Back in 2019, A.J. Puk was one of the flashiest starting pitching prospects in the league. He was drafted in many leagues as a late-round sleeper – one of those guys who everyone compliments you for selecting even though they had ample opportunity to pick him themselves. Injuries cut short his 2019 and 2020 seasons. When he returned in 2021, it was as a reliever. He struggled. This season, he’s turned a corner in his relief work. He presents an uncomfortable look to opponents. They rarely make square contact. These days, he throws his slider 40 percent of the time while splitting the rest of his offerings between two types of 96-mph fastball.
Puk's Opportunity
