Across 55 offerings in 2017, no one had been able to hit Drew Storen’s changeup. The pitch had been put in play, sure, but not a single batter had managed to reach base when facing it. Averaging 84 mph, a tick faster than his go-to slider, the changeup was and still is Storen’s swing-and-miss pitch.
On Saturday against the Rockies, he caught Alexi Amarista looking at his 56th changeup and Charlie Blackmon swinging over the top of his 57th. Then, with Blackmon in an 0-2 hole, four runs already across in the inning, and two outs, Storen reared back for his 58th.