ANAHEIM — Ryan Johnson is back in the big leagues, but he’s not quite the same Ryan Johnson who was with the Angels before.
Johnson’s average velocity on his sinker in the two games he’s pitched in relief in the past week was 90 mph. It was 93 mph in his start in the first week of the season, and it was 94 mph when he started last season in the majors. It was also 94 mph this spring.
Johnson insists that feels fine, so the loss of velocity is puzzling to the Angels.
“It’s something to look at,” Manager Kurt Suzuki said. “I know he was hurt with his hamstring and stuff, so it’s something that we’re looking at every day, seeing how we can help him.”
Johnson, 23, one of the Angels’ top pitching prospects, began the season in the rotation. He walked four batters in his only start of the season, on March 30 against the Chicago Cubs. He then went on the injured list because of an illness, and while he was out he tweaked his hamstring.
Johnson suggested the reduced velocity might be related to trying to improve his control after the way he started the season.
“I feel good,” Johnson said. “We can look at some things mechanically and see if there’s anything, but at the same time, it’s trying to compete and get outs and execute my pitches as best I can. The way I started out the year, it’s ‘hey, let’s focus on being under control.’ That’s the focus.”
The Angels’ choice to even have Johnson in the majors now raises some questions.
In spring training they decided he was one of their best healthy starters. Now, with the return of Grayson Rodriguez and the emergence of Walbert Ureña, the Angels don’t need Johnson in the rotation. Instead of having him working every five games as a starter at Triple-A, he’s in the major league bullpen, which Suzuki said over the weekend was because of their “need.”
While Johnson is here, the Angels will work to see if something with his mechanics is causing the drop in velocity.
“I’ve seen it happen before,” Suzuki said. “I’ve seen a guy perfectly healthy, and just one little thing (causes reduced velocity). It’s just like when you’re hitting. Why don’t I have power? Fix one little thing with your hip or whatever and all of the sudden you start hitting the balls to or over the wall. I think pitching is very similar. I’m not a pitching coach, but I’ve seen guys make a little tweak with their, I don’t know, hip load or whatever it is, and they then increase 2 to 3 miles an hour, and then you’re right back where you want to be.”
HOMER DROUGHT?
The Angels have only hit nine home runs in their past 14 games through Sunday after hitting 43 in their first 33 games. The Angels were fourth in the majors in homers after 33 games, but now they’re 11th.
“Having power comes and goes,” Suzuki said. “Are you missing the mistakes? Are you getting mistakes to hit in that at-bat?”
The walks have dried up at about the same time as the homers, which Suzuki said is not coincidence.
“With damage comes walks,” Suzuki said. “You get damage, then pitchers are a little more hesitant to throw the ball in the zone, which tends to lead to more walks. I expect once our power starts showing up and our offense gets going a little bit, I expect more walks to come and everything starts clicking.”
Suzuki said the hitters are not just working on hitting more homers, though.
“They’re working on using the whole field and maybe shortening up with two strikes and things,” Suzuki said.
NOTES
Right-handers Tyler Bremner and Chase Shores have both been building back up at Class-A Tri-City after being down with an illness, the Angels say. The two are roommates. Bremner, the Angels’ top prospect, has a 1.50 ERA in his first five games of the season, with 28 strikeouts and six walks in 18 innings. …
Vaughn Grissom said he’s expecting his new outfield glove to be delivered this week. Suzuki said last week that Grissom has been working out in the outfield to give him more versatility.
UP NEXT
Athletics (LHP Jacob López, 3-2, 5.80 ERA) at Angels (LHP Reid Detmers, 1-4, 4.38 ERA), Tuesday, 6:38 p.m., ABTV, 830 AM