Kansas City, Mo. — It’s an odd conversation to have when you think about it.
Gregory Soto, the Tigers’ lefty closer, has dominated hitters at every level with a heavy, 98-mph sinker and a wipeout slider. Why are we talking about adding another pitch to his mix?
“He’s an uncomfortable at-bat from the get-go for most guys,” Tigers manager AJ Hinch said Thursday. “But he has areas to tweak just like everybody else.”
Like, what if he complemented his sinker and slider, two pitches that he throws down in the strike zone for the most part, with a four-seam fastball up in the zone? The four-seamer, at 98 mph, is in his tool bag. He threw it 7% of the time last year and hitters were 2-for-21 with 14 strikeouts against it.
Going into the game in Kansas City on Thursday, Soto had only faced 12 hitters this season, but he’s also only punched out one. Could showing the elevated four-seamer a little more often help keep hitters, especially those with steep launch-angel swings, more honest and off the pitches down in the zone?
“It’s definitely something we’ve talked about before,” catcher Tucker Barnhart said. “He’s only had a couple of outings, but he likes to use it to his glove side – going into a right-handed hitter and away from a lefty…With the velocity he has, being able to pitch up in the zone could be something he feels is necessary, something he could use and be successful with.”
Soto also developed a change-up this offseason and used it this spring. He has yet to unveil it this season, though.
“Fortunately, I’ve been very successful with the sinker and slider,” Soto said, through Tigers bilingual interpreter Carlos Guillen. “But my goal is to change the mindset of the hitter, change his mentality. Like, there is another pitch he has to think about.”
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The four-seamer is a little more difficult for Soto to throw because of his natural arm action. As Barnhart said, Soto’s ball runs on him quite a bit. There have times when he’s tried to throw the four-seam and it’s come out with two-seam action, which is counterproductive.
“Not every pitch is for everybody,” Hinch said. “I wouldn’t want to take away from his strength to only marginally use another pitch. His arm angle does make it a little more difficult to get true four-seam carry. But it doesn’t mean it’s impossible.”
Barnhart made the point, too, that if something isn’t broke, maybe leave it be.
“The two pitches he uses are elite,” he said. “It’s really hard when you’re out there and the game is on the line to deviate from that. We used the four-seam a lot in spring training and it was good. I assume there will be a situation here in the relatively short term when you might see that come out.”
Soto agreed.
“I’m pretty sure when I need it, if I need it, I will use it,” he said.
Classic Greinke
Hinch told a hilarious story about Zack Greinke, the veteran right-hander the Tigers’ faced Thursday night. Hinch managed Greinke in Houston.
One night in Milwaukee, Greinke, who was one of the best-hitting pitchers in the game, ripped a two-out single.
“Greinke gets on first and (George) Springer is up and he takes off, he’s going to steal second,” Hinch said. “And he’s out by 10 feet, maybe 15 feet. Third out of the inning.”
Greinke stayed on the field, got the Brewers out in the bottom half of the inning and then came back to a bewildered coaching staff in the Astros’ dugout.
“He came in and my bench coach Joe Espada goes in the tunnel with him and is like, ‘What the heck?'” Hinch said. “And Greinke goes, ’10-10.’ Joe’s like, ’10-10? What is that?’
“And Greinke says, ‘Do you how many pitchers have 10 homers and 10 stolen bases?'”
Too funny. Greinke, now that his hitting days are over thanks to the universal DH, will likely finish his career with nine homers and nine stolen bases.
Grossman antsy
Tigers outfielder Robbie Grossman (hip soreness) was on the field at 2 p.m. Thursday stretching, running and doing agility exercises under the watchful gaze of head athletic trainer Doug Teter. Grossman also took batting practice in the cage.
But he was not in the lineup again.
“I feel good,” Grossman said. “We’ll see where I’m at and see what happens tomorrow.”
If Grossman can’t play Friday, Hinch said he’d likely be placed on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to Tuesday when he jammed his hip sliding back into first base on a play where he was doubled up.
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“That’s not something I’m wanting to do,” Grossman said of going on the IL. “I’m making my way to getting back into the lineup. Today was a big step.”
Hinch wasn’t ready to commit to anything.
Around the horn
…Shortstop Javy Baez (right thumb) was scratched about an hour before game time for the second straight day. He was in the lineup Thursday, but apparently reaggravated the sore thumb during batting practice. Harold Castro started in his place.
…The Tigers continue to add to their pitching depth, signing 31-year-old right-handed reliever Derek Law to a minor league deal. Law, who came up with the Giants and has pitched in parts of five big league seasons, made nine appearances for the Twins last season. He relies on a four-seam fastball (93-94 mph) and slider, also mixing in curve balls and change-ups. His best season was his rookie year in 2016 when he made 61 appearances and posting a 2.13 ERA and 0.96 WHIP.
…The Tigers also signed 28-year-old right-hander Bubba Derby to a minor league deal. He pitched in Triple-A for the Brewers in 2019 and 2021.
chris.mccosky@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @cmccosky
Tigers at Royals
When: Friday, 8:10 p.m., Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City
TV/radio: BSD/97.1
SCOUTING REPORT
LHP Tarik Skubal (0-1, 9.00), Tigers: After four strong starts in spring, Skubal scuffled a bit in his opener against the White Sox. He was fighting to find a rhythm mechanically, thus the velocity, command and sharpness on his pitches were inconsistent. The Royals hit him hard in four outings last year – six homers (only the Twins hit more off him) and a .515 slugging percentage.
LHP Kris Bubic (0-1, 67.50), Royals: He didn’t make it out of the first inning in his first start of the season against Cleveland, giving up five runs on three hits and a pair of walks while recording just two outs. The Tigers didn’t have much fun against his soft mix of four-seamers (90 mph), change-ups and curve balls last year, producing just three runs and hitting .210 against him in 23 innings.