’s a outstanding addition that he’s been engaged on for months, utilizing a special pitch grip that he’s seen considered one of his MVP teammates display.

“I take advantage of (Shohei Ohtani’s) grip, so hopefully it provides me some Shohei outs, you understand,” Davidson mentioned jokingly.

Davidson confirmed off that new sweeper slider a number of instances through the Angels’ Cactus League opener in opposition to the Seattle Mariners, managing some strike calls and a whiff of the 80-mile-per-hour pitch.

When Davidson was traded to the Angels on final yr’s deadline, the workers observed that his slider began transferring extra within the palm of his hand. To assist him get extra punch, the workers needed him to maneuver his grip on the seams to his fingertips so he may pull the ball down extra.

“That was one thing I needed to get comfy with,” Davidson mentioned after his two excellent innings on Saturday. “After which this low season was okay. I do know what I’m searching for, that feeling after which simply getting that extension and repeating it.”

The sweeper slider virtually seems like a curveball, and together with his work at Driveline and mentoring the Angels coming on this season, he feels inspired by it.

“I noticed Shohei throw sliders within the zone,” Davidson mentioned, “and guys simply flew at him, like they waved at it and I used to be like, ‘How do you do this?’ After which this yr I watched a variety of his outings, like, “How do you get guys out?”

“I used to be like, ‘How do you utilize your slider, your slider is so good’… and I simply checked out him and actually noticed that slider. I used to be like, ‘I believe I can do this.’”

Angels win spring coaching opener

The Angels took an early lead of their Cactus League opener on Saturday in opposition to the Seattle Mariners on the Peoria Sports activities Complicated, profitable 5-1.

Within the second inning, Jo Adell hit a two-run house run to set the Angels on fireplace.

Adell mentioned he has been working with new hitting coach Marcus Thames and assistant hitting coach Phil Plantier on counts and staying affected person within the field.

The sport lasted 2 hours and 16 minutes due to the addition of the pitch clock.

No arduous emotions

Nevin mentioned he was not disrespecting former Angels All-Star pitcher Jered Weaver by not inviting him to spring coaching this yr as a visitor.

Weaver appeared irritated that he wasn’t invited to Angel’s spring camp, in a tweet he posted Friday night.

“I don’t imply to offend Jered, I like him, he’s an incredible man, he was an incredible angel,” Nevin mentioned in response. “It’s not one thing we wouldn’t take a look at sooner or later.”

Nevin clarified that apart from Albert Pujols, who works for the Angels because the membership’s particular assistant, he invited alumni of the 2002 World Sequence profitable workforce, in addition to his previous teammates.