DENVER -- Flint Wallace is in the early stages of adding his touch to the approaches of the Rockies’ Major League and Minor League pitchers -- in a socially distant manner, of course.
The Rockies hired Wallace, 46, as coordinator of pitching strategies. He was most recently player development director at the highly regarded Texas Baseball Ranch operation that works with players across all levels. Wallace replaces Steve Merriman, who recently accepted the pitching coach job at the University of Michigan -- his fourth stint on the Wolverines’ staff.
Wallace will split his time in the Majors and Minors. He’ll help Major League pitchers with strategic approaches. Throughout the system, Wallace is in charge of developing individualized programs that include not only strategy and mechanics, but training and preparation.
The COVID-19 pandemic presents an immediate challenge. In a normal offseason, Wallace and many staff members would already be hosting sessions in the Rockies’ "pitching lab" -- mounds at the Spring Training complex that are equipped with the latest technology to produce detailed data in real time.
“I’m extremely excited to be working with the Rockies -- a fantastic organization, and everybody I’ve dealt with has been first-class, from the GM to the players,” Wallace said Tuesday. “I’ve been getting in touch and getting to know all the coaches, and touching base with players through Zoom calls, putting faces with the names.”
Wallace’s hiring continues a process that the Rockies began quietly in the Minors, then accelerated last season with the promotion of Merriman to a position that combined coaching and the use of the advanced tools. Despite the 26-34 record, advanced numbers showed clear improvement by starting pitchers.
Lefty Kyle Freeland’s increased use of his changeup (12.5% in 2019, 25.3% in ’20, per Statcast) was a major factor in him increasing his ERA+ from 77 to 122 (100 is considered MLB average). MLB Quality of Pitch also shows that Freeland’s change and curve each went from below average to above.
According to MLB Quality of Pitch, the quality of righty Antonio Senzatela’s changeup went from the bottom 36% among Major League pitchers in 2019 to the top 18% in ’20. Senzatela’s changeup location went from the bottom 34% to the top 5%. And Senzatela lowered his ERA from 6.71 in ’19 to 3.44 in ’20.
Right-hander Germán Márquez, who posted a 3.75 ERA and a 140 ERA+, tried to reverse a reluctance to throw elevated fastballs to the arm side as the year progressed. The Rockies believe that area -- especially up and in against right-handed batters -- could increase the pitches that are most effective: fastballs and sliders to the glove side.