GLENDALE, Ariz. — Justin Verlander wanted to try something new. He often does.
Verlander became interested in the Giants’ internal Hawkeye tools, which can be used to help pitchers generate more movement with their pitches. With Verlander pitching a simulated game in Scottsdale on Saturday afternoon while the Giants played the Dodgers on the road, Verlander used the low-leverage environment to try a modified curveball, one featuring more sweep. Verlander hadn’t worked on this curveball for weeks. He hadn’t even worked on it for days.
“He just decided to try it this morning,” said pitching coach J.P. Martinez with a smile.
With an experimental curveball in tow, Verlander threw three innings against Giants’ minor leaguers (plus Willy Adames) at Papago Park in Scottsdale while San Francisco lost to Los Angeles at Camelback Ranch in Glendale. Verlander could very well never use his modified curveball against real competition, but Saturday provided another sliver into how Verlander has endured two decades after his debut.
“He’s doing stuff every day,” said manager Bob Melvin after the Giants’ 6-5 loss to the Dodgers. “Whether it’s mechanics or a new pitch, there’s just a million things the guy works on. … I wouldn’t say it surprises me, but it surprises me that he’s willing to tinker with the success he’s had. He’s always trying to get better.”
“That’s probably the thing I’ve been most impressed with: he is in his 20th season and is a surefire Hall of Famer and he still wants to get better,” Martinez said. “Wants to work on his lower half, wants to add a pitch, wants to pitch to different parts of the zone. That’s been a really cool example to set for all the younger guys to see a guy that is so accomplished still wanting to get better.”
There was no shortage of younger guys on hand for Verlander’s sim game, many eager to witness the future Hall of Famer. The six minor leaguers who faced Verlander — Carter Howell, James Tibbs III, Dakota Jordan, Jhonny Level, Jonah Cox, Jesus Alexander — went a combined 0-for-6 with four strikeouts. Verlander, 42, not only struck out Level, 17, on three pitches, but pitched him backwards, too, starting Level off with a changeup before dumping in a curveball and overpowering him with a fastball.
The minor leaguers couldn’t touch Verlander, but the right-hander still ended up allowing two earned runs over his three innings (42 pitches) of work. That was due entirely to Adames, who faced Verlander five times and ended up with a solo homer, an RBI double and a walk.
Adames wasn’t just swinging the bat, but providing real time feedback to Verlander as well. After Adames homered in their first meeting, Verlander got Adames to ground out in the second. Adames told Verlander that his slider looked like a heater; Verlander replied, “Perfect.” Adames isn’t accustomed to this type of success against Verlander, who has held him to one hit in nine at-bats in major-league games.
“Willy and him have a pretty checkered history in terms of how many times they’ve seen each other,” Martinez said. “Willy was talking about some of his at-bats with Tampa from 2019, which he knew every pitch. He remembered them all. I thought it was impressive. It’s really cool to watch him and Justin interact.”
The next few weeks will determine whether Verlander’s altered curveball will still be in his repertoire on April 4, the day of the Giants’ home opener against the Seattle Mariners. Verlander is currently in line to be San Francisco’s first starter to toe the slab at Oracle Park, a venue he has not pitched at since Game 1 of the 2012 World Series.
“It’s a great honor, especially for a new ballclub,” Verlander said. “We’ve got a long way to go until then. … I try not to take these Opening Days for granted. They’re pretty special events. All the fanfare and excitement. It’s always pretty amazing. My first one ever in Kansas City, I had a B2 bomber fly over. It was sick. The more perspective I get in the game, the more I really try to soak it all in and appreciate it.”
On the subject of appreciation, Verlander provided some kind words for the Oakland Coliseum, the former venue of the A’s.
“I love that stadium,” Verlander said. “That stadium was pretty raucous. Rest in peace.”
Koss continues impressive spring
Christian Koss is a long shot to make the Giants’ Opening Day roster, but the 27-year-old shortstop continued his impressive spring on Saturday by making several highlight defensive plays and going 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored. Through eight games, Koss is 4-for-12 with one homer, two doubles and two RBIs.
“He’s playing with a lot of confidence,” Melvin said. “We’re giving him some reps right now. It’s nice to see because we’re putting an emphasis on defense and he’s played great defense at every position he’s been at.”
Worth noting
- Left-handed reliever Erik Miller didn’t throw his live bullpen session as planned due to being sick.
- Robbie Ray, who unveiled a new changeup in his last outing, will pitch on Sunday against the Angels. Keaton Winn will make his Cactus League debut after Ray and pitch an inning.