A's Jimenez thriving with mystery pitch
Thanks to curve, ex-Giant is flourishing in the bullpen
OAKLAND >> A smile split the face of Athletics relief pitcher Dany Jimenez even before the interpreter relayed the question.
What about that breaking pitch? Is it a curveball or a slider?
“It's a curveball,” Jimenez said Tuesday before the Athletics faced the Minnesota Twins at the Coliseum. “And it breaks down.”
Jimenez, 28, gave up his first earned run of the season in Monday night's 3-1 loss to the Twins, but it did little to diminish what he's accomplished during his first extended shot at being a major league pitcher. Jimenez has a 1-1 record and a microscopic 0.66 earned
run average in 13 2/3 innings. He's one of 14 relievers in the American League to allow one earned run or fewer and pitch at least 10 innings.
At 6-foot-1 and 182 pounds, the Dominican right-hander has been a mystery to right-handed batters, who are hitting .176 (6-for-34) against him. Left-handed batters aren't faring much better against Jimenez, hitting .222 (4-for18).
Called a “man of few words” by manager Mark Kotsay, Jimenez has displayed a serene presence that's enabled him to thrive in late innings with traffic on the bases. Batters are hitting .214 (3-for-13) with runners in scoring position and just .185 (5-for-27) with runners on base.
And while Kotsay has declined to name anyone his “closer,” it's clear Jimenez has climbed the ladder to the something approximating that role with six saves in six opportunities.
“He seems to have a very calm, collected mentality when he's out there, and that helps him in situations when the game's on the line and he's able to execute his pitches,” Kotsay said.
Jimenez can run his fastball into the mid-90s, which is pretty much standard practice in the majors these days. What sets him apart is a breaking pitch that takes a late downward dive with little lateral movement. It's not the big-breaking curve, nor is it the conventional cornerbiting slider.
Kotsay, asked about the pitch earlier in the year, was coy about saying exactly what it was, citing competitive advantage. He reacted similarly Tuesday before Jimenez spilled the beans in a pregame interview.
Baseball Savant still categorizes Jimenez's pitch as a slider, which he's thrown 59 percent of the time this season. The results of the pitch have been devastating for opponents, who are hitting a combined .038 (1-for38) against the pitch.
But it really doesn't matter much what the pitch is called. As long as Jimenez is throwing it over the plate, it's usually going to be a tough at-bat for the hitter.
A's infielder Kevin Smith, who played with Jimenez during two spots in the minors with the Toronto Blue Jays organization, described it this way:
“It's usually a slower 12to-6 curveball or a harder slider that slides to the side. Pitchers don't combine the two into a hard slider that goes straight down. I think that's what gives hitters such a hard time. It doesn't profile into pitches they've seen before. If you've never seen him before or only hit against him once or twice, it's tough.”
Signed by Toronto in 2015, Jimenez toiled in the minors with Toronto until the Giants signed him unprotected off the Blue Jays' roster. In just two games with San Francisco, Jimenez walked three batters, before being returned to Toronto. The A's claimed him off waivers in December of 2020 but also returned him the following March.
Jimenez has never had any problem missing bats. In six minor league seasons, Jimenez had a 3.22 ERA in 241 2/3 innings, giving up only 180 hits with 330 strikeouts. He also had 96 unintentional walks. Kirby Snead, an A's left-handed reliever and a teammate with Triple-A Buffalo, thought Jimenez seemed to put things together last season. Jimenez finished the season 3-3 in 39 appearances with a 2.22 ERA.
“He started off in a little slump and kind of figured himself out,” Snead said. “He's gotten more confidence and more comfortable with how he's supposed to pitch and it's awesome to see. He's always had great stuff.”
The A's signed Jimenez as a free agent last March and made the major league roster out of spring training as part of a massive bullpen rebuild. Jimenez said he never lost faith and being a major leaguer “was always my goal.”
His ascension comes as no surprise to Smith.
“He throws heaters by guys and he's got a crazy curveball that no one can see. He's always been really good, a swing-and-miss guy,” Smith said. “You knew he'd be in the big leagues it was just a matter of when.” NEUSE COULD PLAY WEDNESDAY >> Sheldon Neuse, the A's most consistent hitter who has missed two games with groin tightness, could be back in the lineup for Wednesday's getaway day game against the Twins.
“Sheldon and I just passed each other in the hallway. He says he feels really good, which is a good sign,” Kotsay said. “Sometimes these small, little issues can become large ones. I think we've done the right thing with Sheldon and it sounds like he'll be ready tomorrow.”
Neuse could also play Tuesday night in a pinchhitting role if necessary. AUSMUS AWAY >> The A's will be without bench coach Brad Ausmus until the Angels series begins in Anaheim Friday. Ausmus is attending commencement ceremonies for his daughter, who is graduating from NYU.
Kotsay said Mike Aldrete will assume Ausmus' role on the bench, with farm director Ed Sprague also on site.