Rockies right-hander Cal Quantrill needed a difference-maker. He found it with his split-finger fastball.
Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Cal Quantrill delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh, Friday, May 3, 2024. “I was having good results, but it was becoming more difficult to strike out batters,” the Rockies right-hander explained. “There were too many times in a game when I needed a pitch to balance things out. My cutter was too hard as a secondary pitch. And my fastball and cutter could get a little bit jumpy at times.
This season, more pitchers are throwing the splitter, and its usage is up to 5.6%, according to FanGraphs. But it’s still not a staple. Quantrill has used the pitch 34% of the time this season, and adopting it has taken him to another level. And it’s made Rockies general manager Bill Schmidt look smart. The offseason trade with Cleveland that brought Quantrill to Colorado looks like a steal right now.
“I’m seeking about depth first, but I would love for it to run a bunch, too,” Quantrill said. “But that’s a bonus. Some guys can make the run move across the plate. It would be great to do that, but for now, I want thinking it’s a fastball and then have the pitch drop off the table.” Quantrill, who had a shoulder issue last season while pitching for the Guardians, says his shoulder feels “really good,” and he’s in one of the best places of his six-year career.
But Quantrill stuck with it and made it the focal point of his first spring training with the Rockies.Rockies manager Bud Black credits Quantrill’s personality for his success.
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